Sept. 10, 2016
Penn State Football
Post-Game Notes -- Pitt
September 10, 2016
TEAM
- Penn State and Pitt played for the 97th time overall and the first time since 2000. Penn State leads the series, 50-43-4.
- The combined 81 points are the most in a Penn State-Pitt game.
- The 39 points scored are the most in a loss in program history. The previous mark was 35 against Iowa in a 2002 overtime game.
- The following players were first time-starters: Sophomore wide receiver DeAndre Thompkins and sophomore linebacker Manny Bowen.
- True freshman linebacker Cam Brown made his first career appearance, becoming the fourth true freshman to play for Penn State this season.
OFFENSE
- Running back Saquon Barkley posted his first career five touchdown game with four rushing and one receiving.
- Barkley's 30 points are tied for fourth place in Penn State history (fifth occasion). The last Nittany Lion with 30 points was Ki-Jana Carter vs. Michigan State in 1994.
- Barkley's 30 points are the most by a Big Ten player since Melvin Gordon had 30 tallies against Bowling Green in 2014.
- Barkley's four rushing touchdowns are the most by a Nittany Lion since Larry Johnson had four vs. Michigan State in 2002.
- Barkley's 40-yard TD catch and run in the third quarter was his longest career reception and Trace McSorley's longest career touchdown pass.
- With 85 rushing yards, Barkley moved into 33rd place on Penn State's career rushing chart, passing Leroy Thompson (1987-90; 1,215) and Steve Smith (1983-86; 1,246). Barkley has 1,266 career rushing yards.
- Quarterback Trace McSorley set career highs in completions (24) and passing yards (332). The effort was his first career 300-yard passing game.
- McSorley recorded his first career 300-yard passing game with a career-high 332 yards - a total that ranks No. 13 on Penn State's single game passing charts.
- His 300-yard passing effort made him just the 12th quarterback in Penn State history to register a 300-yard passing game.
- It was the 30th 300-yard passing game in Penn State history. - McSorley's 17-yard run in the second quarter was a career long.
- Wide receiver DeAndre Thompkins set career highs for receptions (3) and receiving yards (87).
- Tight end Mike Gesicki made a career-high four catches, breaking his mark of 3 set against Kent State.
- Wide receivers DaeSean Hamilton (1,570) and WR Chris Godwin (1,525) both passed Freddie Scott (1993-95; 1,520) on Penn State's career receiving yards chart and rank 14th and 15th, respectively.
- Wide receiver Juwan Johnson made his first career reception, a 27-yard catch in the fourth quarter.
DEFENSE
- Defensive end Torrence Brown forced his first career fumble in the fourth quarter.
- Brown had a career-high six tackles, surpassing his previous high of four against Army last season. He also tied his personal mark with 2.0 TFLs.
- Cornerback John Reid recovered his second career fumble.
- Safety Malik Golden grabbed his second career interception in the second quarter.
- Linebacker Nyeem Wartman-White had a career-high 3.0 tackles for loss, besting his previous mark of 1.0 TFLs, which happened five times.
- Defensive tackle Robert Windsor had a career-high four tackles.
SPECIAL TEAMS
- Reid's 59-yard punt return in the first quarter was a career long and the longest punt return for the Nittany Lions since Derrick Williams' 63-yard return for a TD at Wisconsin in 2008.
- True freshman punter Blake Gillikin's 69-yard punt in the fourth quarter was a career long and Penn State's longest punt since Anthony Fera had a 69-yard punt vs. Purdue in 2011.
- Gillikin's punt is the second-longest punt by a freshman in Penn State history behind Fera's 74-yard boot in 2010.
- True freshman Miles Sanders' 33-yard kickoff return in the third quarter was a season long.
NEXT GAME
- The Nittany Lions host Temple on Sept. 17 for a noon kick in Beaver Stadium. Penn State leads the series, 39-4-1.
- The teams are playing for the 10th time in 11 years.