# 2020 Appalachian State Mountaineers football team

The 2020 Appalachian State Mountaineers football team represented Appalachian State University during the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Mountaineers were led by first-year head coach Shawn Clark. Appalachian State played their home games at Kidd Brewer Stadium on the school's Boone, North Carolina, campus, and competed as a member of the East Division of the Sun Belt Conference.

## Schedule

Appalachian State had games scheduled against Morgan State, UMass, Wake Forest and Wisconsin, which were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 12 | 12:00 p.m. | Charlotte* | | Kidd Brewer StadiumBoone, NC | ESPN2 | W 35–20 | 0 |
| September 19 | 3:30 p.m. | at Marshall* | No. 23 | Joan C. Edwards StadiumHuntington, WV | CBS | L 7–17 | 12,050 |
| September 26 | 12:00 p.m. | Campbell* | | Kidd Brewer StadiumBoone, NC | ESPN+ | W 52–21 | 350 |
| October 22 | 7:30 p.m. | Arkansas State | | Kidd Brewer StadiumBoone, NC | ESPN | W 45–17 | 2,100 |
| October 31 | 4:00 p.m. | at Louisiana–Monroe | | Malone StadiumMonroe, LA | ESPNU | W 31–13 | 5,493 |
| November 7 | 4:00 p.m. | at Texas State | | Bobcat StadiumSan Marcos, TX | ESPN+ | W 38–17 | 6,745 |
| November 14 | 2:30 p.m. | Georgia State | | Kidd Brewer StadiumBoone, NC | ESPN+ | W 17–13 | 2,100 |
| November 21 | 12:00 p.m. | at No. 15 Coastal Carolina | | Brooks StadiumConway, SC | ESPN | L 23–34 | 5,000 |
| November 28 | 8:00 p.m. | Troy | | Kidd Brewer StadiumBoone, NC | ESPN2 | W 47–10 | 2,100 |
| December 4 | 8:30 p.m. | No. 25 Louisiana | | Kidd Brewer StadiumBoone, NC | ESPN | L 21–24 | 2,170 |
| December 12 | 6:00 p.m. | at Georgia Southern | | Paulson StadiumStatesboro, GA (rivalry) | ESPN3 | W 34–26 | 6,228 |
| December 21 | 2:30 p.m. | vs. North Texas* | | Brooks StadiumConway, SC (Myrtle Beach Bowl) | ESPN | W 56–28 | 5,000 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings after November 24 released prior to gameAll times are in Eastern time ||||||||
    Schedule Source:

## Game summaries
### Charlotte

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| 49ers | 7 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 20 |
| • Mountaineers | 0 | 14 | 7 | 14 | 35 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| APP −17 | 59.5 |
| Statistics | Charlotte | Appalachian State |
| First downs | 16 | 29 |
| Total yards | 286 | 512 |
| Rushing yards | 146 | 308 |
| Passing yards | 140 | 204 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 28:37 | 31:23 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Charlotte | Passing | Chris Reynolds | 11/30, 140 yards, 140 yards, 2 INTs |
| Charlotte | Rushing | Tre Harbison | 17 carries, 87 yards, 1 TD |
| Charlotte | Receiving | Taylor Thompson | 2 receptions, 62 yards |
| Appalachian State | Passing | Zac Thomas | 14/21, 204 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Appalachian State | Rushing | Marcus Williams Jr. | 14 carries, 117 yards, 1 TD |
| Appalachian State | Receiving | Thomas Hennigan | 5 receptions, 120 yards, 1 TD |

### At Marshall

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 23 Mountaineers | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| • Thundering Herd | 7 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| APP −4.5 | 59 |
| Statistics | Appalachian State | Marshall |
| First downs | 26 | 23 |
| Total yards | 364 | 379 |
| Rushing yards | 96 | 216 |
| Passing yards | 268 | 163 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 28:01 | 31:59 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Appalachian State | Passing | Zac Thomas | 22/38, 268 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Appalachian State | Rushing | Camerun Peoples | 12 carries, 57 yards |
| Appalachian State | Receiving | Thomas Hennigan | 5 receptions, 88 yards |
| Marshall | Passing | Grant Wells | 11/25, 163 yards, 1 INT |
| Marshall | Rushing | Brandon Knox | 28 carries, 138 yards, 1 TD |
| Marshall | Receiving | Xavier Gaines | 2 receptions, 68 yards |

### Campbell

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Camels | 7 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 21 |
| • RV Mountaineers | 7 | 10 | 21 | 14 | 52 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| APP −35.5 | 51.5 |
| Statistics | Campbell | Appalachian State |
| First downs | 15 | 31 |
| Total yards | 305 | 535 |
| Rushing yards | 117 | 404 |
| Passing yards | 188 | 131 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 25:40 | 34:20 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Campbell | Passing | Hajj-Malik Williams | 7/19, 101 yards |
| Campbell | Rushing | Hajj-Malik Williams | 14 carries, 44 yards, 2 TDs |
| Campbell | Receiving | Austin Hite | 2 receptions, 93 yards, 1 TD |
| Appalachian State | Passing | Zac Thomas | 12/18, 131 yards |
| Appalachian State | Rushing | Daetrich Harrington | 32 carries, 211 yards, 4 TDs |
| Appalachian State | Receiving | Thomas Hennigan | 3 receptions, 67 yards |

### Arkansas State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Red Wolves | 7 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 17 |
| • Mountaineers | 14 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 45 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| APP −13.5 | 69.5 |
| Statistics | Arkansas State | Appalachian State |
| First downs | 24 | 22 |
| Total yards | 368 | 521 |
| Rushing yards | 73 | 305 |
| Passing yards | 295 | 216 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 30:43 | 29:17 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Arkansas State | Passing | Layne Hatcher | 9/16, 178 yards, 1 INT |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Lincoln Pare | 5 carries, 46 yards, 1 TD |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Jonathan Adams Jr. | 6 receptions, 134 yards |
| Appalachian State | Passing | Zac Thomas | 16/23, 216 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT |
| Appalachian State | Rushing | Daetrich Harrington | 18 carries, 137 yards, 1 TD |
| Appalachian State | Receiving | Christian Wells | 3 receptions, 80 yards, 2 TDs |

### At Louisiana–Monroe

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Mountaineers | 14 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 31 |
| Warhawks | 0 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 13 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| APP −28.5 | 57.5 |
| Statistics | Appalachian State | Louisiana–Monroe |
| First downs | 26 | 16 |
| Total yards | 480 | 222 |
| Rushing yards | 328 | 68 |
| Passing yards | 152 | 154 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 34:47 | 25:13 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Appalachian State | Passing | Zac Thomas | 13/18, 152 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
| Appalachian State | Rushing | Zac Thomas | 11 carries, 109 yards |
| Appalachian State | Receiving | Malik Williams | 6 receptions, 60 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Passing | Colby Suits | 19/30, 134 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Rushing | Isaiah Phillips | 11 carries, 41 yards |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Receiving | Josh Pederson | 2 receptions, 32 yards |

### At Texas State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • RV Mountaineers | 14 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 38 |
| Bobcats | 7 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| APP −21.5 | 58.5 |
| Statistics | Appalachian State | Texas State |
| First downs | 22 | 21 |
| Total yards | 426 | 420 |
| Rushing yards | 258 | 215 |
| Passing yards | 168 | 205 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 32:15 | 27:45 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Appalachian State | Passing | Zac Thomas | 18/27, 168 yards, 3 TDs |
| Appalachian State | Rushing | Daetrich Harrington | 18 carries, 113 yards |
| Appalachian State | Receiving | Miller Gibbs | 3 receptions, 47 yards, 1 TD |
| Texas State | Passing | Tyler Vitt | 21/38, 205 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs |
| Texas State | Rushing | Jahmyl Jeter | 11 carries, 135 yards |
| Texas State | Receiving | Javen Banks | 4 receptions, 89 yards, 1 TD |

### Georgia State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Panthers | 7 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 13 |
| • RV Mountaineers | 3 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| APP −17.5 | 63 |
| Statistics | Georgia State | Appalachian State |
| First downs | 16 | 19 |
| Total yards | 300 | 310 |
| Rushing yards | 148 | 131 |
| Passing yards | 152 | 179 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 25:25 | 34:35 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Georgia State | Passing | Cornelious Brown IV | 11/33, 152 yards, 1 TD |
| Georgia State | Rushing | Tucker Gregg | 10 carries, 85 yards |
| Georgia State | Receiving | Sam Pinckney | 4 receptions, 74 yards, 1 TD |
| Appalachian State | Passing | Zac Thomas | 16/22, 146 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Appalachian State | Rushing | Camerun Peoples | 17 carries, 67 yards, 1 TD |
| Appalachian State | Receiving | Malik Williams | 3 receptions, 60 yards |

### At Coastal Carolina

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mountaineers | 7 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 23 |
| • No. 15 Chanticleers | 6 | 3 | 12 | 13 | 34 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| CCU −3 | 49 |
| Statistics | Appalachian State | Coastal Carolina |
| First downs | 22 | 16 |
| Total yards | 415 | 369 |
| Rushing yards | 204 | 189 |
| Passing yards | 211 | 200 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 33:50 | 26:10 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Appalachian State | Passing | Zac Thomas | 17/29, 211 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs |
| Appalachian State | Rushing | Camerun Peoples | 27 carries, 178 yards, 1 TD |
| Appalachian State | Receiving | Malik Williams | 3 receptions, 79 yards |
| Coastal Carolina | Passing | Grayson McCall | 12/21, 200 yards, 2 TDs |
| Coastal Carolina | Rushing | Grayson McCall | 14 carries, 69 yards, 1 TD |
| Coastal Carolina | Receiving | Isaiah Likely | 3 receptions, 118 yards, 1 TD |

### Troy

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Trojans | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| • Mountaineers | 21 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 47 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| APP –14 | 50.5 |
| Statistics | Troy | Appalachian State |
| First downs | 13 | 26 |
| Total yards | 231 | 554 |
| Rushing yards | 106 | 275 |
| Passing yards | 125 | 279 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 29:39 | 30:21 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Troy | Passing | Gunnar Watson | 13/20, 125 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Troy | Rushing | Jamontez Woods | 10 carries, 43 yards |
| Troy | Receiving | Kaylon Geiger | 3 receptions, 41 yards, 1 TD |
| Appalachian State | Passing | Zac Thomas | 22/29, 279 yards, 4 TDs |
| Appalachian State | Rushing | Camerun Peoples | 10 carries, 95 yards, 1 TD |
| Appalachian State | Receiving | Malik Williams | 7 receptions, 113 yards, 1 TD |

### Louisiana

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • No. 25 Ragin' Cajuns | 0 | 9 | 15 | 0 | 24 |
| Mountaineers | 7 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 21 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| APP –3 | 52.5 |
| Statistics | Louisiana | Appalachian State |
| First downs | 18 | 19 |
| Total yards | 227 | 290 |
| Rushing yards | 126 | 198 |
| Passing yards | 101 | 92 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 24:17 | 35:43 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Louisiana | Passing | Levi Lewis | 8/23, 101 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisiana | Rushing | Elijah Mitchell | 12 carries, 95 yards |
| Louisiana | Receiving | Jalen Williams | 2 receptions, 39 yards |
| Appalachain State | Passing | Zac Thomas | 10/21, 92 yards, 2 INTs |
| Appalachain State | Rushing | Camerun Peoples | 21 carries, 99 yards, 1 TD |
| Appalachain State | Receiving | Thomas Hennigan | 4 receptions, 44 yards |

### At Georgia Southern

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Mountaineers | 0 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 34 |
| Eagles | 7 | 10 | 0 | 9 | 26 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| APP –9 | 45 |
| Statistics | Appalachian State | Georgia Southern |
| First downs | 17 | 16 |
| Total yards | 381 | 349 |
| Rushing yards | 173 | 204 |
| Passing yards | 208 | 145 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 4 |
| Time of possession | 34:52 | 25:08 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Appalachian State | Passing | Zac Thomas | 18/29, 208 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
| Appalachian State | Rushing | Nate Noel | 13 carries, 103 yards, 1 TD |
| Appalachian State | Receiving | Thomas Hennigan | 8 receptions, 64 yards, 1 TD |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | Miller Mosley | 5/14, 122 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | Justin Tomlin | 6 carries, 76 yards, 1 TD |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Dexter Carter Jr. | 1 reception, 78 yards, 1 TD |

### Vs. North Texas (Myrtle Beach Bowl)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mean Green | 0 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
| • Moutaineers | 14 | 21 | 7 | 14 | 56 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| APP –19.5 | 63.5 |
| Statistics | North Texas | Appalachian State |
| First downs | 30 | 22 |
| Total yards | 497 | 636 |
| Rushing yards | 230 | 500 |
| Passing yards | 267 | 136 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 31:54 | 28:06 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North Texas | Passing | Jason Bean | 21/36, 251 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
| North Texas | Rushing | Tre Siggers | 17 carries, 120 yards |
| North Texas | Receiving | Austin Ogunmakin | 7 receptions, 131 yards, 1 TD |
| Appalachian State | Passing | Zac Thomas | 8/16, 114 yards, 1 TD |
| Appalachian State | Rushing | Camerun Peoples | 22 carries, 317 yards, 5 TDs |
| Appalachian State | Receiving | Henry Pearson | 3 receptions, 47 yards, 2 TDs |

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
| AP | RV | RV* | 23 | RV | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Coaches | RV | RV* | 23 | RV | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| CFP | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | | | | Not released |

## Players drafted into the NFL

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Club |
| 5 | 178 | Shemar Jean-Charles | CB | Green Bay Packers |