Penn State Football: Barkley’s Run Pushes Nittany Lions Past Temple 34-27

A year ago Saquon Barkley had one carry against Temple for a single yard.

On Saturday afternoon the total was hardly much more than that as the standout running back lasted just a single eight-yard run before leaving the game with an injury on Penn State’s opening drive. By the time he returned late in the second quarter Penn State once again found itself in a battle at the half, this time leading 21-10 behind an effective pass attack by Trace McSorley and company.

And until 7:20 remained in the fourth quarter it looked as though yet another high scoring contest was headed to the final drive.

But then it happened.

Barkley took the ball from McSorley and raced through a hole in the defense before cutting left, with an oncoming defender in his way it was a shift of the hips and a foot planted firmly into the ground that launched Barkley in yet another direction. The result, a Temple defender left grasping at the air. From there it was a race to the finish and a hurdle over a diving tackler that gave Penn State a 34-24 lead some 55-yards later.

Temple would add a field goal with 2:10 remaining in regulation but DaeSean Hamilton fielded the ensuing onside kick that essentially sealed the win for the Nittany Lions. Temple would get the ball once again with 37 seconds remaining, but an interception by John Reid finished off Penn State’s second win of the season.

Rewind the tape a few hours and the Nittany Lions opened the scoring on the second drive of the day with an 52-yard pass to a wide open Chris Godwin streaking down the middle of the field. Godwin finished the afternoon with seven receptions for 117 yards as McSorley went 18-of-24 for 287 yards, hitting seven different targets in the process.

Temple didn’t wait long to respond though, taking advantage of a Penn State defensive unit that had seven starters limited or out by the end of the game. A quick two play 75-yard strike that finished with a Jahad Thomas eight yard scamper into the endzone tied the game just minutes later. With Barkley still out of the mix it was Andre Robinson that punched in the ball to make 14-7 on the ensuing drive and then Trace McSorley diving into the endzone to make it 21-7 to cap off a 9-play 53-yard campaign down the field late in the first half.

The Nittany Lion offense stalled early in the second half and the Owls took advantage turning the 21-7 game into a 24-14 margin following a Tyler Davis field goal thanks to a short 9-yard drive following a interception. The turnover coming as McSorley and Hamilton appeared not to be on the same page as McSorley’s pass went straight into the arms of a Temple defender while Hamilton ran deep down the field.

A punt glancing off of a Penn State player and mishandled by John Reid resulted in Temple recovering the ball at the Penn State one and punching it in just three plays later. The score cut Penn State’s lead to just three points at 27-24 with 8:10 remanning in the game.

It took just 70 seconds though for Saquon Barkley to happen and instead of a second straight week coming down to the wire it was 55-yards and a second win of the year.

On the defensive side of the ball it was a rotation of new faces as Penn State battled injuries across the field. Corner Grant Haley and linebacker Jason Cabinda didn’t dress on Saturday while safety Marcus Allen and Malik Golden both picked up knocks while Nyeem Wartman-White left the game with a leg injury and was seen on the sideline on crutches.

Golden finished the game with a team-high nine tackles while Allen and walk-on linebacker Brandon Smith both finished with eight stops. The Nittany Lions recorded nine total tackles for a loss including three sacks.

Penn State will take its show on the road next weekend to face Michigan in Ann Arbor.