STATE COLLEGE, Pa. _ Despite myriad injuries throughout the game, Penn State avenged last season's historic loss, toppling Temple, 34-27, on Saturday at Beaver Stadium.
A year ago in the opener, Temple (1-2) beat Penn State (2-1) for this first time in 74 years. In 2016, the Nittany Lions managed to overcome several injuries to key players, like being down six defensive starters at one point, to not fall to in-state teams back-to-back.
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Trace McSorley connected on a beautiful play with junior wide receiver Chris Godwin for a 52-yard touchdown. Redshirt junior kicker Tyler Davis made the extra point to put the Nittany Lions ahead with 9:35 to play in the first quarter.
But the Owls responded in turn when senior running back Jahad Thomas scored an 8-yard run with junior kicker Austin Jones' extra point. Temple tied it up just 41 seconds later.
Star sophomore running back Saquon Barkley took the first snap of the game and then didn't play again until just before halftime with an apparent leg injury. But that allowed redshirt freshman running back Andre Robinson to score his first touchdown, a 3-yard run with a Davis kick to put Penn State back on top with 2:50 left in the first quarter.
With 7:15 left in the second quarter. McSorley recorded a first of his own in his first rushing score, a 2-yard rush with another Davis kick. Temple then closed the first half scoring with Jones' 45-yard field goal with four seconds left until halftime.
Davis nabbed his own field goal at 40 yards early in the third quarter.
Temple's sophomore defensive back Delvon Randall intercepted McSorley to set up a short touchdown drive. Senior quarterback Phillip Walker made the 1-yard run on fourth down with 1:56 left in the third quarter, and Jones eventually made the kick after the referees called back two point-after attempts for penalties.
Davis made a 30-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter to extend Penn State's lead. But Temple capitalized on a weird punt to climb back again. The punt hit redshirt sophomore cornerback Amani Oruwariye in the back, and Temple recovered the ball at the 1-yard line. Thomas then eventually made the 2-yard with a Jones kick with 8:10 left in the game.
Barkley broke out one of his signature runs for a 55-yard score late in the second quarter with a Davis kick. Jones made a 34-yard field goal for Temple with 2:10 to play to end the scoring.
