Penn State Overcomes Slow Start to Take Down Temple 27-9

No. 16 Penn State struggled early on in its first road game of the season but pulled away to defeat Temple 27-9 on Saturday afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

The Nittany Lions only got three points out of their first three trips into the red zone. Temple, meanwhile, used its ground game, especially scrambles by former Penn State quarterback Jaxon Smolik, to move the ball, but could muster only three first-half points of its own.

Penn State, though, got points on five consecutive drives, including a touchdown late in the second quarter to take a lead it would never relinquish, and the Nittany Lion defense clamped down until allowing a late Owls touchdown.

Quarterback Rocco Becht was sharp for the second consecutive week, completing 21 of 27 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns in 3.5 quarters of work, with at least two catchable balls dropped by receivers. Carson Hansen led the ground attack with 19 carries for 84 yards, while James Peoples added five for 38.

The Nittany Lions finished the day with 416 yards of offense. Temple gained 283 — 176 on the ground and 107 through the air.

Penn State returns home next weekend to host Buffalo for a noon kick airing on the Big Ten Network.

HOW IT HAPPENED

1st Quarter

Penn State exploded out of the gate as quarterback Rocco Becht hit receiver Kobe Howard down the middle for a 56-yard gain, and a face mask penalty tacked on 15 more to put the Nittany Lions at the Temple 9. But after a Carson Hansen run for 4, Penn State went backwards, and Ryan Barker’s 33-yard field goal attempt went wide left to keep the game scoreless two minutes in.

After a Temple three-and-out, the Nittany Lions started their second drive with good field position thanks to a 19-yard Zay Robinson punt return to the Owls’ 44. But Penn State could only pick up 6 yards and Nathan Tiyice’s punt downed by Audavion Collins pinned Temple at its own 3.

The Owls picked up their first first down of the day, but linebacker Tony Rojas picked off former Nittany Lion QB Jaxon Smolik at the 18 and returned it to the 5. Penn State’s offense continued to struggle, though, and on fourth and 2 Becht couldn’t connect on a throw to tight end Andrew Rappleyea in the end zone as the Nittany Lions again came up empty deep in the red zone for the second time.

Temple moved out to its own 24 before Smolik took a read option 47 yards to the Penn State 29. Facing third and 12, Smolik found Peter Clarke for a 13-yard gain to move the Owls into the red zone as the first quarter came to an end.

End 1st quarter: Penn State 0, Temple 0

2nd Quarter

Temple quickly moved to the 5 on a pair of Keveun Mason runs to open the second quarter. After Penn State stuffed the next two runs, Ajani Sheppard came in at quarterback and threw an incompletion on third down from the 6. Carl Hardin made a 24-yard field goal to finish a 15-play, 91-yard drive and give the Owls the lead with 12 minutes left in the half.

Temple 3, Penn State 0

Buoyed by four Hansen carries for 31 yards and a hands-to-the-face penalty, Penn State advanced to the Temple 13 but once again stalled in the red zone. This time, Barker’s 31-yard field goal was good to tie the game with 6:51 remaining in the second quarter.

Temple 3, Penn State 3

Temple marched out to midfield on its ensuing drive, but a chop block penalty put the Owls behind the chains on third down and Penn State forced a punt with two minutes to go in the half.

Penn State moved methodically downfield as the half wound down, with Becht completing and short and mid-range passes to move past midfield and running back James People hurdling a defender on a 12-yard run to the Owl 32. Becht then hit Ben Brahmer for a 9-yard gain, and went to the tight end again deep on a post-pattern for a 23-yard touchdown with eight seconds remains. The 10-play, 83-yard drive took just 1:49 and gave Penn State its first lead of the day, and Temple took a knee to run out the half.

End 2nd quarter: Penn State 10, Temple 3

3rd Quarter

A Smolik scramble for 15 and a Mason run for 22 got the Owls to the Penn State 34 to open the second half. The Nittany Lion defense clamped down there, though, and Hardin’s 52-yard field goal attempt was partially blocked by Daryus Dixson to turn away the Owls.

Becht led Penn State on a well-executed ensuing drive, mixing up completions to Howard and Chase Sowell with strong runs by Peoples and Hansen. On third and 6 from the Penn State 16, Becht tossed to Sowell in the flat and the receiver raced into the end zone for the score to cap the six play, 66-yard drive with 8:25 left in the third.

Penn State 17, Temple 3

Temple couldn’t get much on its next possession and punted back to the Nittany Lions. After a couple of 9-yard Peoples runs, Becht threw a 15-yard pinpoint pass to Zay Robinson across the middle to move into Owl territory then hit Brahmer, who dodged defenders for a 20-yard gain to the 26. Penn State only got to the 20, though, and Barker came on to make a 39-yard field goal with eight seconds remaining in the quarter after a six-minute drive.

End 3rd quarter: Penn State 20, Temple 3

4th Quarter

The Owls picked up a first down to open the final frame but the Nittany Lion defense again clamped down to force a punt.

After converting two third downs, Becht gained 12 on a keeper to cross midfield and a late hit penalty against former Nittany Lion Kollin Dinkins tacked on 15 more. Becht connected with Brett Eskildsen for a 7-yard gain, then threw to a wide open Brahmer for a 23-yard score with 7:48 left to play.

Penn State 27, Temple 3

Temple converted two fourth-and-shorts to keep its next drive alive before Sheppard hit on a pass Jayce Freeman down the sideline. The receiver broke a tackle to get to the Penn State 6 on a 39-yard gain and three plays later, Sheppard took it in for a 3-yard touchdown run with 1:56 left. A two-point attempt failed.

Penn State 27, Temple 9

Alex Manske came in at quarterback and the Nittany Lions ran out the clock with three runs on the game’s final possession.

Final: Penn State 27, Temple 9