PSU defeats San Diego State

Penn State’s top defensive player had other priorities following the win and wasn’t around in the interview room. “It was what his father and his family wanted him to do”. “He’s really that type of guy you look up to when you first come in”.

There was much more trash talk heading into last year’s matchup, fueled by Penn State coach James Franklin’s boasts of dominating the region in recruiting and Flood’s refusal to utter the words “Penn State“.

Running back Saquon Barkley had an electrifying 22-yard catch-and-run that put the Nittany Lions up 7-0 and had the Beaver Stadium crowd rocking. The Nittany Lions managed just 12 total yards on offense in the quarter.

Meanwhile, Saquon Barkley also hit the bench in the first half with an injury, giving Akeel Lynch a chance to take the remainder of today’s carries… until Lynch was sidelined with about a minute left before intermission. It wasn’t a very happy occasion for the Aztecs as miscues cost them in a 37-21 loss.

At least in the first half.

Additionally, the Lions have not allowed any sacks against Hackenberg, who suffered 10 takedowns in the season opener against Temple, through the last two games. “So it’s not like he (Hackenberg) has the freedom to call any play”.

It’s an approach that San Diego State rarely sees in opponents because most Mountain West attacks are so spread-oriented.

Punted five times, pinning Rutgers inside its 20 each time and averaging 41 yards per punt.

He admits that Hackenberg has, in spurts, fought some mechanical issues, namely with his footwork, that have made his accuracy on shorter throws unreliable at times. But otherwise, he was much more accurate and patient scanning the field. In the four years since Jeff Brooks graduated in 2011, the Nittany Lions haven’t had a forward average double-digit points in a season, with only current stretch-four Brandon Taylor even coming close.

The Lions, however, simply could not run the ball once Barkley left the game. But he’s doing more work than ever.

There’s lots of speed on these units but also youth and inexperience, and it showed. SDSU’s Rashaad Penny tied it at seven in the first quarter with a 100-yard kickoff return. Against a defense as good as San Diego State’s, they’ll be tested.

Redshirt freshman Joey Julius kicked field goals of 40, 24, and 26 yards. Punter Chris Gulla struggled mightily a week after earning a game ball. Starting at their own 18, a 31-yard pass from Smith to Holder moved the Aztecs to the PSU 24. Linebackers line up directly behind defensive linemen, further complicating the matter of determining who should pick up which assignment. Franklin said that this was arguably the biggest reason for success against Rutgers.

Once again, the Lions piled up tackles for loss (nine) from a variety of performers.

With the Aztecs down just six and driving early in the fourth quarter in Penn State territory, Johnson came up with a fumble recovery and then took off running for a 71-yard touchdown. Long said his defense’s plan against those teams is to try to disguise coverages, to essentially have one foot in both the pass and rush defense because they had to honor the overwhelming possibility they’d see a pass. Hackenberg found wideout Saeed Blacknall for a gain of 45 on the Lions’ second possession of the game, setting up the TD pass to Barkley, on which he gathered in a screen before cutting and spinning and somehow evading no fewer than five tacklers. His field-stretching, big-play ability had been sorely missed.