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player ready...PHILADELPHIA — Temple triumphantly ended 74 years of losing to Penn State on Saturday, scoring 27 unanswered points in a stunning 27-10 victory at Lincoln Financial Field.
The win, after several close calls over the last decade, was Temple’s first over Penn State since 1941. It ended an 0-39-1 stretch over the last 40 games in the series.
If Penn State never plays Temple here again, this game will leave a dark memory. The Lions allowed 10 sacks — more than in any game last year — and totaled under 100 yards of offense after an impressive first quarter.
Further, the Lions might have lost middle linebacker Nyeem Wartman-White for a significant time. Wartman-White, who grew up not far from the stadium, sustained a knee injury in the second quarter that ended his game. His injury changed the tenor of the game.
Penn State began with an up-tempo offense energized by freshman Brandon Polk’s 33-yard gain on the opening play. The Lions produced scores on their first two drives, including one via Akeel Lynch’s 42-yard touchdown run that was well blocked.
After that, however, the offense wilted under its own mistakes and a Temple defense that smelled weakness. On their next eight possessions, the Lions punted seven times and had a pass intercepted that led to Temple’s game-tying touchdown.
Temple’s defense accumulated seven sacks through a little over three quarters, including one on a three-man rush in the second half. Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg was sacked 44 times last season.
Meanwhile, the Owls’ offense, subdued early, looked energized as well. Running back Jahad Thomas scored two touchdowns, and quarterback P.J. Walker added another while outplaying counterpart Christian Hackenberg.
The game’s turning point came in the second quarter, when Wartman-White left with an apparent knee injury. Wartman-White, making his first start at middle linebacker, sustained the injury on a punt return.
In his absence, Penn State struggled to cover the middle of the field, which Temple exploited. The Owls went on a 93-yard scoring drive — the longest against a James Franklin-coached Penn State team — to cut the Lions’ lead to 10-7.
As the Lions’ offense continued to meander, Temple grew more hungry. Defensive end Sharif Finch jumped an out route and intercepted Hackenberg’s pass, returning it to the 2-yard line. Two plays later, quarterback P.J. Walker scored to give the Owls a 14-10 lead.
Thomas added his second touchdown, on a 24-yard run, that put the Owls ahead 24-10. The announced crowd of 69.176 — the largest ever for a Temple game — grew louder in support of Temple.
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