| 39 | 0 |
| High Point Solutions Stadium | Piscataway, N.J. | 40,678 | |
| POST GAME LINKS |
| Box Score (HTML) | Box Score (PDF) |
| Notes | Quotes |
| Photo Gallery (PSU) | Photo Gallery (USA Today) |
| VIDEO: Coach Franklin Postgame |
| VIDEO: Player Postgame |
| FINAL STATISTICS |
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - No. 8 Penn State held Rutgers to 87 yards and five first downs as the Nittany Lions shutout the Scarlet Knights, 39-0, in Big Ten football action Saturday night in High Point Solutions Stadium. The win extended Penn State's winning streak to seven.
It was Penn State's first shutout since blanking Illinois last season and is the largest road shutout victory since joining the Big Ten in 1993. The 87 yards and five first downs allowed are both Big Ten records for Penn State.
Penn State (9-2, 7-1 Big Ten) used the leg of Tyler Davis, a productive rushing attack and another strong game from quarterback Trace McSorley, as the Nittany Lions totaled 549 yards of offense against Rutgers (2-9, 0-8 Big Ten).
The 549 yards of offense are the sixth-most in a Big Ten game by Penn State. It was Penn State's fourth game with 500 or more yards off offense this season for its most since 2009.
Davis kicked a career-high four field goals, including three in the first half to give Penn State a 9-0 lead at the halftime break. Running back Saquon Barkley totaled 92 yards and a touchdown to lead six rushers that totaled 339 yards. McSorley completed 17-of-33 pass attempts for 210 yards and a touchdown and also rushed for 55 yards on 11 carries for 265 yards of total offense.
The Nittany Lions were unable to find the end zone in the first half, but Barkley scored the Nittany Lions' first touchdown of the of the game early in the third quarter after a blocked punt by Juwan Johnson. Davis added another field goal and Andre Robinson rushed into the end zone from two yards out for a 25-0 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Running back Mark Allen scampered down the sideline for a 27-yard touchdown reception with 7:59 remaining, and quarterback Tommy Stevens scored from 12 yards out with 4:07 remaining for the game's final score.
Penn State's seven-game winning streak is its longest overall since 2011 and longest in the Big Ten since 1994.
Turning Point
Rutgers started with the ball in the second half, but the Penn State defense forced a three-and-out, and then Juwan Johnson blocked the ensuing punt. Garrett Taylor recovered it at the Rutgers 10-yard line, setting up the first Nittany Lion touchdown drive of the game. Penn State scored 30 points in the second half to put the game out of reach.
Difference Makers
Penn State
- QB Trace McSorley - Trace McSorley totaled 265 yards of total offense, completing 17-of-33 passes for 210 yards and a touchdown and also rushing for 55 yards, with a long of 28, on 11 carries. It was his eighth game with 200 or more passing yards of the season and 12th consecutive with a touchdown pass.
- RB Saquon Barkley - Barkley totaled 117 all-purpose yards, rushing 16 times for 92 yards and a touchdown and catching two passes for 25 yards. It was his 14th rushing touchdown of the season, giving him the Penn State sophomore record and the most for a Nittany Lion since Larry Johnson had 20 in 2002. However, Barkley had his streak of 14 consecutive games with at least one run of 20+ yards snapped. It was the second-longest streak in college football in the last 20 years (LaMichael James - 19), according to the Big Ten Network.
- K Tyler Davis - Davis scored 15 of Penn State's 39 points, converting a career-high four field goal attempts and three extra points. Four of Penn State's first five scores were field goals.
- Rushing Attack - Led by Barkley, Penn State totaled 339 yards rushing. In addition to Barkley and McSorley, Miles Sanders was second on the ledger with a career-high 85 yards on five carries, including career-long run of 57 yards. Tommy Stevens rushed for 61 yards on six carries and a touchdown. Mark Allen added 26 yards on five carries and Andre Robinson rushed for 20 yards and a touchdown on six carries.
- TE Mike Gesicki - Gesicki led all receivers with five catches for 47 yards. It gave him a Penn State tight end record for receptions in a season with 42.
- LB Brandon Bell - Bell led the Nittany Lion defense with five tackles and a strip-sack. It was his sixth career forced fumble and second this season.
- Defense - Over 20 different ÂNittany Lions recorded a tackle, as the Nittany Lions held Rutgers to five first downs and 87 yards of offense (48 pass, 39 rush).
Scoring Drives
1st Qtr
PSU - 6:34 - FG - Tyler Davis 32 yd Kick, 11 plays, 46 yards, 4:14 - 0-3
PSU - 1:42 - FG - Tyler Davis 34 yd Kick, 11 plays, 64 yards, 2:27 - 0-6
2nd Qtr
PSU - 5:28 - FG - Tyler Davis 40 yd Kick, 7 plays, 6 yards, 1:41 - 0-9
3rd Qtr
PSU - 12:33 - TD - Saquon Barkley 1 yd Rush, 3 plays, 10 yards, 1:20 - 0-16
PSU - 6:46 - FG - Tyler Davis 32 yd Kick, 8 plays, 41 yards, 3:54 - 0-19
PSU - 3:32 - TD - Andre Robinson 2 yd Rush (PAT Failed), 6 plays, 63 yards, 2:01 - 0-25
4th Qtr
PSU - 7:59 - TD - Mark Allen 27 yd Pass from Trace McSorley, 12 plays, 95 yards, 5:54 - 0-32
PSU - 4:07 - TD - Tommy Stevens 12 yd Rush, 4 plays, 74 yards, 2:03 - 0-39
Key Drives
First Quarter
PENN STATE 10:48-6:34 (4:14, 11 plays, 46 yards) - FIELD GOAL
Saquon Barkley rushed for 27 yards, including an 18-yard run to the Rutgers 18, to key the first scoring drive of the game. Davis kicked a 57-yard field goal.
Penn State 3, Rutgers 0
PENN STATE 4:09-1:42 (3:56, 11 plays, 64 yards) - FIELD GOAL
A 26-yard completion to Mike Gesicki on fourth-and-1 highlighted the drive, as Davis capped it with a 34-yard field goal.
Penn State 6, Rutgers 0
Second Quarter
PENN STATE 7:09-5:28 (1:41, 7 plays, 6 yards) - FIELD GOAL
Penn State took over at the Rutgers 29 after a 19-yard punt, but the Lions managed just one first down and lost five yards on a false start. However, Davis kicked his longest field goal of the game of 40 yards.
Penn State 9, Rutgers 0
Third Quarter
PENN STATE 13:53-12:33 (1:20, 3 plays, 10 yards) - TOUCHDOWN
After Juwan Johnson blocked a Rutgers punt, Penn State's first drive of the second half started at the Rutgers 10. McSorley rushed for 5 yards, and then Barkley rushed for 4 and then into the end zone from 1-yard out.
Penn State 16, Rutgers 0
PENN STATE 10:40-6:46 (3:54, 8 plays, 41 yards) - FIELD GOAL
A 19-yard completion to Barkley moved Penn State in to field goal range, and Davis converted his career-high fourth field goal from 32 yards out.
Penn State 19, Rutgers 0
PENN STATE 5:33-3:32 (2:10, 6 plays, 63 yards) - TOUCHDOWN
Barkley started the drive off with an 18-yard run to the Rutgers 45, and two plays later, Godwin caught a 22-yard reception to move Penn State to the 14. Barkley rushed to the 5, and Andre Robinson took it from there for the touchdown.
Penn State 25, Rutgers 0
The Rest
Mark Allen added a 27-yard touchdown reception with 7:59 remaining to cap a 12-play, 95-yard drive, and Tommy Stevens rushed for a 12-yard touchdown with 4:07 remaining to a four-play, 74-yard drive that included Miles Sanders' 57-yard run.
Up Next
Penn State will return home to Beaver Stadium to host Michigan State in the regular season finale. The game will kick at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN.
To purchase tickets or for information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and 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.
Final Stats | Quotes | Notes | USATSI Gallery | PSU Photo Gallery