The Penn State University football team played Temple University for the first time in 11 years on Saturday, Sept. 12 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
The Nittany Lions overcame a slow start to defeat the Owls 27-9 to improve to 2-0 under new head coach Matt Campbell.
THE GAME: Current Penn State players were in grade school when the Nittany Lions lost to the Owls 27-10 in 2015. But, if there were any latent memories of the humiliating defeat during James Franklin’s second season as head coach, they were laid to rest by halftime.
Penn State took the opening kickoff and moved the ball from its 25-yard line to the Temple 10 but missed a field goal. Both teams traded punts, and the Nittany Lions had a golden opportunity when Tony Rojas intercepted a pass and gave Penn State the ball at the Owls’ 5. However, the possession hit a wall when a Rocco Becht pass fell incomplete on fourth down.
Temple then went on a 16-play, 91-yard drive that chewed up more than eight minutes and ended with a field goal for a 3-0 lead with 12 minutes left in the second quarter.
The Nittany Lions responded. Running back Carson Hanson spearheaded a scoring possession, carrying the ball four times for 32 yards on a drive that ended with a field goal to tie the game.at the 6:51 mark of the second quarter.
Penn State held Temple on its next offensive series. Following a punt, the Nittany Lions marched 83 yards on 10 plays capped by a 23-yard touchdown pass from Becht to tight end Ben Brahmer that gave Penn State a 10-3 lead.
The Owls missed a field goal on its next possession, and the Nittany Lions went to work before the end of the first half. An eight-play drive on a short field resulted in a 16-yard TD pass from Becht to Chase Sowell and a 17-3 lead with 8:25 left in the third quarter.
Penn State extended the lead to 20-3 after a 39-yard field goal by Ryan Barker. After a Temple punt, Penn State drove 85 yards on 10 plays, punctuated by a 23-yard scoring pass from Becht to Brahmer at the 7:48 mark of the fourth quarter.
THE NUMBERS: Penn State outgained Temple 416-283. Becht was responsible for 279 yards of offense. He completed 21 of 27 passes for 268 yards and ran for 11 more. Brahmer caught five passes for 79 yards and two touchdowns. Sowell had five catches for 58 yards and a score. Hansen led the running game with 84 yards on 19 carries. Running back James Peoples had seven rushes for 42 yards.
Rojas, a redshirt junior linebacker, totaled seven tackles and his first interception of the season. Linebacker Cael Brezina followed with six tackles, including five solo. Cornerback Zion Tracy had five tackles and a pass breakup.
THE NEXT GAME: Penn State hosts Buffalo on Saturday, Sept. 19 for its final non-conference game of the season. Kickoff is at 12 p.m.
