Defense, Running Game Lead Nittany Lions Past Temple, 30-13

Box Score

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State football team used complementary football with stellar performances on both sides of the ball to post a 30-13 win over Temple to become bowl eligible for the first time since the 2011 season. The Nittany Lions rushed for a season-high 254 yards, led by Akeel Lynch (Toronto, Ontario) and Bill Belton (Sicklerville, N.J.), while the Penn State defense forced five turnovers.

Lynch ran for 130 yards on 18 carries for an average of 7.2 yards. He also rushed for his first touchdown of the season and second of his career. Belton added 92 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. In the last two games, Belton has run for 229 yards and a pair of scores. The 254-yard team rushing total was the highest since a 289-yard afternoon against Purdue last season.

Penn State defense's five turnovers forced tied the season mark set against Rutgers. Seniors Adrian Amos (Baltimore, Md.) and Jesse Della Valle (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and true freshmen Christian Campbell (Phenix City, Ala.) Grant Haley (Atlanta, Ga.) each registered interceptions on the day.

Haley returned his first career pick 30 yards for the touchdown. Haley's touchdown was the first defensive touchdown scored by a true freshman since Paul Posluszny returned an interception against Indiana Nov. 15, 2003. It was also the first interception returned for a touchdown since Anthony Zettel's (West Branch, Mich.) pick-6 against Ohio State in October. Penn State's defense notched two defensive scores in a season for the first time since 2009 when Navorro Bowman had a pair of touchdowns (fumble return and interception).

Senior linebacker Mike Hull (Canonsburg, Pa.) had his sixth double-digit tackles performance of the season with 10 stops, including a half-tackle for a loss. With his effort, Hull moves into 10th place on Penn State's career tackles chart with 265 tackles, passing Glen Carson (2010-13; 261) for the position. Junior Austin Johnson (Galloway, N.J.) recovered his second fumble of the season and made four tackles, including one behind the line of scrimmage. Zettel recorded his sixth sack of the year with a stop for a two-yard loss.

Senior kicker Sam Ficken (Valparaiso, Ind.) connected on three field goal attempts on the day, including a 50-yard attempt. It was the second make of Ficken's career from beyond 50 yards, joining his 54-yard make against Kent State in 2013. With the two kicks, Ficken moves into second place on Penn State's career field goals list with 52, passing Craig Fayak (1990-93) for the position. Ficken also moved up the Nittany Lion career scoring charts and into a tie for fourth place with Travis Forney (1996-99) with 258 career points.

The Penn State offense sprinted out of the gates, marching down to the Temple eight-yard line in just eight plays. Belton and Lynch combined for 32 rushing yards in the first eight plays. After a one-yard loss, Belton advanced to the three-yard line, but Penn State could not find the end zone and settled for a 29-yard Ficken field goal for the 3-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

The squads exchanged possessions before Temple found success through the air on the way to a game-tying field goal. P.J. Walker completed three passes for 36 yards on the drive that ended with a 31-yard field goal by Austin Jones with 2:27 left in the first quarter.

Neither team could establish offensive momentum as they combine for seven punts and an interception over the next eight drives. After forcing a Temple punt, Penn State took over at their own 12 and put together another long drive to end the half. Christian Hackenberg (Palmyra, Va.) hit Chris Godwin (Middletown, Del.) for a 21-yard completion to spark the drive. A 19-yard personal foul call and a 12-yard rush by Hackenberg advanced to the Temple 32. Hackenberg connected with Lynch for a four-yard gain to set up a 50-yard field goal by Ficken to end the opening frame and give Penn State a 6-3 lead. The field goal is the second-longest of Ficken's career to a 54-yarder against Kent State in 2013.

The Owls came out strong to open the second half with a nine-play, 48-yard drive. However, Austin Jones' 42-yard field goal fell short to turn the ball over to the Lions at the Penn State 25. Lynch started the possession with a 25-yard run and Hackenberg found Jesse James (Glassport, Pa.) for a 15-yard gain. However, Todd Matakevich intercepted Hackenberg and returned the pick 47 yards to the Penn State 16.

Temple used back-to-back rushes by Walker for nine yards to move to the Penn State 7, but the Nittany Lion defense stood tall and forced the Owls to settle for a 25-yard field goal by Jones to tie the game at 6-6 with 11:04 left in the third quarter.

Penn State responded with the run game on its ensuing possession. Belton opened the drive with a 37-yard run and Lynch followed that up with a 38-yard touchdown run to give the Nittany Lions a 13-6 lead. It was Lynch's second rushing touchdown of the season.

After a three-yard rush by Temple's Jahad Thomas, Amos hauled in his team-high third interception of the season and returned it 33 yards to the Temple 8. On the first play from scrimmage, Belton ran it up the middle for paydirt and a 20-6 Penn State lead with 5:19 left in the third. Unfazed by the turn of events, the Owls responded with a 75-yard pitch-and-catch from Walker to Jalen Fitzpatrick for a touchdown to cut the lead to 20-13.

The squads swapped possessions until Haley intercepted Walker and returned it 30 yards for the touchdown and a 27-13 Penn State lead with 13:57 left in the game. The interception was the first of Haley's career and marks the first time that a true freshman has scored a defensive touchdown since Paul Posluszny returned an interception against Indiana Nov. 15, 2003. It was also the first interception returned for a touchdown since Zettel's pick-6 against Ohio State in October.

The defense continued to shine for Penn State as Johnson recovered a fumble on the next Temple drive to give the Nittany Lions prime starting position at the TU 23. Lynch ran for 20 yards on the drive, but Penn State was forced to settle for a 21-yard Ficken field goal for a 30-13 lead with 10:36 remaining.

The Temple offense again turned the ball over as Della Valle made a leaping interception and managed to get his elbow down inbounds before his momentum took him out of bounds. It was Della Valle's second pick of the season. The Nittany Lions were unable to capitalize on the Della Valle interception as Ficken's 42-yard field goal attempt was blocked. All four of Ficken's misses this season have been blocked.

The Penn State defense forced the Owls to turn the ball over on downs and the offense ran the clock out to secure the 30-13 win to become bowl eligible.

The Nittany Lions visit Illinois on Saturday. Game time and television arrangements will be announced Sunday. Penn State returns to Beaver Stadium for the regular-season finale against Michigan State on Saturday, Nov. 29. Time and television arrangements will be announced at a later date. Tickets are available by calling 1-800-NITTANY, weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Final Stats | Quotes | Notes | Photo Gallery media_icon_photogallery.gif | USATSI Gallery media_icon_photogallery.gif