 STATE COLLEGE, PA - Two Bernard Pierce touchdowns helped Temple take a lead into the third quarter, but No. 23 Penn State rallied to pull out a 22-13 victory Saturday.
Pierce left the game following a third quarter injury, and the visitors – shooting for their first win against PSU since 1941 – were unable to score in the second half.
“They played really well on defense. We didn’t make enough plays on offense,” Temple Head Coach Al Golden said. “For like two quarters, it didn’t look like we converted on third downs, so that was an issue. … We didn’t really convert, and they won the field position game in the second half.”
For the day, Temple converted just 1-of-11 third downs. Penn State struggled, as well, but PSU managed to go 6-of-17 on third down.
The hosts also got a school record-tying five field goals from Collin Wagner and a career-high effort by Evan Royster (187 yards on 26 carries).
Turnovers were another key as Penn State benefitted from three interceptions and a fumble recovery. Junior safety Nick Sukay came up with two of the picks.
“You start to get in those 3rd-and-10's and 3rd-and-11's and … you know you're going against more than just the 11 guys on the field in those situations,” Golden said. “I'm sure there are some throws (Chester Stewart would) like to have back there, but we can't be in those situations and win the game, No. 1.
“ No. 2, we have to protect better, and then I
think at the end, obviously he's just trying to make a play.”
What ended up as a defensive struggle looked like anything but that in the early moments. Royster picked up 50 yards on the first play from scrimmage. The Owls, however, quickly regrouped and forced a 45-yard Collin Wagner field goal.
Temple used PSU’s only turnover of the contest to start its first scoring drive midway through the first quarter. Elijah Joseph forced the fumble, which was recovered by Adrian Robinson at the Lions 28.
After a five-yard PSU penalty and Matt Brown’s 18-yard gainer, Pierce took it in from five yards out.
Penn State responded with a 13-play, 60-yard drive on its next possession, but all it got to show for the work was another Wagner field goal (32 yards).
James Nixon broke loose for 51 yards to highlight Temple’s next possession. That set the Owls up at Penn State’s four-yard line, and Pierce covered the final three yards for his second TD of the game (sixth of the season). A try for the two-point conversion failed, leaving Temple with a 13-6 advantage.
Wagner reduced it to four points at 6:38 of the second quarter when he nailed a 42-yard field goal, and the teams went into intermission with the Owls out front, 13-9.
Penn State inched closer with Wagner’s 32-yard field goal at 4:12 of the third quarter and finally claimed the lead late in the stanza.
Nathan Stupar intercepted a Stewart pass at the Temple 43 on the Owls next possession and returned it 31 yards to the 12. Four plays later, Wagner hit his final field goal from 21 yards out.
Jeff Wathne’s 57-yard punt pinned the Lions back on their four-yard line with 12:57 left in the game, but PSU reached down to mount a 12-play, 96-yard scoring drive. Michael Zordich capped the drive from the one, and Wagner added the PAT for the final 22-13 margin.
“We pinned them deep, (but) we let them out a couple of times - I think that's the biggest thing in the game,” Golden said.
“They did a good job; you've got to give them credit. They're an excellent football team, and I thought their quarterback played really, really well,” Golden continued. “He made great throws under pressure and converted big, big plays - not only on third down, but also in tough situations, backed up.
Freshman Robert Bolden completed 18-of-28 for 223 yards, with no interceptions or touchdowns.
Stewart, meanwhile, connected on 8-of-19 for 46 yards.
Temple got another 156 yards on the ground from 32 rushes, while the hosts ran 46 times for 216 yards.
“I thought we played well enough on defense to win. Obviously we need to play better in the kicking game and on offense, but we just didn't make any big plays,”Golden said.
Courtesy of Temple Athletics.
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