It was a game that was supposed to mark the start of a hopeful 2015 season for Penn State football but felt so much like 2003 on a sunny and hot afternoon in Philadelphia.
For the opening three drives everything felt like the realization of preseason expectations. Penn State’s defense looked the part, holding Temple to three straight three-and-out possessions and giving up just 25 yards of offense. Linebackers Nyeem Wartman-White and Brandon Bell were active all across the field and the Owls appeared to pose few threats down the field.
On the opposite side of the ball, Penn State in the very least looked competent behind the always questionable offensive line. An 8-play 53-yard drive ended with a 34-yard field goal by Joey Julius. The Nittany Lions’ second drive a 6-play, 75-yard march finished in just 2:41 behind an Akeel Lynch 42-yard run and score top make it 10-0.
But from there the story changed drastically. First an apparent right-knee injury to linebacker Nyeem Wartman-White on punt coverage and then a methodical 93-yard Temple drive to cut the lead to 10-7. The once functional Penn State offense generating just 11-yards of offense over the next four drives after generating 128-yards and 10 points on the first two. Four first half sacks on Christian Hackenberg, the result of equal parts poor blocking and bad decisions
The second half was more of the same. Penn State’s offense failing to gain first downs and the Nittany Lion defense standing tall against the Temple onslaught. The Owls eventually drove down to field and tied the game with a 40-yard kick to make it 10-10.
From there Penn State’s offense continued to do nothing, gaining just 35-yards since the start of the second quarter well into the fourth and final frame. Sharif Finch’s interception of Christian Hackenberg on the Penn State 28 would eventually lead to anther score making it 17-10 with just over a minute to go in the third quarter.
Temple added another score on a 5-play, 45-yard drive and another field goal only minutes later to make it 27-10. The Nittany Lions never responded. The Owls racked up ten sacks. Penn State gained 34 yards in the game’s final three quarters.
Penn State opens the season at home against Buffalo.
StateCollege.com will have more soon from Philadelphia.
