Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/571792
O T H E R M A T C H U P S THE LOWDOWNBoth Penn State and Rutgers have excellent punt and kickoff returners. Grant is first in the Big Ten in kickoff returns, averaging 39 yards per attempt with two touchdowns, including a 100-yarder. He also is third in the conference in punt returns, averaging 17.2 yards per attempt. Penn State redshirt freshman DeAndre Thomp- kins is second in the conference in punt returns, averaging 17.8 yards on four attempts, while redshirt freshman Koa Farmer has averaged 25.6 yards on kickoff returns for the Nittany Lions. Redshirt freshman Joey Julius has converted 3 of 4 field goal tries, but sophomore punter Daniel Pasquariello has struggled, averaging just 38.8 yards per punt. Rutgers senior Kyle Federico has converted 11 of 12 PATs and 2 of 2 field goals, with a long of 48 yards. Meanwhile, senior Joey Roth leads the Big Ten with a 48.8-yard punting average. // EDGEEven SPECIAL TEAMS THE LOWDOWNPenn State players and fans will not forget the reception they received at High Point Solutions Stadium last September. Rutgers athletic director Julie Hermann had to apologize for what she called the "re- grettable actions of a handful of Rutgers fans" who referenced the Sandusky scandal on signs and T-shirts dur- ing the Lions' visit to Piscataway. You can bet that Penn State can't wait to meet the Scarlet Knights on the field Saturday night. // EDGEPenn State THIS 'N' THAT THE LOWDOWNWith the suspensions of Carroo and six other players in the past two weeks, Rutgers coach Kyle Flood has a real mess on his hands. Off-the-field problems could have a big impact on the Scarlet Knights on Sat- urday night. James Franklin and his staff want this 8 p.m. prime time broadcast to serve as a new start to the 2015 season. // EDGEPenn State COACHING STAFF S E P T E M B E R 1 6 , 2 0 1 5 B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M 5 yards-per-catch average – 25.9 – is the Big Ten's best. Junior Andre Patton will most likely replace him in the starting lineup; he has four catches for 51 yards. Rutgers' second-leading receiver is junior Janarion Grant with six receptions for 71 yards, and redshirt sophomore TE Matt Flanagan is next with five catches for 52 yards and two TDs. Penn State's pass defense ranks fifth in the Big Ten. Senior CB Trevor Williams is Penn State's fourth-leading tackler with 11 stops. The biggest disappointment here is that the Lions have only one interception so far this sea- son… by Nassib. // KEY MATCHUP Senior LT Keith Lumpkin will face off against Nassib. If Nassib can get to La- viano, the secondary's job will be a lot easier. // EDGEEven