Thomas Shows Heart, Toughness In First Start

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Taking over for a record-setting quarterback, sophomore Zac Thomas immediately made a run at history.

Thomas, who had his long-awaited debut as Appalachian State's starting quarterback Saturday, accounted for 313 yards of offense and three touchdowns in a 45-38 overtime loss at No. 9 Penn State. All three scores — there were two touchdown passes to Malik Williams and a 1-yard keeper — came during a six-minute stretch of the fourth quarter in which the Mountaineers turned a 31-17 deficit into a 38-31 lead.

Thomas finished a single yard short of tying the school record for total offense by a quarterback in his starting debut, as DeAndre Presley had 314 yards (158 passing,…