ATLANTA (Interstat) — Quarterback JJ Kohl accounted for four touchdowns and 309 yards through the air as Appalachian State erupted for 21 points in the third quarter to pull away from Georgia State for a 41-20 victory on Saturday at Center Parc Stadium.

The Mountaineers, now 3-2 overall, took control of a game that was a defensive struggle early, turning a 17-0 halftime lead into a commanding 38-14 advantage by the end of the third quarter. The Panthers fell to 1-4.

Kohl, a 6-foot-7, 250-pound sophomore from Ankeny, Iowa, efficiently picked apart the Georgia State defense, completing 21 of 32 passes. He threw touchdown passes to Davion Dozier, Jaden Barnes, Dalton Stroman and Izayah Cummings, and added 2 rushing yards on the ground.

The first half was a story of missed opportunities for the Panthers, who moved the ball but repeatedly stalled in Appalachian State territory. Georgia State’s best first-half chance ended when Braeden McAlister’s 28-yard field goal attempt was blocked.

Appalachian State broke through late in the first quarter with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Kohl to Dozier, capping a 97-yard drive. The Mountaineers added to their lead just before halftime. After a drive stalled at the Georgia State 14-yard line, Dominic De Freitas connected on a 32-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter to make it 10-0.

The floodgates opened after halftime. Appalachian State running back Jaquari Lewis broke free for a 14-yard touchdown run on the Mountaineers’ first possession of the third quarter. Kohl then found Stroman for a 6-yard scoring strike and connected with Cummings for a 3-yard touchdown to build a 31-0 lead.

Georgia State, which had been stymied by quarterbacks TJ Finley and Cameran Brown, finally found its offensive rhythm with Brown at the helm. Brown engineered two quick scoring drives in the third quarter, the first ending with his own 8-yard touchdown run and the second culminating in a 15-yard touchdown pass to tight end Grant Hollier to cut the deficit to 31-14.

But Kohl and the Mountaineers responded immediately. On the ensuing drive, Kohl hit Cummings for his third touchdown reception of the day, this one from 3 yards out, to push the lead back to 38-14 heading into the fourth quarter.

The teams traded field goals and a late touchdown in the final period. De Freitas hit a 46-yard field goal for Appalachian State, and Brown connected with Javon Robinson on a 22-yard touchdown pass for the Panthers’ final points.

Brown finished 19 of 35 for 212 yards with two touchdowns and one interception for Georgia State. Robinson was his primary target, catching nine passes for 85 yards and a score. Ted Hurst also had a strong receiving day with nine catches for 105 yards.

Defensively, the Panthers were led by Josiah Robinson and Bishop Thomas, who each recorded eight tackles. Jabriel Rhodes-Nelson and Kedrick Walker each had seven stops for Georgia State.

For Appalachian State, the defense was paced by Zyeir Gamble and Brayshawn Littlejohn, who each had seven tackles. Littlejohn also added two quarterback hurries.

The win gives Appalachian State momentum heading into a Sun Belt Conference home matchup against Coastal Carolina next Saturday. Georgia State will look to rebound on the road against rival Georgia Southern.