PENN STATE BESTS TEMPLE 27-9

BY ROCK HOFFMAN

College Football Editor

 The Temple-Penn State game on Saturday afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field was basically even in the first half. However, the 16th-ranked Nittany Lions dominated the second half and won 27-9 before 61,714 (mostly Penn State) fans at the Linc. Penn State tight end Benjamin Brahmer caught two touchdowns from Rocco Becht as the Nittany Lions (2-0) scored on five straight possessions.

Playing behind an offensive line with three starters out and a fourth playing in a different position, the Owls (1-1) outgained Penn State on the ground 176 to 148 but struggled to finish drives. On defense, they couldn’t get the Nittany Lions off the field on third down in the second half.

“Third down conversions became the game changer,” said Temple head coach K.C. Keeler. The Owls held Penn State to two of six in the first half, but the Nittany Lions were four of five when it mattered after halftime. “Our kids battled all the way, but we lost some discipline on where eyes should be on a couple plays and it really cost us.”

The entire first quarter was played in the Temple half of the field except for four plays, and the Nittany Lions came away with nothing. Ryan Barker missed a field goal following a 56-yard pass and a 10-yard penalty on the first play from scrimmage. Next, they went three-and-out despite starting at the Temple 44-yard line. Following an interception by linebacker Tony Rojas that gave them the ball on Temple’s five, Penn State turned it over on downs at the two.

“It gives you confidence,” said Owls’ free safety Saboor Karriem about keeping the Nittany Lions off the scoreboard, “but it’s a four-quarter game. When things are going good, you try to ride the wave of momentum, and when things aren’t going your way, you try to do things to uplift everyone around you.”

TEMPLE FREE SAFETY SABOOR KARRIEM

The Owls offense responded off the goal-line stand by their defense, moving from the two-yard line to the Nittany Lions’ five. A 47-yard run by quarterback Jaxon Smolik was the big play. Two plays later, Smolik was sacked to bring up third-and-12, but tight end Peter Clarke caught a 13-yard pass. After having a first-and-goal at the five-yard line, the drive stalled, and Carl Hardin booted a 24-yard field goal.

On the ensuing possession, the Nittany Lions ran one play from their territory before getting a first down at Temple’s 47. Becht had Chase Sowell for a touchdown, but Owls’ cornerback Adrian Laing knocked the ball out of Sowell’s hands at the goal line. Ultimately, Barker kicked a 31-yard field goal to tie it midway through the second quarter.

The Owls got a pair of first downs, but a chop block penalty on third down ended the drive. Penn State got the ball at their 17-yard line and methodically matriculated the ball down the field in a two-minute drive using runs and short passes before Becht and Brahmer connected on a 23-yard touchdown pass with eight seconds to play in the half.

To start the third quarter, the Owls gained a total of 37 yards on back-to-back runs by Smolik and Keveun Mason. They had a first down at the Penn State 34 but didn’t gain another yard. A 52-yard field goal try by Hardin was blocked by Daryus Dixon.

The Nittany Lions moved the ball to Temple’s 16 before they faced their first third down. This time, Becht and Sowell connected on a short pass that the wide receiver took in for a touchdown.

“The last four minutes of the first half and the first four minutes of the second half,” said first-year Penn State head coach Matt Campbell, “we [were] plus 14, which was huge. Great execution on a two-minute drill at the end of half. Then we got off the field right away defensively and were able to put [in] another touchdown. So, I do think those eight minutes were really good football and the type of team that you would want to be.”

Temple had a three-and-out, and on the Nittany Lions' next possession, they faced a third-and-15 at their 30-yard line, but Becht was able to thread a pass into Zay Robinson for 22 yards. It would lead to a 39-yard field goal by Barker and a 20 to 3 advantage after three quarters.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Brahmer caught his second 23-yard touchdown pass of the day.

Temple got into the end zone on a run by quarterback Ajani Shepherd to cap the scoring.