BOONE, N.C. — Behind a record-setting performance by redshirt freshman quarterback Taylor Lamb, Appalachian State University football racked up 637 yards of offense but four costly turnovers and a missed field goal proved to be the difference in a 55-48 overtime loss to Liberty on Saturday afternoon at Kidd Brewer Stadium.

The game was a back-and-forth affair throughout, featuring five ties and seven lead changes. However, it was decided on two crucial Appalachian State miscues in the waning moments of the contest.

With the score tied at 48-48 and two seconds remaining in regulation, Bentlee Critcher narrowly missed a 32-yard field goal to send the game to overtime. Then, after Liberty scored on the first possession of overtime, Lamb overthrew tight end Barrett Burns in the end zone and was picked off by Liberty safety Jacob Hagen to end the game.

Unfortunately, the game-ending interception overshadowed the best performance by a freshman passer in Appalachian State history. Lamb's 397 yards shattered the longstanding Appalachian freshman record of 334 passing yards, set by Randy Joyce against VMI on Oct. 17, 1981.

Making the fourth start of his career, Lamb completed 20-of-31 passes to six different receivers, including touchdowns of 63 yards to Simms McElfresh, 60 yards to Bobo Beathard and 48 yards to Shaedon Meadors. His 48-yard strike to Meadors gave the Mountaineers their first lead of the second half at 37-34 with 6:42 to go in the third quarter.

Less than two minutes later, App State extended the lead to 40-34 on a 38-yard field goal by Critcher but Liberty took a 41-40 advantage into the final period thanks to D.J. Abnar's one-yard touchdown dive with 29 seconds left in the third.

The Flames' one-point lead didn't last long into the fourth quarter, as Appalachian jumped back out in front on a 60-yard touchdown run by Terrence Upshaw less than three minutes into the period.

Liberty answered with a 12-play, 75-yard drive, capped by a 13-yard touchdown run by quarterback Josh Woodrum that knotted the score for the fifth time at 48-48 with 6:19 remaining in regulation.

Needing only a field goal to win the game, Appalachian marched 60 yards in 14 plays on its ensuing possession while milking all 6:19 off the clock. Upshaw and Marcus Cox combined to rush for 33 yards on the drive and Lamb completed 3-of-3 passes for 24 yards, including a 12-yard pass to McElfresh on third-and-six from the 23 yard line that moved the Mountaineers well within Critcher's range.

However, three plays later, Critcher pushed the 32-yard attempt just wide of the right upright. In fact, the kick was so close that the play was reviewed but the call was confirmed and the game went to overtime.

After Appalachian State won the coin toss and elected to play defense first, Liberty needed only six plays to find paydirt on a nine-yard pass from Woodrum to Darrin Peterson.

Needing a touchdown to send the game to a second extra period, the Mountaineers picked up 16 yards on the first play of their overtime possession on a hard-nosed run by Cox. On the next play, Lamb's errant pass was picked off by Hagen to end the game.

Appalachian State outgained Liberty, 637-501, while averaging a whopping 9.2 yards per play, including 12.8 yards per pass attempt and 19.9 yards per completion. However, it could not overcome its four turnovers (two fumbles and two interceptions), seven penalties for 58 yards and 1-of-4 efficiency in the red zone.

In addition to Lamb's 397 passing yards, the Mountaineers featured two 100-yard rushers (Cox and Upshaw both finished with 111) and a 100-yard receiver (Jones — 105).

Liberty also had a 300-yard passer (Woodrum – 356), 100-yard rusher (Abnar – 129) and 100-yard receiver (Dante Shells – 164).

Defensively, Appalachian State true freshman safety A.J. Howard led all players with 13 tackles. LU's Kenny Scott recorded five stops and two fumble recoveries, including one that he returned 39 yards for a touchdown to give Liberty (4-3) a 28-21 lead midway through the second quarter.

Appalachian State (1-5, 0-2 Sun Belt) returns to Sun Belt Conference action next Saturday when it travels to Troy (1-5, 1-1 Sun Belt). Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. ET at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Troy, Ala.

NOTES: Lamb's 397 yards were the eighth-highest passing total in Appalachian State history and the most since Armanti Edwards threw for 415 at Wofford in 2009 … Beathard's and Meadors' touchdown catches were the first of their careers … Meadors made his Appalachian debut on Saturday and caught a 30-yard pass on his first collegiate play in the first quarter … Mountaineer junior Aaron Krah also scored the first touchdown of his career when he recovered a muffed punt in the end zone in the second quarter … Jones' 100-yard game was the first of his career … Appalachian State's 637 yards were its most since it amassed 684 in a 55-14 win over Coastal Carolina on Sept. 29, 2012 … the Mountaineers lost for only the second time in the last 36 games that they have scored 30 points or more (the other being a 38-37 overtime loss to Illinois State in the second round of the 2012 NCAA Division I FCS playoffs) … Appalachian dropped back-to-back homecoming games for the first time since it lost four-straight from 1977-80.