Penn State Sports Magazine
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KEY MATCHUPS P E N N S T A T E V S . T E M P L E | B Y P H I L G R O S Z W H E N P E N N S T A T E H A S T H E B A L L PENN STATE RUNNING GAME 109.5 YPG, 3.2 YPC // TEMPLE RUN DEFENSE189.0 YPG, 3.7 YPC THE LOWDOWNPenn State averaged slightly more than 100 yards per game in its first two games, but it still has the edge here. Sophomore Saquon Barkley is the Nittany Lions' leading rusher with 190 yards on 42 carries (4.5 yards per carry), while redshirt sophomore QB Trace McSorley is their second-leading rusher with 30 yards on 23 car- ries. The only other running backs to carry the ball for Penn State in its opening two games were redshirt freshman Andre Robinson and redshirt sophomore Mark Allen. Temple's stats look unimpressive a=er two games, but its numbers are skewed by opening-day opponent Army, which o=en piles up big rushing totals. The Owls' leading tackler is senior OLB Avery Williams with 14 stops including 2.5 tackles for loss. Another senior OLB, Stephaun Marshall, is second with 13 tackles, while junior FS Sean Chandler is third with 12 stops and an interception. Sen- ior MLB Jarred Alwan and senior DE Praise Martin-Oguike both have 11 tackles. Martin-Oguike is considered Temple's top defensive lineman. Senior DT Averee Robinson is next with 10 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. Senior DE Sharif Finch has nine total tackles and is second on the team with two tackles for loss. // KEY MATCHUP Penn State guards Ryan Bates and Derek Dowrey will be going up against Williams and Marshall, while Penn State C Brian Gaia will take on Robinson. // EDGEPenn State PENN STATE PASSING GAME 270.5 YPG, 13.5 YPC // TEMPLE PASS DEFENSE 49.5 YPG, 9.9 YPC THE LOWDOWN In the first two games of the season, McSorley exceeded almost everyone's expectations. Against Kent State and Pitt, he completed 40 of 66 passes (60.6 percent) for 541 yards, with three TD passes and one interception. One of the most impressive aspects of his early-season performance is that he has completed passes to nine receivers. Junior WR Chris Godwin is Penn State's leading receiver with 11 catches for 103 yards, while redshirt junior DaeSean Hamilton is next with 10 catches for 91 yards. Junior TE Mike Gesicki is off to a fast start with seven receptions for 96 yards, but redshirt sophomore DeAndre Thompkins might be Penn State's most improved wide receiver with four catches for 130 yards. His average of 32.5 yards per catch is by far the best on the team, and it tops the Big Ten among receivers with multiple catches. Barkley has three catches for 62 yards and a touchdown, and junior Saeed Blacknall, who missed the Pitt game with an injury, has two catches for 24 yards. Penn State could play as many as six wide re- ceivers against Temple. The leader of the Temple secondary is Chandler, an NFL prospect who may end up leaving a=er this season. Sophomore SS Delvon Randall has totaled five tackles and he posted an interception against Stony Brook. // KEY MATCHUP Gesicki will face Randall, while Hamilton will be looking to evade Chandler. Up front, Penn State LT Brendan Mahon will look to keep Martin-Oguike out of the backfield. // EDGEPenn State PENN STATE PASSING GAME VS. TEMPLE PASS DEFENSE TEMPLE RUNNING GAME 130.0 YPG, 3.9 YPC // PENN STATE RUN DEFENSE245.5 YPG, 5.1 YPC THE LOWDOWN The big question mark here is whether senior RB Jahad Thomas will be ready to play against the Nittany Lions. Last season Thomas rushed for 1,262 yards and 17 TDs, but he's been out of action with an injury, and his absence was felt against Army and Stony Brook. The Owls' leading rusher, sophomore Ryquell Armstead, has gained 125 yards on 30 carries with two touchdowns. Redshirt sophomore David Hood has eight carries for 38 yards, while freshman Isaiah Wright had 42 yards on seven carries against Stony Brook. Penn State was torched by Pitt, as the Panthers rushed for 341 yards, plunging the Nittany Lions to 116th place in the Football Bowl Subdi- vision in rushing defense. If Thomas plays, the edge here goes to Temple. If he sits, the Lions will stand a much better chance of rebounding from last week's loss. Even though junior MLB Jason Cabinda is expected to miss the game with a broken hand, the Lions have a couple of solid linebackers in seniors Brandon Bell and Nyeem Wart- man-White. Junior FS Marcus Allen leads the secondary. Through two games, Penn State has 19 tackles for loss. Redshirt freshman DE Shareef Miller and redshirt sophomore DE Torrence Brown have two tackles for loss apiece. // KEY MATCHUP Temple's senior center, Brendan McGowan, will battle Penn State DT Parker Cothren, while redshirt junior OG Adrian Sullivan will take on Wartman-White. // EDGEEven TEMPLE RUNNING GAME VS. PENN STATE RUN DEFENSE TEMPLE PASSING GAME VS. PENN STATE PASS DEFENSE W H E N T E M P L E H A S T H E B A L L PENN STATE RUNNING GAME VS. TEMPLE RUN DEFENSE S E P T E M B E R 1 4 , 2 0 1 6 B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M 4 TEMPLE PASSING GAME 146.0 YPG, 9.9 YPC // PENN STATE PASS DEFENSE110.0 YPG, 8.8 YPC THE LOWDOWNQB Phillip Walker had a stellar junior season a year ago, throwing for 2,973 yards with 19 touch- downs and only eight interceptions. But in Temple's first two games this year, his passing numbers were disap- pointing. He completed only 23 of 49 attempts (46.4 percent) for 292 yards, with three touchdown passes and four interceptions. One challenge is that Walker has a whole new cast of wideouts. The Owls' leading receiver is junior