[Westside]

Penn State’s sensational junior running back was unable to shake the Northwestern defense for the better part of three quarters on Saturday. On his first 12 carries, he had gained 4 yards. The Wildcats dropped him for a loss five times.

But the 13th carry gave the Ryan Field crowd of 41,061 their money’s worth. The Heisman Trophy front-runner raced 53 yards for a touchdown that helped secure the fourth-ranked Nittany Lions’ 31-7 Big Ten victory over the Wildcats.


On a day when the rushing attack of the Lions (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) went nowhere (95 yards in 38 attempts), Barkley scored twice and ended up with 75 yards on 16 carries. Trace McSorley found the going easier in the air, completing a program-record 15 consecutive passes from the first to the third quarters. He finished 25 of 34 for 245 yards with a 10-yard touchdown pass to backup quarterback Tommy Stevens, and scored once on the ground, but he was sacked five times.

Barkley said there was no frustration on his part.

“I don’t ever let myself get frustrated, especially when you’re winning the game,” he said. “I’m very aware that it’s a long game, a four-quarter game. You just have to take what the defense gives you. That’s 3 yards, 2, 3, 2, 4 … When you get the opportunity to hit the big one, you have to be ready.”


That “big one” came late in the third quarter. Facing second-and-10 from the Penn State 47, Barkley took a handoff up the middle, went through a hole opened by center Connor McGovern and tackle Will Fries, and scampered down the right side for his second touchdown of the day.

Penn State head coach James Franklin loves Barkley’s demeanor.


“Saquon doesn’t get frustrated,” he said. “You never see bad body language. You never see him coming to the sideline. You never see him fussing at the O-line. I see it all the time. There’s a tackle for loss and the runner spikes the ball on the field and is yelling at the line or he’s yelling toward the sidelines. We don’t do that, but it starts with him.

“He knows if he stays patient and sticks with what we do, his plays are going to come and if they don’t, somebody else will make plays that allow us to win. He’s an unselfish guy that gets the big picture.”

The Penn State defense kept the Wildcats (2-3, 0-2) off the board until a touchdown with 1:46 to play. The Lions forced three turnovers, including the recovery by Ryan Buchholz (Great Valley) of a fumble that was caused on a sack by Shaka Toney (Imhotep Charter).

When Northwestern was threatening to take an early lead, a penalty and a sack by defensive tackle Curtis Cothran (Council Rock North) was followed by an interception by Amani Oruwariye.

“We’re a team,” said defensive end Shareef Miller (George Washington), who came up with one of Penn State’s four sacks. “So if our offense isn’t doing what they’re supposed to do, it’s our job to back them up, and that’s what we did today.”

The defense allowed 265 total yards but only 19 on seven possessions in the second half before Northwestern’s late 80-yard scoring drive. The Wildcats hurt themselves with the turnovers and eight penalties, two of which resulted in the ejections of their best defensive players – linebacker Paddy Fisher and safety Godwin Igwebuike – for targeting.

The Nittany Lions go into their bye week undefeated and possibly moving up in the polls after No. 3 Oklahoma’s loss. Franklin wouldn’t take any questions about his team’s next opponent – Michigan in two weeks at Beaver Stadium – and said he’s looking for improvement.

“I think we’re in an ideal situation,” he said. “We’re 6-0 going into the bye week. We have an opportunity to continue to get better each week. But we have to identify our problems, be honest about our problems and the areas we need to get better and attack them.”

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/coll...?mobi=true

[E's Army]

Good win for the Lions.