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GAME GRADES QUARTERBACKAside from an inter- ception in the first quarter, McSorley was on point throughout the game. He also made good reads in the option game. Final stats: 18 for 25, 280 yards, two touchdowns, one interception. McSorley had a passer rating of 184.5. He also rushed for 48 yards. GRADEA RUNNING BACKPenn State's staff took the opportunity to get Saquon Barkley's Heisman Trophy campaign off to a good start, and he didn't disappoint. In addition to his stats – 14 carries, 172 yards, two touchdowns – Barkley had a handful of highlight reel runs that will get a lot of attention on TV and social media this weekend. PSU and Barkley couldn't have asked for a better start to what will likely prove to be a special season. GRADEA RECEIVERJuwan Johnson lived up to the hype, while Mike Gesicki added six receptions for 58 yards and two touch- downs. DaeSean Hamilton had a few is- sues pulling in catches throughout the first half, but overall, this group looks as if they will keep last year's momen- tum going. GRADEA OFFENSIVE LINEPenn State's offen- sive front took a huge step last season and they picked up right where they left off. The first-team line paved the way for more than 500 yards of total of- fense. The Lions also had just a handful of plays that lost yards on the day and a few of those were passes behind the line of scrimmage. McSorley wasn't sacked once. GRADEA DEFENSIVE LINEAkron didn't break 100 yards of total offense until the fourth quarter, and that had a lot to do with Penn State's push up front. The Lions totaled 14 tackles for loss, and most of those came from the defensive front. Ryan Buchholz and Tyrell Chavis both recorded multiple tackles for loss and some of the younger players, no- tably Shane Simmons and Yetur Gross- Matos, showed that they have some real potential in the years to come. GRADEA LINEBACKERSManny Bowen and Jarvis Miller led the way with five tack- les apiece, while Cam Brown had four. The linebackers weren't tested much in the passing game, but they were excel- lent at stopping the run, as Akron fin- ished the day with just 73 rushing yards. They had 36 rushing yards with seven minutes left in the game. GRADE A DEFENSIVE BACKSPenn State has high expectations for its secondary in 2017, and they lived up to that hype in the season opener. Akron finished the day with just 75 yards passing, while Amani Oruwariye recorded his second career interception. GRADEA SPECIAL TEAMSTyler Davis missed a 39-yard field goal attempt, but he then hit a career long 47-yarder in the sec- ond half. Penn State's first punt return for a touchdown in nearly a decade all but assured an A for special teams, but DeAndre Thompkins also added an- other 42-yard punt return in the sec- ond quarter. GRADEA COACHESPenn State scored more than 50 points on offense, but most impor- tant, the Lions didn't get off to a slow start. The defense pitched a shutout and the special teams scored a touchdown. It's hard to find fault. GRADEA CROWDIt felt like October, and the rain throughout the morning and early afternoon wasn't pleasant, but Penn State still announced an attendance of 101,684. Compared to season openers in recent years, this was definitely one of the better showings we've seen, es- pecially when you consider that the rain might have kept some people away. Obviously, we expect a bit more noise next weekend when Pitt comes to town. GRADEA S E P T E M B E R 2 , 2 0 1 7 B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . c O M 6 R Y A N S N Y D E R | S N Y D E R 4 2 0 8 8 @ G M A I L . c O M McSorley bursts upfield for extra yardage. He fin- ished with 48 rushing yards in addition to his 280 yards through the air. Photo by Steve Manuel Sizing up the Nittany Lions' performance in their season opener

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