Nittany Lions Take Opener 33-13 over Kent State

UNIVERSITY PARK — First-time starter/quarterback Trace McSorley put up 209 yards passing and sophomore running back Saquon Barkley added another 105 yards on the ground and Penn State subdued Kent State by a 33-13 score today, the season opener for both teams. The Beaver Stadium contest was played before 94,378 fans.

The Nittany Lions struggled at times offensively but the defense was solid throughout, pitching a second half shutout over their Mid American Conference opponent. The victory sets up an early season showdown next Saturday against longtime foe Pitt, a noon kickoff in Heinz Field on ABC/ESPN.

Penn State leads the Pitt series, 50-42-4. The teams are playing for the first time since 2000 and starting a four-game series, with games in Beaver Stadium in 2017 and 2019. Pitt took the 2000 contest by a 12-0 score. Pitt opened its season today with a 28-7 win over Villanova.
Central Mountain graduate Von Walker is serving for the second year in a row as a Nittany Lion captain. The senior was a part of numerous special team plays in today’s opener. (tunnel photo – courtesy Penn State.)

Penn State-provided game notes from today’s opening win over Kent State:
TEAM
– Penn State improves to 107-21-2 in season openers and has won 13 of its last 15 season openers.
– The Nittany Lions opened the season at home for the first time since 2012, having played at Met Life Stadium vs. Syracuse (2013), in the Croke Park Classic vs. UCF (2014) and at Temple (2015).
– The Nittany Lions are 116-13-1 in home openers, including a 48-9 mark in Beaver Stadium.
– Penn State has won 14 of its last 15 home openers.
– Penn State is now 24-3 against the current members of the MAC.
– Penn State has now held Kent State without an offensive touchdown in at least the last four times that they have met (box score from 1965 is unavailable, but PSU won 21-6). In 2003, Kent State scored a touchdown on a defensive fumble recovery in the end zone. In 2010 and 2013, Penn State shut out the Golden Flashes.
– Penn State’s 12-play field goal drive in the second quarter was the longest scoring drive by the Nittany Lions in terms of plays since a 12-play touchdown drive at home against Rutgers last year.
– The following six players were first time-starters: OG Ryan Bates, QB Trace McSorley, DE Evan Schwan, DT Kevin Givens, DTParker Cothren, P Blake Gillikin.
– The following 19 players made their first career appearances for Penn State today: DT Tyrell Chavis (Junior), G Ryan Bates(RS Freshman), DE Ryan Buchholz (RS Freshman), WR Irvin Charles (RS Freshman), DT Kevin Givens (RS Freshman), G/CSteven Gonzalez (RS Freshman), TE/H Jonathan Holland (RS Freshman), T Sterling Jenkins (RS Freshman), WR Juwan Johnson (RS Freshman), S Jarvis Miller (RS Freshman), DE Shareef Miller (RS Freshman), DT Ryan Monk (RS Freshman), RBAndre Robinson (RS Freshman), QB Tommy Stevens (RS Freshman), CB Garrett Taylor (RS Freshman), DT Robert Windsor (RS Freshman), P Blake Gillikin (True Freshman), C/G Connor McGovern (True Freshman), RB Miles Sanders (True Freshman).

OFFENSE
-In his first career start, sophomore QB Trace McSorley had a career-high 209 yards passing. He had 142 passing yards last season against Georgia in the TaxSlayer Bowl. He also had career highs with 16 completions and 31 attempts. Previously, his highs were 14 completions and 27 attempts against Georgia.
– McSorley’s 43-yard pass to WR DeAndre Thompkins in the third quarter was his career long. His previous career best before today, was a 21-yard toss to Godwin in the TaxSlayer Bowl last season, although he also had a 26-yard pass to Chris Godwin in the first quarter.
– McSorley’s 30-yard TD pass to Mike Gesicki was the longest TD pass of his career. He tossed a 20-yard scoring strike toDaeSean Hamilton vs. Georgia in the TaxSlayer Bowl.
– McSorley’s 47 yards rushing were the most by a Penn State quarterback in a game since Kevin Newsome had 49 yards rushing against Eastern Illinois in 2009.
– Sophomore RB Saquon Barkley had 105 yards rushing today, his sixth 100-yard game of his career. He last had a 100-yard game in the regular season finale last year at Michigan State.
– Barkley moves into 35th place in the Penn State record books with 1,181 yards rushing, trailing Leroy Thompson (1,215 yards) for the 34th spot.
– Thompkins had a career-long 43-yard reception in the third quarter.
– Junior WR Chris Godwin had seven catches today, the fifth time in the last six games he has had at least six catches. He has also had at least four catches in 13 of his last 16 games.
– Godwin’s 67 yards receiving today give him 1,489 yards for his career, and move him into 15th place in the Penn State record books. He trails Freddie Scott (1,520 yards) for 14th place.

DEFENSE
– Penn State notched seven sacks today, the most by the Nittany Lions since they recorded seven at Northwestern in 2011.
– The Nittany Lions held Kent State scoreless in the second half, grabbing two interceptions (1 for TD) and recording six sacks. On the Golden Flashes’ seven second half possessions, Penn State forced 3 three-and-outs and grabbed two interceptions.
– Sophomore CB Amani Oruwariye notched the first interception and first touchdown of his career early in the third quarter.
– Prior to Oruwariye’s 30-yard return today, the last Penn State interception return for a touchdown was in 2014, when Grant Haley returned an interception 30 yards for a score against Temple.
– Junior S Marcus Allen forced the third fumble of his career and recovered the second of his career in the second quarter.
– Senior LB Brandon Bell grabbed the third interception of his career on the last play of the third quarter.
– Redshirt freshman DE Shareef Miller had the first 1.5 sacks of his career. He also had a career-high five tackles.
– Redshirt freshman DT Kevin Givens had the first 0.5 sacks of his career and a career-high three tackles. – Sophomore CBJohn Reid had the first 0.5 sack of his career.
– Redshirt freshman DE Ryan Buchholz had the first sack of his career today.
– Senior DE Evan Schwan tied a career high with four tackles. He had four last season vs. Buffalo.
– Sophomore DT Antoine White had a career-high five tackles. He previously had three tackles on two occasions, the last time vs. San Diego State last year.

SPECIAL TEAMS
– True freshman P Blake Gillikin was a first-time starter, punting six times with an average of 47.0 yards per punt, including a long of 58 yards.
– Junior PK Tyler Davis was 2-for-2 today on field goals, and is now 10-for-10 In his career, going 8-for-8 last season.