The Penn State Nittany Lions (2-1, 1-0) dominated the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (1-2, 0-1) under the lights of Beaver Stadium, ending the game by a final score of 28-3 in what was another standout game for freshman wide receiver Saquon Barkley.
Although the Knights won the coin toss, they were visibly shaken by the indomitable atmosphere in Beaver Stadium due in part to the debut of the Stripe Out Game, and as a result, gained very little ground in the first quarter.
Quarterback Christian Hackenberg started the game with several short, choppy passes. Though the Lions made it to several first downs, although the first quarter ended scoreless.
The second quarter opened with Penn State starting safety Jordan Lucas heading to the locker room after injuring his arm (he would later return), but freshman wide receiver DeAndre Thompkins softened the blow by scoring his first career touchdown just under three minutes after play started.
A downpour started about eight minutes into the second quarter, forcing more quick, short passes, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Nittany Lions from marching up the field. Following a 48-yard pass from Hackenberg to DaeSean Hamilton, Barkley, last week’s breakout star of the game, found the hole twice to give the Nittany Lions two first downs before rushing 15 yards to collect his second career touchdown to put the Nittany Lions up 14-0.
Akeel Lynch, not to be left out of the Nittany Lion celebrations, dashed untouched up the field for 75 yards, the longest run since Bill Belton’s 92-yard rush at Indiana last year.
Penn State went to the locker room with a 21-0 lead after Grant Haley, who sat the first two games of the season, picked off a pass from Rutgers quarterback Chris Laviano with :10 remaining in what turned out to be the Nittany Lions’ best half of the season.
Penn State had 20 carries for 175 rushing yards in the first half alone; the team had just 180 yards of total offense against Temple. Rutgers had only 93.
The second half opened with Rutgers receiving the kick, but the ball quickly returned to the Lions after Lucas made a big third down tackle.
The Knights’ offense finally earned some ground with a 15-yard drive four minutes into the third quarter, but were unable to put themselves on the board after freshman John Reid picked off his first career interception and returned the ball to inside the 35-yard line for the Lions but ultimately couldn’t convert the points.
The third quarter remained scoreless.
Rutgers finally managed to threaten the Penn State lead in the fourth quarter as the team methodically moved up the field. The Knights managed to get to the first and 10; two more receptions put them in the end zone, but two tackles by Penn State and an incomplete pass by Laviano forced the Knights into a field goal attempt.
Rutgers was handed a delay of game on the field goal attempt, pushing them back to the 34-yard line, where Kyle Federico put the Knights on the board.
Barkley turned out another big play for the Nittany Lions, breaking several tackles and rushing to pick up 40 yards, though the Knights’ Anthony Cioffi picked off a floater from Hackenberg two plays later. Rutgers took over possession at its own one-yard line.
Josh Hicks avoided three tackles in the end zone and picked up 19 yards, but Penn State’s Carl Nassib nailed Laviano with a sack on the next play. Laviano appeared to fumble the ball; the results were heavily contested, but Rutgers maintained possession.
Senior defensive tackle Austin Johnson hit Laviano with his third straight sack to give the ball back to Penn State, and Barkley took over, breaking another tackle and stealing 54 yards before getting tripped up just short of the end zone. However, he finished the job on the next play, dashing 16 yards for his second touchdown of the game and giving the Lions a 28-3 lead.
The Knights barely got the ball back in their hands before Penn State recovered a fumble, leading James Franklin to swap quarterbacks and give redshirt freshman Trace McSorley a chance to run the game.
Rutgers got the ball back with 1:08 remaining to play, but was unable to do anything with the ball or protect Laviano, who ended the game with another sack and three incomplete passes.
This marks the second game in a row that Penn State has not allowed a sack against Hackenberg.
The Nittany Lions continue their home series next week against San Diego State at 3:30 p.m. The game will be available on the Big Ten Network.
Photo Credit: GoPSUSports.com
