BOONE, N.C. — Sandwiched around nearby lightning strikes, Appalachian State put up plenty of offensive fireworks to win its Sun Belt Conference opener.
Zac Thomas had two touchdown passes while throwing for 246 yards and App State's three primary running backs accounted for a combined five rushing touchdowns in a 56-37 home win against Coastal Carolina on Saturday. The sold-out game at Kidd Brewer Stadium featured a two-hour, three-minute weather delay late in the first quarter.
Thomas ended up completing 19 of his 23 pass attempts, and walk-on Matthew McQuinn delivered a huge special teams play to help the Mountaineers (4-0, 1-0) turn a tie game late in the first half into a 42-21 lead midway through the third quarter.