Blue White Illustrated

P O S T G A M E R E P O R T W E E K 4 P E N N S T A T E 3 7 , S A N D I E G O S T A T E 2 1 S E P T E M B E R 2 6 , 2 0 1 5 B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . c O M THE GAME AT A GLANCE GOOD NEWSThe Lions really hounded San Diego State quar- terback Maxwell Smith, totaling five sacks, and they con- verted that pressure into turnovers and points. On offense, Christian Hackenberg had a big day, as Penn State was able to get its downfield passing game going for the first time this season. BAD NEWS There's no need to overstate the obvious. Penn State's recent success has been based largely on the improvement of its running game. If both Akeel Lynch and Saquon Barkley are out for an extended period, the freshman RB corps will have to step up. THE TAKEAWAY Even if it's shorthanded next week against Army, Penn State looks to have a good shot at wrapping up its nonconference season with three victories. That's a good place to be, es- pecially considering how poorly the Lions started. 1 BRINGING THE HEAT Penn State pressures Smith in the second half. His fumble was returned for a game-chang- ing TD. Photo by Bill Anderson M A T T   H E R B | M A T T @ B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . c O M NO ESCAPE Defense lifts PSU to victory over Aztecs With its top two running backs injured and out of action, Penn State needed someone to step up and deliver a big run Saturday against scrappy San Diego State. Someone did: defensive tackle Austin Johnson. The Nittany Lions were clinging to a six-point lead early in the fourth quarter when Johnson scooped up a ball that had been jarred from quar- terback Maxwell Smith's hand. The 325-pound junior lumbered 71 yards in the opposite direction for a touchdown, displaying what coach James Franklin called "beautiful running form." It was the key play in what would become a 37-21 vic- tory, as the Lions overcame a succession of in- juries and a few uncharacteristic special teams lapses to run their record to 3-1.

• Cover