By EVAN MEYER
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa -- The nationally-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions dominated the Akron Zips in every facet of the game en route to a 52-0 victory in the season opener for both teams Saturday afternoon before 101,684 fans at Beaver Stadium
Penn State (1-0) has . . .
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa -- The nationally-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions dominated the Akron Zips in every facet of the game en route to a 52-0 victory in the season opener for both teams Saturday afternoon before 101,684 fans at Beaver Stadium
Penn State (1-0) has . . .
. . . now won 10 of its last 11 games, dating back to last season. The stretch includes wins at home over Ohio State and Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game. The lone loss came to Southern California in an epic Rose Bowl game last January.
Penn State senior running back Saequon Barkley rushed for 172 yards and two scores. Junior Trace McSorley completed 11 of 17 for 280 yards with a pair pf touchdown and rushed for 37 yards -- all in three quarters of action.
Akron (0-1) dropped its season opener for the second time in the last three seasons (both against nationally ranked teams –2017 and 2014 at Oklahoma). In addition, it suffered its fifth consecutive, loss dating back to last season. The margin of defeat was UA’s worst since 1997 at Louisiana State (59-0).
In fact, the only Zips highlight on both sides of the ball was on Penn State’s first possession of the contest when senior DB Zach Guiser grabbed an interception in the end zone. Guiser had 10 total tackles (eight solo), a tackle for loss and an intereption.
Senior quarterback Thomas Woodson got the start after coming back from a bevy of injuries last season. He completed 12–of- 23 passes for only 71 yards before being lifted late in the third quarter.
Graduate player Warren Ball rushed for just 27 yards on 13 carries, while senior WR Tra’Von Chapman registered three receptions for just 10 yards in his first game as a receiver.
The first quarter was a complete domination by the defending Big Ten Champions as they opened a 14-0 lead. They moved the ball at will against the UA defense – a trend that would continue throughout the entire game on a rainy, cool afternoon
The game’s first points came when DeAndre Hopkins fielded a Nick Gasser punt and raced 61 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead. The Blue and White doubled their lead when McSorley engineered a 75-yard, 10-play drive that culminated in a 13-yard pass to senior TE Mike Gesicki, who had six catches foir 58 yards and two scores.
The two scores started an avalanche of points and yards for the Lions as they scored touchdowns on five of their seven possessions over the first 30 minutes. They had 358 total yards in the first half and 557 for the game.
Meanwhile, the UA offense just could not get anything going against the PSU defense. The Zips totaled 159 yards on the afternoon and they took the ball across midfield only twice (one time being on their final drive of the game). Akron went 4-of-17 on third down and registered three-and-out five times.
In the second half, Penn State added a 47-yard field goal from PK Tyler Davis. McSorley and Gesicki connected for the second time in the game on a to-yard touchdown.
Backup QB Tommy Stevens scored on a five-yard run in the fourth quarter..
The Zips look to bounce back next Saturday at Inficision Stadium against the Golden Lions of Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Penn State senior running back Saequon Barkley rushed for 172 yards and two scores. Junior Trace McSorley completed 11 of 17 for 280 yards with a pair pf touchdown and rushed for 37 yards -- all in three quarters of action.
Akron (0-1) dropped its season opener for the second time in the last three seasons (both against nationally ranked teams –2017 and 2014 at Oklahoma). In addition, it suffered its fifth consecutive, loss dating back to last season. The margin of defeat was UA’s worst since 1997 at Louisiana State (59-0).
In fact, the only Zips highlight on both sides of the ball was on Penn State’s first possession of the contest when senior DB Zach Guiser grabbed an interception in the end zone. Guiser had 10 total tackles (eight solo), a tackle for loss and an intereption.
Senior quarterback Thomas Woodson got the start after coming back from a bevy of injuries last season. He completed 12–of- 23 passes for only 71 yards before being lifted late in the third quarter.
Graduate player Warren Ball rushed for just 27 yards on 13 carries, while senior WR Tra’Von Chapman registered three receptions for just 10 yards in his first game as a receiver.
The first quarter was a complete domination by the defending Big Ten Champions as they opened a 14-0 lead. They moved the ball at will against the UA defense – a trend that would continue throughout the entire game on a rainy, cool afternoon
The game’s first points came when DeAndre Hopkins fielded a Nick Gasser punt and raced 61 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead. The Blue and White doubled their lead when McSorley engineered a 75-yard, 10-play drive that culminated in a 13-yard pass to senior TE Mike Gesicki, who had six catches foir 58 yards and two scores.
The two scores started an avalanche of points and yards for the Lions as they scored touchdowns on five of their seven possessions over the first 30 minutes. They had 358 total yards in the first half and 557 for the game.
Meanwhile, the UA offense just could not get anything going against the PSU defense. The Zips totaled 159 yards on the afternoon and they took the ball across midfield only twice (one time being on their final drive of the game). Akron went 4-of-17 on third down and registered three-and-out five times.
In the second half, Penn State added a 47-yard field goal from PK Tyler Davis. McSorley and Gesicki connected for the second time in the game on a to-yard touchdown.
Backup QB Tommy Stevens scored on a five-yard run in the fourth quarter..
The Zips look to bounce back next Saturday at Inficision Stadium against the Golden Lions of Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
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