Game 4 Recap: Penn State 45, Temple 3

1st Quarter

This was definitely the most boring start of the season. The Lions have been dominating the first quarter so far this year, but this was like watching an ACC game early on.

Penn State kicked off and Temple lit things up on their first possession, driving for –2 yards. The Lions fared a bit better, but had to punt. Temple had a bit more success the second time around, but still ended up punting, only to have Daryl Clark throw the first Penn State interception of the season two passes later. We predicted that this would NOT be the game that saw the first PSU pick. As always, we are idiots.

Temple followed up Clark’s gift with another stellar drive, this time for –5 yards. The teams then traded punts, and the quarter ended with no score for the first time in Penn State’s season. Just to sum up Temple’s offense: 4 drives, 17 plays, 21 yards. Brilliant.

2nd Quarter

If the Penn State offense was our 1983 Georgie Boy RV in the 1st quarter, it was more like this in the second:



To start the quarter, Stephfon Green took the ball 27 yards to the Temple 20, and Clark hit Brett Brackett for a 20-yard touchdown strike.

7-0

Temple punted again, and before long, Evan Royster scored on a 32-yard touchdown run.

14-0

After a 74-yard kick return by Temple’s Travis Shelton, things were looking up for The Owls. Unfortunately for them, Tony Davis picked off a Chester Stewart pass on the first play of the drive and it was Penn State’s ball again. Clark ruled this drive, with a 49-yard pass to Deon Butler, a 17-yard pass to Green, and then an 11-yard rush for a touchdown.

21-0

Temple responded to the easy score by the Lions like true champions, driving for –13 yards and promptly punting. In case you lost count, that’s three drives for negative yardage for the Owls so far. The Lions wasted no time, as Clark hit Quarless, Royster and finally Graham Zug for a 17-yard score.

28-0

The rout was officially on.

The Owls, fearing change, quickly went three-and-out. Devlin came in the game and completed three passes on the next drive, which was capped by a 44-yard field goal by Kevin Kelly as time ran out on the 2nd quarter.

31-0

Yes, they scored 31 points in the 2nd quarter. Holy hell.

-Halftime-

Joe's leg started to hurt, so he went to the booth.

3rd Quarter

PSU started the third with the ball. We were happy with the score, hoping to see PSU just start the run-out-the-game offense. Sadly, however, they went 3 and out and gave Temple the ball.

After a few completions, one of which was helped out by a face mask penalty, the Owls were in field goal range. The Lions held them back but their chase for the goose egg ended on this drive as Jake Brownell put Temple on the board with a field goal.

31-3

After the kick off Clark threw a 12 yard completion to Brett Bracket which was just enough for put Stephfon Green in range for a touchdown run.

One play and 69 yards later, he was in the end zone.

His favorite number, again!

38-3

The next three drives went like this to end the third:
Punt.
Punt.
Punt.

4th Quarter

Pat Devlin got some snaps on the next drive. It started at mid-field so it only took a couple short runs and a 17 yard pass to get the Lions into the red zone. Chaz Powell made everyone in the house who bought a Robinson jersey proud when he took one in from 7 yards out. That's the good thing about buying a college jersey. Every couple of years you look like you know what you're doing when you already have the jersey for a good young player.

Anyway,

45-3

On the next offensive play for the Owls, Chester Stewart's pass was picked off by Navarro Bowman.
The Lions would then lose the ball on a fumble a few plays later.

After this it was a series of punts for Temple and a series of turnover on downs for the Lions as they tried to just run out the clock.

On the last drive for the Owls it looked like they might get a chance to put up some more points, but Knowledge Timmons got himself an interception and the game was over.

Well, 2 more short rushes to run out the clock, and the game was over.


3 Big Stat Lines

• Stephfon Green: 9 carries, 132 yds, 2 TD, 14.7 yards per carry
  
• Daryl Clark: 13-20, 196 yds, 2 TD (passing), 1 TD (rushing)
  
• Navorro Bowman: 11 tackles, 5 TFL, 3 sacks, 1 INT, 1 forced fumble. Holy crap.
  

Our Quick Thoughts On The Game:

• This one was not fun to watch early on.
  
• We were close to our prediction on Royster’s YPC (8.7-prediction, 8.1 actual)
  
• 31 points happened really fast.
  
• Let’s hope they don’t start that slow against Illinois.
  
• The kickoff coverage was gawd-awful all day.
  
• Royster and Green combine for 205 yards and 2 TD. Good way to end the non-conference schedule.
• For a 42-point win, this one didn't feel all that spectacular.
  
• The turkey was cooked successfully.
  
• Farewell, Yankee Stadium.
• Good riddance, Yankee Stadium. (equal time for all writers, remember?)
  

Penn State Player(s) of the Game: Linebacker Navorro Bowman
In his first career start, the sophomore Bowman stepped up in a big way. Check out his stat line from above, that's like something you rack up on NCAA'09. Hopefully this was the coming out party for the next great Penn State linebacker. Then again, it was Temple. But hey, it was a great performance nonetheless, and Bowman deserves some credit.

Temple Player of the Game: Meh
Two weeks in a row, no good player to speak of from the opposing team. That’s what we like to see.