| 33 | 13 |
| Beaver Stadium | University Park, Pa. | 94,378 | |
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State defense shut down Kent State in the second half, led by six sacks and an Amani Oruwariye interception return for a touchdown, as the Nittany Lions defeated the Golden Flashes in its 2016 season opener, 33-13, on a sunny Saturday afternoon in Beaver Stadium.
Penn State held a 16-13 lead at the half, but Oruwariye's 30-yard pick-six set the tone for the final two quarters, as the Nittany Lion defense held Kent State to just 118 yards the rest of the way. Linebacker Brandon Bell added an interception in Penn State territory. Eight different Lions totaled seven sacks for the game for the most by Penn State in a single game since the Northwestern game in 2011.
Sophomore quarterback Trace McSorley enjoyed a successful first career start at the helm of Penn State's new-look offense. He threw touchdown passes to DaeSean Hamilton and Mike Gesicki, connecting on 16-of-31 pass attempts for 209 yards, while also adding 47 yards on the ground. Classmate Saquon Barkley led the rushing attack, totaling 105 yards on 22 carries with one touchdown.
Penn State improves to 107-21-2 in season openers and has won 13 of its last 15. Six Nittany Lions made their first career starts (OG Ryan Bates, QB Trace McSorley, DE Evan Schwan, DT Kevin Givens, DT Parker Cothren, P Blake Gillikin), while 19 played in their first collegiate game for Penn State.
Turning Point
After a back-and-forth first half, Oruwariye's interception return for a touchdown - Penn State's first since 2014 - gave the Nittany Lions their first two-score lead of the game.
Difference Makers
Penn State
- Defense - Limited Kent State's three quarterbacks to 129 yards passing and 14 completions on 28 attempts with two interceptions. Seven different Kent State rushers were limited to 150 yards on 41 attempts. The Nittany Lions did not allow a touchdown on defense against Kent State for at least the fourth consecutive game.
- QB Trace McSorley - McSorley completed 16-of-31 pass attempts for 209 yards (both career highs) and two touchdowns in his first start. He connected on a career-long pass of 43 yards to DeAndre Thompkins and was sacked just once. McSorley also added 47 yards rushing on 14 carries - the most by a Penn State quarterback in a game since Kevin Newsome had 49 yards rushing against Eastern Illinois in 2009.
- RB Saquon Barkley - Rushed for 105 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries and also caught one pass for 17 yards. It was his sixth career 100-yard rushing game.
- WR Chris Godwin - Godwin continued his consistent play catching seven passes for 67 yards. He has caught at least four passes in 13 of his last 16 games, and at least six in five of his last six games.
- TE Mike Gesicki - Gesicki enjoyed a career day, matching his career high of three receptions while totaling a career-best 42 yards receiving and making his second career touchdown reception.
- CB Amani Oruwariye - Returned an interception 30-yards for a touchdown and made two tackles. The interception and touchdown were career firsts.
- LB Brandon Bell - Second on the team with eight tackles and made an interception at the Penn State 13 at the end of the third quarter.
- LB Jason Cabinda - Led the Lions with 11 tackles.
- DL Shareef Miller and Antoine White - Both recorded career highs of 1.5 sacks and five tackles each. It was Miller's first career game.
- S Marcus Allen - Forced the third fumble of his career and recovered the second of his career in the second quarter, leading to a Barkley touchdown.
Kent State
- S Nate Holley - Made a game-high 17 tackles.
- DE Terrance Waugh - Stripped McSorley of the ball in the second quarter, leading to a fumble recovery for a touchdown. Also made seven tackles.
- RB Justin Rankin - Led the Golden Flashes with 97 all-purpose yards, gaining 82 yards on 13 carries and catching two passes for 15 yards.
Scoring Drives
1st Qtr
KSU - 5:25 - FG - Shane Hynes, 26 yds, 11 plays, 64 yards - 4:31 - 0-3
PSU - 1:56 - TD - DaeSean Hamilton, 4 yd Pass from Trace McSorley (PAT rush by McSorley, Fail), 9 plays, 79 yards, 3:23 - 6-3
2nd Qtr
KSU - 11:33 - FG - Shane Hynes, 43 yds - 10 plays, 49 yards - 5:23 - 6-6
PSU - 8:02 - TD - Saquon Barkley, 7 yd Rush - 2 plays, 13 yards - 0:41 - 13-6
KSU - 6:12 - TD - Elcee Refuge, 20 yd Fumble Recovery - 13-13
PSU - 1:47 - FG - Davis, Tyler, 29 yds - 12 plays, 49 yards, 4:18 - 16-13
3rd Qtr
PSU - 14:05 - TD - Amani Oruwariye, - 30 yd INT Return - 23-13
PSU - 4:22 - FG - Tyler Davis - 28 yds - 8 plays, 49 yards, 2:39 - 26-13
4th Qtr
PSU - 1:53 - TD - Mike Gesicki, 30 yd pass from Trace McSorley, 8 plays, 67 yards, 2:38 - 33-13
Key Drives
First Quarter
KENT STATE 9:56-5:25 (4:31, 11 plays, 64 yards) - FIELD GOAL
Penn State went three-and-out on its first two possessions, as Godwin and Gesicki were unable to pull in potential big gains, forcing the Nittany Lions to punt. The Golden Flashes took over at their own 26 and gained 20 yards on their first play after a 5-yard rush and 15-yard facemask penalty. Quarterback Justin Agner then connected with Nick Holley on an 11-yard pass on 3rd-and-8 to move into Penn State territory. Agner completed a 12-yard pass to Kris White and then broke-off a 16-yard run to the 13. The Golden Flashes would only gain three more yards though to setup a 26-yard field goal.
Kent State 3, Penn State 0
PENN STATE 5:19-1:56 (3:23, 9 plays, 79 yards) - TOUCHDOWN
The Nittany Lions answered the field goal with a touchdown drive after taking over at their own 21. Barkley and McSorley picked up a first down on the ground, and then McSorley found Godwin along the sidelines for a 26-yard pick-up to the Kent State 41. Back-to-back rushes by Barkley netted 13 more yards and another first down. McSorley then found Godwin for seven and rushed for nine more himself to reach the Kent State 12. Barkley rushed to the four and then McSorley connected with Hamilton in the end zone on a slant over the middle for a touchdown. The two-point conversion was no good.
Penn State 6, Kent State 3
Second Quarter
KENT STATE 1:56 (1st Q)-11:33 (5:23, 10 plays, 49 yards) - FIELD GOAL
Kavious Price rushed 28 yards to the Penn State 6, but an offensive facemask and false start pushed Kent State back out of the red zone. Shane Hynes converted a 43-yard field goal attempt.
Penn State 6, Kent State 6
KENT STATE 9:13-8:43 (0:30, 2 plays, -1 yards) - FUMBLE
Kent State stopped Penn State at midfield and took over at its own 20 after a punt, but Marcus Allen put his hat on the ball to force a fumble, and he recovered it and returned it six yards to the Kent State 13.
PENN STATE 8:43-8:02 (0:41, 2 plays, 13 yards) - TOUCHDOWN
Barkley rushed for six yards and then scampered down the right sideline, diving inside the pylon to complete a 7-yard touchdown run.
Penn State 13, Kent State 6
PENN STATE 6:21-6:12 (0:09, 1 plays, -11 yards) - FUMBLE LOST, RETURNED FOR TOUCHDOWN
Terrance Waugh knocked the ball free from McSorley and Elcee Refuge scooped it up at the Penn State 20 and returned it for a Kent State touchdown.
Penn State 13, Kent State 13
PENN STATE 6:05-1:47 (4:18, 12 plays, 49 yards) - FIELD GOAL
A 30-yard kickoff return by Nick Scott gave Penn State a favorable start at the Kent State 35. A 21-yard pass play to Saeed Blacknall on the second play of the drive moved the Nittany Lions to the Kent State 34. A pair of receptions by Godwin helped the Lions reach the Kent State 13, but the drive stalled out. Tyler Davis connected on a 29-yard field goal to put Penn State back in the lead.
Penn State 16, Kent State 13
Third Quarter
KENT STATE 15:00-14:05 (0:55, 3 plays, 2 yards) - PICK SIX
Amani Oruwariye intercepted an Agner pass, ripping it away from the intended receiver and taking it all the way to the end zone.
Penn State 23, Kent State 13
PENN STATE 12:07-8:39 (3:08, 8 plays, 47 yards) - TURNOVER ON DOWNS
A 28-yard rush by Barkley to start the drive moved Penn State into Kent State territory, but McSorley fumbled on 4th-and-1 at the 8 and was stopped for a loss by Nate Holley.
PENN STATE 7:01-4:22 (3:08, 8 plays, 49 yards) - FIELD GOAL
DeAndre Thompkins hauled in a career-long 43-yard reception at the Kent State 5, but a holding call on a touchdown run forced Penn State to settle for a 28-yard field goal from Davis.
Penn State 26, Kent State 13
KENT STATE 4:22-0:00 (4:22, 9 plays, 43 yards) - INTERCEPTION
Rankin rushed for 35 yards on two carries to reach the Penn State 16, but was dropped for a loss of eight yards by Sickels and Jordan Smith, and then Kevin Givens and Shareef Miller teamed up for a sack, forcing 3rd-and-26 from the Penn State 32. Agner tried forcing a pass over the middle, but Bell intercepted it at the 13.
Fourth Quarter
PENN STATE 4:31-1:53 (2:38, 8 plays, 67 yards) - TOUCHDOWN
Gesicki hauled in a 30-yard touchdown pass to ice the win.
Penn State 33, Kent State 13
Up Next
Penn State Football's first visit to Pittsburgh in 16 years is set to kick at noon Sept. 10 on either ABC or ESPN. The Nittany Lions visit the Panthers in the Steel City for the first time since a 12-0 loss during the 2000 season. The game is the first of a four-game home-and-home series between Penn State and Pitt. The Nittany Lions have met the Panthers more than any other opponent - 96 times - with Penn State owning a 50-42-4 series advantage.
The Penn State vs. Pitt football four-game series will be entitled the Keystone Classic presented by Peoples Natural Gas. The series kicks off Sept. 10 at Heinz Field, followed by Nittany Lions hosting the Panthers Sept. 9, 2017. The squads are also slated to meet in 2018 and 2019.
Penn State returns to Beaver Stadium Sept. 17 hosting another in-state foe, Temple. To purchase tickets or for information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and purchasing new 2016 season tickets, as well as club seating in Beaver Stadium, fans can visit www.PSUnrivaled.com, call 1-800-NITTANY or visit the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office weekdays from 10 a.m-6 p.m.
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