Temple University Athletics
Temple University
Penn State
Football Falls To #23/20 Penn State, 22-13
9.25.10 | Football
Owls led for 37 minutes before Nittany Lion comeback
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – For the first time in three decades Temple held its own with Penn State, leading the #23/20 Nittany Lions for 37 minutes before falling 22-13 in front of 104,840 fans at Beaver Stadium Saturday afternoon. Senior PK Collin Wagner made a career-high and school-record-tying five field goals and senior RB Evan Royster rushed for a career-high 187 yards to propel PSU's come-from behind win. Penn State improved to 3-1 on the season, while the Owls fell to 3-1.
It was the closest game in the series since then #11 Penn State toppled Temple, 27-25, in 1985. It also marked the first time Temple led at any point in a game against their in-state rivals during the Nittany Lions' Big Ten era (since 1993).
Penn State, which jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead thanks to a 50-yard run by Royster on the first play from scrimmage. That set up Wagner's first field goal from 45 yards out.
Heisman Trophy candidate Bernard Pierce then scored two first quarter touchdowns – sandwiching another Wagner field goal - to give the Owls a 13-6 lead at the end of the quarter. The sophomore running back would end up leaving the game with an injury in the third quarter with an injury. His status for the Army game is unknown at this time.
The Temple defense played exceptional all afternoon, not allowing Penn State to find the end zone until the waning minutes of the game Senior LB Elijah “Peanut” Joseph made the unit's first huge play, stripping Royster with junior DE Adrian Robinson recovering at the Penn State 28. That set up Pierce's first touchdown run, stunning the raucous home crowd.
Junior DB James Nixon then made the play of the day – on offense. The return specialist entered as a wide receiver and took a reverse down the right sideline for a 51-yard play to the Penn State four. Pierce went around the right end for his second touchdown. A bad snap on the point after conversion led to former QB Vaughn Charlton attempting a two-point conversion. Charlton's pass missed the mark leaving the score 13-6 with 10 seconds to play in the opening quarter.
After both teams exchanged punts, Penn State again went on a long drive, running off 11 plays while moving the ball 74 yards to the Temple 25. Junior LB Tahir Whitehead made the play on the defense to derail the Nittany Lions drive, sacking freshman QB Rob Bolden – his first sack of the season – and forcing a fumble that resulted in a 19-yard loss to the Temple 46. Bolden hit Garry Gilliam on a 19-yard reception on the next play, setting up a 42-yard field goal by Wagner that made it 13-9.
Senior safety Nick Sukay then picked off Stewart, the Temple signal-caller's first interception of the season, on the next possession, giving Penn State a first down at the Temple 45. The Owls defense came up big, forcing a turnover on downs with a stop on a fourth-and-one play. Senior FS Jaiquawn Jarrett, who had a season high 11 tackles, made two stops on that drive while Muhammad Wilkerson and Kadeem Custis were credited with the tackle on Bolden on the final play.
Neither team could muster any offense early in the third quarter. Pierce, who finished with 42 yards on 10 carries, would suffer his injury on the Owls' third series, being tackled for a loss of one on a second down play. He was helped off the field following the play and later was taken to the locker room.
Momentum seemed to shift following his departure as Penn State moved into field goal range on each of its next two possessions with Wagner converting from 32 and 21 yards out, respectively, to give the Nittany Lions the lead, 15-13, with 1:38 remaining in the third quarter.
The go-ahead field goal was set up by Nate Stupar's interception of Stewart. The PSU back returned it to the Temple 12. Again the Owls defense buckled down, holding PSU to the field goal.
Temple would gain just 29 yards in the four quarter as Penn State's defense shut down the Owls' offense with Pierce sidelined.
Finally Penn State found the end zone as Bolden (18-28-0, 223 yards) engineered a 12-play, 96 yard drive. The rookie QB three pass for 58 yards on the drive that was capped by a one-yard plunge by RB Michael Zordich with 3:35 remaining to seal the win.
Senior NT Eli Joseph doubled his previous career high with 10 tackles, while Whithead (9 tackles), sophomore FS Justin Gildea (8 tackles) and r-freshman DE Shadid Paulhill (6 tackles) all set new career highs. Nixon also set a new career high with a team-high 64 rushing yards.
Senior punter Jeff Wathne also had a superb game, punting seven times for a 44.7 yard average. He also had three inside the 20, including a 57-yarder that pinned Penn State at its own four yard-line.
Temple travels to Army this Saturday for a Noon kickoff. The game will be televised live by CBS College Sports and will be broadcast on 1210 AM WPHT.
