Game 2 Recap: Penn State 45, Oregon State 14

First things first, Joe was all business this week.
What a photo.

As the WWTL staff closed up shop on the first half of the year’s first big tailgate, we hoofed it down to the newly re-opened Sports Café to find about 3 other people ready to watch the game. Oh well, at least we got a seat. We were locked in and ready to go, anxious to see how the team would do without half of its defensive line.

Luckily, with one or two exceptions, this game could not have gone better. The offense was an absolute juggernaut, the D held strong and a drunken Beavers fan told us bad jokes during halftime. Why you would fly from Oregon and not attend the game is beyond us, but that is beside the point. The Lions proved some things today, and we’re feeling pretty good about them. Onto the recap!

1st Quarter

The game seemed to start off with a bad omen for Lions fans, as Kevin Kelly promptly booted the opening kickoff out of bounds. Not a good start. But luckily for us, Oregon State’s offense was led by All-Horrible quarterback Lyle Moevao. How this guy threw for 400 yards last week, we will never understand. Just to sum things up, the Beavers had three offensive series in the first quarter. Here’s how they went: three-and-out, three-and-out, reception for 22 yards then three more plays and a punt. We take it back; we are not scared of Lyle Moevao.

On their first drive, the Beavers tried to take things to the sky. Three plays and three really short gains later, that plane was definitely crashing.

The OSU passing game never even made it to the tarmac.

Meanwhile, things were moving right along for the Penn State offense. Clark looked confident in converting two third-and-longs on the first drive –both on passes, one to Jordan Norwood and one to Mickey Shuler—and before long, Royster took one home from 15 yards out to put the Lions on the board.

7-0

After that, the Beavers sent the O back out. Since passing didn't work, the Beavers tried to run the ball this time. Three and out.

The rain had stopped. The field had been covered.
Yet somehow OSU was still stuck in the mud.

On their second drive, the Lions started from their own 45. The Beavers’ defense opened up like… well, a beaver. After a 24-yard rush by Clark and a 15-yard scamper by D-Will, Clark hooked up with Shuler for a 5-yard touchdown.

14-0

Penn State had to punt on their third drive, and that gave Moevao just enough time to throw a couple crappy incompletions and put Oregon State in the position to punt as the quarter came to an end. We hate to give all the credit for Oregon State’s sucky play to Moevao. Penn State’s D looked solid, and Josh Gaines was ruining people in the first quarter. Thumbs up to the D.

2nd Quarter

This time, Oregon State couldn’t even punt the ball right. Punter Johnny Hekker bobbled the snap and was smacked by Nathan Stupar. This set up great field position for the Lions, and after an incomplete pass, Royster took one in from 28 yards to put Penn State up three scores.

21-0.

This just in: Royster is a beast.

You’ll never believe this, but Oregon State went three-and-out on their ensuing drive. Here’s something you might believe though: Royster had a 34-yard run on the next drive, followed by a 4-yard touchdown run, his third of the day.

28-0

Get used to seeing this a lot this season.

After watching Royster destroy their D, the Beavers thought maybe they should attempt to run against Penn State’s D-line, you know, since half the starters were missing. Maybe they should’ve tried that earlier, because running back Jacquizz Rodgers toted the rock seven times for 51 yards, capping the drive with a 12-yard touchdown rush to put the Beavers on the board.

28-7.

Of course the score by the Beavers was moot about five minutes later, as Clark found Norwood three times on the next drive, including a pretty 22-yard touchdown hook up.

35-7

Norwood had an amazing day out there.

Nothing else really happened for the rest of the half, except for Gaines crushing Moevao for a sack, and Kelly missing a 60-yard field goal, which was the least surprising thing that happened all day.

Halftime.

It was during halftime that the Sports Café’s satellite service decided to crap the bed.

It was on to Pickles for us.

3rd Quarter

After a Royster fumble and another Oregon State punt (who could’ve imagined that?), Clark hit Norwood two more times before taking off on an 18-yard touchdown scramble.

42-7

Our offense is good. But still, we thought this game would be closer.

Oregon State began its next drive and time ran out on the third quarter. Oregon State’s coach began to cry.

4th Quarter

We now go to Paul Maguire for a sideline report:

Has Paul Maguire ever said anything meaningful?

The Beavers ended the third and began the fourth with a lengthy drive that ended with a Rodgers touchdown. The OSU offense had finally managed to find a good rhythm and put one in the end zone.

Now up by 31 in the fourth quarter of the second game of the season, Joe plays things safe and starts running the ball and running down the clock, just making sure to get everyone home alive and secure the win.

Oddly enough, however, the Beavers' coaching staff must have also thought that was a good idea as they instructed Moevao to give the ball right back the Lions. The Lions ended that series with a punt and the ball was back in Moevaos hands.

It was only a matter of time before it would be back in Devlin's.

After a turnover on downs, Stephfon Green ran for four straight plays in the Lions' last series of the game and let the Beavers have the ball at about midfield with a little over 30 seconds left. Moevao threw 2 short passes and time ran out.

GAME.
45-15, Penn State.

3 Big Stat Lines:
-Daryll Clark: 14-23, 215 yds, 2 TD (passing), 5 carries, 64 yards, 1 TD (rushing)
-Evan Rosyter: 17 carries, 144 yds, 3 TD
-Jordan Norwood: 8 rec, 116 yds, 1 TD

Our Quick Thoughts On The Game:
-Clark had a really good day, and looked great early on in third-and-long situations. He’s throwing a pretty decent ball right now, and his scrambling abilities are going to be really useful in conference play.
-Great day by Jordan Norwood. He’s always been a solid player, and he made some big catches yesterday. He also passed WWTL favorite O.J. McDuffie on the career receptions list.
-The D-line looked shaky on OSU’s first touchdown drive, but other than that, they did a nice job as a unit. Horrible news that Jerome Hayes is probably out for the season.
-Lyle Moevao is awful.
-Sweet pick by Mark Rubin.
-A lot of Oregon State fans showed up. Gotta hand it to them for making the trip. You'd think one of them would have told the team about the game.
-The Building the Dam guy has to feel like an idiot today.

Penn State Player of the Game: Offensive Line
We could've given this to Clark or Royster (or even Norwood), but would either of them have had huge days without the outstanding play of the O-line? The guys on the line opened up holes and blocked well on the ends all days to allow 239 rushing yards. And Clark was barely under pressure all day. No sacks allowed. Big day by the O-line.

Oregon State Player of the Game: Jacquizz Rodgers
For all the talk about Oregon State's passing game, the Beavers did little damage through the air all day. But Rodgers put together a nice day, rushing for 99 yards and 2 touchdowns. His first touchdown run was punishing, as he just plowed through guys for the last seven or so yards. The OSU coaching staff probably should've gone to him more early on.