Takin’ the Dogs for a Walk
Appalachian State stunned unbeaten James Madison 34–31 in overtime, and a 40-yard field goal by James London turned a sold-out Thursday night in Boone into a field-storming celebration.
When the ball struck the upright, Boone knew something extraordinary was possible. James Madison had entered Thursday night’s game undefeated, survived a late Appalachian State surge and pushed the contest into overtime. But the Dukes’ 47-yard field-goal attempt hit the left upright. Moments later, James London sent a 40-yard kick between the posts, and 33,322 people at Kidd Brewer Stadium had a new piece of Mountaineers folklore.
Appalachian State won 34–31 on October 22, 2026, ending JMU’s undefeated start and producing the sort of result that college football fans will reference for years. The Mountaineers had been behind 14–3, trailed again in the second half and even surrendered a game-tying touchdown with only three seconds remaining in regulation. They still found a way to finish.
That is the real story behind the “Takin’ the Dogs for a Walk” design. What might ordinarily sound like an innocent neighborhood activity becomes a sharp piece of rivalry humor when the Dogs are the James Madison Dukes and the Mountaineers have just spoiled their perfect season.
How App State Turned Thursday Night Into an Upset
The game began in JMU’s favor. George Pettaway scored the first touchdown, and JC Evans later connected with Braeden Wisloski for a 70-yard score, giving the Dukes a 14–3 second-quarter lead. Appalachian State looked in danger of losing contact before halftime.
Malachi Singleton, however, guided a touchdown drive that ended with a 19-yard pass to Alexander Sanchez, trimming the deficit to 14–10. James London’s 27-yard field goal early in the third quarter cut the difference to one point. Even when JMU responded with a touchdown to take a 21–13 lead, the Mountaineers refused to disappear.
In the fourth quarter, a five-yard touchdown pass from Singleton to Chris Lofton and a successful two-point conversion tied the game 21–21. The teams then exchanged field goals, and another decisive change in momentum was approaching. App State’s official game recap documents every stage of the comeback.
Colton Phares Changed the Game
With the score tied 24–24 and just over six minutes left, linebacker Colton Phares intercepted a JMU pass and returned it 21 yards. The play placed Appalachian State in scoring position and changed the entire atmosphere inside the stadium.
Two offensive plays later, Henry Hasselbeck found tight end Luke Douglas for a four-yard touchdown. App State led 31–24, its first advantage of the night, with 5:52 remaining.
Phares finished with a career-high 13 tackles, but the interception supplied the game’s defining defensive turning point. It was the kind of play that will be remembered alongside the winning kick, because it transformed a close rivalry contest into an opportunity for Appalachian State to close the door on an unbeaten opponent.
Three Seconds That Sent the Game to Overtime
The Mountaineers appeared close to completing their comeback in regulation, but JMU had one final answer. Quarterback Camden Coleman directed a lengthy drive, converted a crucial fourth-and-three opportunity and then scored on a six-yard run with just three seconds remaining.
The extra point tied the game 31–31. For JMU, it was a remarkable escape from defeat. For App State supporters, it meant another exhausting chapter in a night that had already swung back and forth repeatedly.
The Dukes’ successful final drive also set up the strange emotional reversal to come. One moment, JMU had rescued its undefeated record. Minutes later, a missed field goal would leave the same players watching Appalachian State celebrate.
James London’s 40-Yard Kick and the Missed Field Goal
JMU received the ball first in overtime but found itself facing a difficult kick after App State defender Ja’Den McBurrows stopped quarterback JC Evans for an 11-yard loss on a trick play. Morgan Suarez lined up for a 47-yard field goal. The ball hit the left upright and bounced away.
On the sideline, the resulting celebration was so frantic that London was accidentally struck near his right eye by a teammate. As App State prepared for its own possession, the senior kicker had difficulty seeing clearly from that eye.
After the Mountaineers positioned the ball, London entered for the deciding attempt. He converted from 40 yards, completing a perfect four-for-four field-goal night and delivering a 34–31 victory. The official box score confirms the scoring sequence, while the team’s recap describes the unusual circumstances surrounding London’s final kick.
Why “Takin’ the Dogs for a Walk” Is the Perfect Troll
College football thrives on rivalry language that converts an entire game into a memorable sentence. In this case, “Dogs” refers to the James Madison Dukes, whose athletic identity includes a bulldog mascot. Appalachian State’s victory turned that familiar identity into an easy target for playful mockery.
The phrase “Takin’ the Dogs for a Walk” places the Mountaineers in control. The dogs are no longer intimidating opponents. In the joke, they are being led around by the victorious team. The imagery works precisely because it is simple enough to understand without a detailed recap of the fourth quarter.
That simplicity does not mean the actual game was easy. App State required an extraordinary comeback, an interception, a missed opposing field goal and a flawless final kick. The humor arrives after the stress; the joke is a way for supporters to transform a chaotic victory into a confident, repeatable slogan.
The Design: A Victory Poster Disguised as a Rivalry Joke
The Takin’ the Dogs for a Walk graphic uses the contrast between Appalachian State’s Mountaineer identity and James Madison’s dog-themed mascot imagery to communicate the result with a playful cartoon tone.
Its yellow, black and white palette establishes the App State connection, while the central concept turns a football upset into a visual gag. Rather than presenting a conventional scoreboard graphic, it gives supporters a humorous symbol of the win. The dated context of October 2026 adds the feeling of a game-night keepsake.
A cartoon rivalry graphic preserving Appalachian State’s 34–31 overtime victory and the joy of handing JMU its first loss of 2026.
View the upset graphic →Watch the Winning Kick and Celebration
The official App State highlight video captures the atmosphere surrounding the finish: the missed JMU field goal, London’s winning attempt and the immediate rush of celebration inside Kidd Brewer Stadium.
Official App State Athletics video. Watch the original on YouTube ↗
A Familiar Nightmare for Undefeated JMU Teams
The 2026 result carries an especially painful echo for James Madison. In November 2023, the Dukes arrived at a matchup against App State undefeated at 10–0 and ranked No. 18 nationally. Appalachian State won that meeting 26–23 in overtime, with Joey Aguilar throwing the winning touchdown to Kaedin Robinson.
Three years later, the records and personalities had changed, but the script was startlingly similar. JMU entered unbeaten, App State forced overtime, and the Mountaineers produced the final decisive score. The official postgame notes highlighted that historical connection.
That repetition makes the “Dogs for a Walk” joke more powerful. It refers to the latest win, but it also taps into an emerging rivalry memory in which Appalachian State repeatedly becomes the opponent that disrupts JMU’s dreams of an undefeated season.
What the Upset Means for the Sun Belt
App State improved to 5–2 overall and 2–1 in conference play, while JMU fell to 7–1 and 4–1. The result reshaped the Sun Belt East race, leaving every team in the division with at least one conference loss.
That significance extends beyond the atmosphere of one Thursday night. App State showed it could respond after difficult stretches, while JMU lost the clean conference record that had separated it from its rivals. The remaining schedule would now carry additional pressure for both programs.
Fans can follow the broader Appalachian State Mountaineers collection or explore the NCAA collection for other college-sports rivalry moments. A search for James London-related graphics provides a player-specific connection to the winning kick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won Appalachian State vs James Madison on October 22, 2026?
Appalachian State defeated James Madison 34–31 in overtime at Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone, North Carolina.
Who kicked the winning field goal for App State?
James London made a 40-yard field goal in overtime to seal the win after JMU missed a 47-yard attempt.
Was JMU undefeated before losing to App State?
Yes. The Dukes entered the game 7–0 before suffering their first loss of the 2026 season.
What does “Takin’ the Dogs for a Walk” mean?
It is a playful App State rivalry slogan that refers to defeating the James Madison Dukes, using the Dukes’ bulldog identity as the basis for the joke.
How many fans attended the App State–JMU game?
The announced sellout attendance at Kidd Brewer Stadium was 33,322.
The Takin’ the Dogs for a Walk graphic turns a 34–31 overtime upset, a missed field goal and an unforgettable night in Boone into a piece of Mountaineers rivalry memory.
Takin’ the Dogs for a Walk captures Appalachian State’s 34–31 overtime upset of previously unbeaten James Madison on October 22, 2026, celebrating James London’s winning field goal with a playful Mountaineers rivalry graphic.