Sept. 17, 2011
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PHILADELPHIA (AP)--Penn State used a game-winning fourth quarter drive set up by a Michael Mauti interception and capped off by a Michael Zordich one- yard touchdown run to defeat Temple,14-10, on Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field.
The Nittany Lions improved to 15-3 in the next game after a loss since the start of the 2005 season and 11-4 in regular season contests away from Beaver Stadium since 2008. The crowd of 57,323, third-longest in Temple history, included an enthusiastic blue and white audience that made up more than half the attendees.
With the Nittany Lions down 10-7, linebacker Mauti made a diving interception of Temple quarterback Mike Gerardi at the Owls' 44-yard line. Quarterback Rob Bolden then guided Penn State (2-1) on a 12-play scoring drive, which included two fourth down conversions.
Bolden first connected with receiver Derek Moye on an 11-yard pass to the Temple 11-yard line on fourth-and-two to keep the drive alive. Three plays later, running back Brandon Beachum surged for a two-yard gain on fourth-and-one from the three-yard line. Zordich then plunged in to give the Lions the lead.
After Temple (2-1) got the ball back with 2:42 remaining in the game, the Nittany Lion defense answered the call, ending the Owls threat on a sack and forced fumble of Gerardi on fourth down by junior defensive end Sean Stanley, who had his finest career game,
The Penn State defense was outstanding, forcing three turnovers and limiting Temple, which entered the contest averaging 272 rushing yards per game, to a total of 74. Owls' leading rusher Bernard Pierce mustered only 2.9 yards per carry (17-50) after averaging 7.8 in the first two games. Temple quarterbacks Gerardi and Chester Stewart were a combined 12 of 28 for 123 yards.
Mauti paced the defense, making a team-high six solo tackles, including a career-high tying three for a loss of eight yards, and the clutch fourth quarter interception, the first of his career. Senior defensive tackle Devon Still tied Mauti for the team-lead in total tackles (6) and had one sack for a loss of six yards.
Stanley set a career-high with five tackles and was a part of two forced fumbles. He combined with sophomore linebacker Glenn Carson to jar the ball loose fro Pierce in the third quarter. Senior safety Nick Sukay made his third career fumble recovery on the play.
Senior cornerback Chaz Powell recorded his first career interception, stepping in front of a Gerardi pass early in the fourth quarter and returning it 26 yards. He also tied his career-high with five tackles (four solo) for the second straight game.
Moye was Penn State's main target in the passing game, hauling in a career-high seven passes for 112 yards. The senior wide receiver also returned two punts for 39 yards, including a 31-yard effort in the first quarter, to total a career best 151 all-purpose yards.
Junior receiver Justin Brown (Wilmington, Del.) tied a career high with six receptions, compiling 62 yards. Matt McGloin threw for a game-high 124 yards on 13-of 19 passing. Bolden, who started behind center for the third consecutive game, completed 9-of-17 passing attempts for 92 yards.
Silas Redd rushed for 86 yards on 18 carries (5.4 avg.) while Beachum totaled 27 yards on the ground.
Penn State tied the game at 7-7 when McGloin entered the game with 8:10 remaining in the second quarter. McGloin led the Lions on a seven-play, 50-yard drive, aided by a 15-yard face mask penalty against Temple and finished off by a 17-yard scoring scamper by Redd.
Penn State won its 29th consecutive game against Temple and improved its all-time series record versus the Owls to 37-3-1.
Penn State plays its final non-conference game of the season on Saturday, hosting Eastern Michigan at Beaver Stadium. The contest, which is scheduled for a noon kickoff, will air on ESPN2, the Penn State Sports Network and www.GoPSUsports.com. Penn State and Eastern Michigan have met just once before, a 52-7 Nittany Lion win in 1992.