Penn State Football: App State provides interesting opener

From former FCS powerhouse to rising mid-major, Appalachian State gives Penn State football a quality opener. The Lions could have a game on their hands.

The last two seasons featured easy wins in the season opener for Penn State football. The Nittany Lions defeated MAC opponents Kent State (2016) and Akron (2017), 33-13 and 52-0 respectively. Penn State led the former by only three at half but ultimately won by 20 in Trace McSorley’s first game at quarterback. Those two games didn’t give a whole lot of competition but this year’s opener against Appalachian State could give a better test in the first game.

App State has started off well in its transition to FBS. The Mountaineers have gone 37-14 in their first four years in Div. I, including three bowl wins and four winning seasons. Head coach Scott Satterfield has done this with a blend of stifling defense and efficient offense.

The running game pounded on opponents out of the shotgun and pistol, using multiple backs to wear on defenses. Leading rushers Jalin Moore and Marcus Williams Jr are back. Moore has back-to-back 1,000-plus yard seasons and more than 3,000 yards rushing for his career. He’ll be the guy getting most of the carries as powerful, shifty and quick runner at 5-foot-11, 205 pounds.

The passing game will be the key variable in this matchup. Four-year starting quarterback Taylor Lamb graduated and is really the only quarterback Satterfield has known in Div. I. Now, it’s up to sophomore dual threat Zac Thomas. He hasn’t played much in college yet, but he had a star-studded preps’ career.

He compiled more than 6,000 total yards in his three-year career, including almost 2,000 rushing yards and 30 rushing touchdowns over his final two years of high school ball, so he’s got some speed.

On the other side of the ball, App State’s 3-4 defense has held opponents to an average of 20 points or less per game for the last three seasons. It’ll be a young team in terms of pass rushing – that’ll help McSorley find a rhythm. The top four pass rushers in terms of sacks are gone, but the linebacking corp and secondary return key players making this a back seven-heavy team.

Corner Tae Hayes is a returning senior leader. He racked up 53 tackles, four tackles for loss, four interceptions and a team-high 12 pass deflections in a First Team All-Sun Belt year. Interception leader (six) Clifton Duck is back across Hayes making this a deadly corner tandem.

These two players will give the D-Line some time to get to the quarterback, while senior linebacker Anthony Flory solidifies the middle of a stout defense. He was second on the team in tackles with 87. Overall, App State lost seven starters on defense, but it’s a constantly dominant machine.

The Mountaineers consistently make offenses one-dimensional, giving up just 3.4, 3.9 and 3.9 yards per carry in each of the last three seasons. Running games can’t get going, forcing offenses to beat them through the air. Luckily for Penn State, Juwan Johnson and DeAndre Thompkins are seasoned pass receivers for McSorley to throw to.

App State is a consistent winner. It wouldn’t be a surprise if the Sun Belt squad gives Penn State some problems and forces the Nittany Lions to work through some challenges in week one.