The Penn State Nittany Lions (1-1) overcame soggy weather and used a dominating second half to top the Buffalo Bulls (1-1) by a final score of 27-14.
Penn State started the afternoon with a 58-yard return on the opening kickoff. Despite DaeSean Hamilton’s two catches, the Lions failed to convert on the fourth down. Buffalo’s first offensive possession ended with a three-and-out after quarterback Joe Licata was sacked, and the Bulls were forced to punt.
Several quick penalties gave Buffalo a first down, but Licata couldn’t get the offense moving, and the Bulls attempted a 47-yard field attempt, but were unable to convert.
Penn State picked up its first first down of the game with 5:29 left, but ultimately ran out of time and ended the quarter with the score leveled at zero.
The second quarter opened with a Penn State possession, but an early release by quarterback Christian Hackenberg to avoid getting hit forced an unsuccessful 49-yard field goal attempt by freshman kicker Joey Julius.
Defensive lineman Austin Johnson nabbed his first sack of the game after forcing an incomplete pass. On the play following the sack, Buffalo punted, but offsetting penalties forced the Bulls to re-kick, allowing redshirt freshman DeAndre Thompkins to tear up the field in a motivational 58-yard return. Two plays later, Hackenberg connected with freshman wide receiver Brandon Polk for the first touchdown of the afternoon and the first score for Penn State since the first quarter of the Temple game.
Julius converted the extra point to give the Nittany Lions a seven-point lead with 6:52 remaining in the first half.
Penn State was able to stay in the red zone after senior standout Anthony Zettel batted a pass from Licata away from the Bulls’ receiver and into the arms of Penn State defensive end Carl Nassib for an interception. The Nittany Lions couldn’t convert the play for a touchdown, but did collect a 21-yard field goal from Julius to pick up the 10-0 lead.
A big hit from Zettel and Troy Reeder gave the ball back to Penn State with 1:23 remaining, but the Lions were unable to beat the clock despite converting three first downs. The half ended with a score of 10-0 favoring the Nittany Lions.
There was little action for the second half’s opening five minutes, but a quick 29-yard gain for Buffalo set up Licata’s 14-yard pass to Rob Willoughby to cut the Lions’ lead to three points.
With some nice footwork by Hackenberg, Penn State marched up the field; however, sophomore tight end Mike Gesicki stumbled once and dropped the ball twice to force Penn State to settle for a 22-yard field goal from Joey Julius with 25 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
The Nittany Lions opened the final quarter with a three-minute touchdown drive. Saquon Barkley jetted a career-best 33 yards, was taken down, and then rushed another 17 yards (and hurdled a fallen Buffalo defensive player in the process) to put Penn State in scoring position.
One play later, Hackenberg connected with Hamilton who then picked up a five-yard rush to give Penn State its second touchdown of the game. Hamilton was slapped with a fifteen yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that was added to the ensuing kick, but Penn State picked up the 20-7 lead with 12:04 remaining in the game.
Buffalo picked up a pass interference penalty on a bullet from Hackenberg to Chris Godwin, but they couldn’t stop Hackenberg from completing another deep pass to Godwin to pick up 38 yards. Barkley stormed another nine yards to collect Penn State’s third and final touchdown of the afternoon at 11:18.
Licata marched up the field under pressure, but managed to complete a 10-yard pass to wide receiver Marcus McGill to bring the score to 27-14; a botched snap by Chris Gulla on a 50-yard field goal attempt with just under two minutes remaining kept the score in favor of the Nittany Lions.
Three Fast Facts:
• Buffalo ended the game with 14 penalties, while Penn State nailed Licata with five sacks.
• Saquon Barkley is the first true freshman since Silas Redd to rush for more than 100 yards in a game.
• Penn State allowed zero sacks during the game.
Penn State is back at Beaver Stadium next week to face off against Rutgers at 8 p.m. The Big Ten Network will carry the game.
Photo Credit: GoPSUSports.com
