PSU report
GAME BALLS
Offense
LT Donovan Smith, Penn State
The big tackle returned after missing two games with an undisclosed injury and dominated the Temple defense, paving the way for 254 rushing yards and throwing a pancake block to spring Akeel Lynch for a 38-yard score.
Defense
CB Grant Haley, Penn State
The true freshman returned his first career interception 30 yards for a game-breaking touchdown in the fourth quarter. He added three tackles in an impressive performance replacing injured starter Trevor Williams.
Special teams
PK Sam Ficken, Penn State
The senior had another kick blocked, but not before he drilled three more field goals, including a 50-yarder, to help keep Penn State ahead when the game was nip-and-tuck in the third quarter.
Player of the game
RB Akeel Lynch, Penn State
Finally getting the running game to rip off some explosive plays, Lynch did his part to help. He gained 130 yards on 18 carries, and his 38-yard touchdown in the third quarter broke a 6-6 tie to get Penn State on its way to a win.
By the numbers
3 Consecutive games in which Penn State QB Christian Hackenberg has failed to complete half of his passes after completing 12-of-26 for 112 yards Saturday.
4 True freshmen — corners Christian Campbell and Grant Haley and safeties Marcus Allen and Troy Apke — who saw action for the Nittany Lions.
5 Turnovers forced by the Penn State defense in the final 20:22 of the game.
254 Total rushing yards for Penn State, a season high.
Report card
Quarterback: For a while, it appeared Christian Hackenberg was the only player holding the offense back. He threw an inexcusable back-foot interception that changed momentum, and he completed just 12-of-26 passes for 112 yards and two INTs. The bad decisions brought about by bad protection have not gone away once the protection improved. GRADE: D+
Running backs: The only negative was Bill Belton’s first-half fumble. Akeel Lynch rushed for 130 yards, and Belton ripped off 92 on his 19 carries. It was a solid, effective running game and really the difference in the game. GRADE: B+
Receivers: In Hackenberg’s defense, the Temple secondary blanketed the Nittany Lions receivers all day, and they were unable to break open for big plays. The longest play was a 21-yard pass to Chris Godwin. GRADE: D+
Offensive line: There was nothing to complain about here. Hackenberg was sacked just twice, and both were coverage sacks. They paved the way for the run game, which averaged 5.4 yards per carry. It looked like the slight improvements coach James Franklin said they were making as the season progressed finally became evident. GRADE: A-
Defensive line: For the most part, they did their job, not letting shifty Temple QB P.J. Walker break too many big runs on broken plays. Anthony Zettel had the Lions’ only sack, but the bigger statistic is that Temple had just 61 yards rushing on 20 carries. GRADE: A
Linebackers: Nyeem Wartman was bringing consistent pressure on Walker, forcing him to make some questionable throws. Mike Hull and Brandon Bell were cleaning up the Temple run game. Hull led the Lions with 10 tackles, and all three were in on a tackle for loss. GRADE: A
Secondary: Jordan Lucas got torched for a 75-yard touchdown by Jaylen Fitzpatrick in the third quarter. But outside of that, this was a dominant effort. Four defensive backs had interceptions in the second half, and Grant Haley’s pick six really was the game. GRADE: A-
Special teams: Sam Ficken had another kick blocked, but those first three he hit were the important ones. The punt team was solid again behind punter Daniel Pasquariello, and Haley even had a nice return early on. Nothing spectacular here, but very solid. GRADE: B
Coaching: They have to figure out a way to get Hackenberg turned around before those 15 postseason practices in December. But there can be little complaint with the job the staff is doing now. Amazing how good the offensive coaches looked once a few players — Donovan Smith and Miles Dieffenbach — got healthy. GRADE: A
— Donnie Collins