UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State special teams units helped the Nittany Lions build a four-touchdown lead in the first quarter, as the fourth-ranked Nittany Lions defeated Indiana, 45-12, in Big Ten football action Saturday afternoon in Beaver Stadium.
(Photo: DaeSean Hamilton. Photo by Paul Burdick. Check out more of Burdick’s work here)
A crowd 107,542 witnessed Penn State earn its 11th consecutive win against a Big Ten foe, 11th consecutive win at home and 13th consecutive in regular season game.
Penn State (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) is off to its first 5-0 start since starting the 2008 season with a 9-0 record.
It was a historic afternoon for senior DaeSean Hamilton, who became Penn State’s career receptions leader. With nine receptions for 122 yards and a career-high three touchdowns, Hamilton has 181 career receptions, breaking the record of 179 held by Deon Butler.
Saquon Barkley set the tone, returning the opening kickoff 98 yards for his first return touchdown. Jason Cabinda, who matched a career high with 14 tackles in the game, forced a fumble on Indiana’s first offensive drive to set up a touchdown drive for Penn State’s second score. Then a pair of punts turned into scoring opportunities, as Irvin Charles forced a fumble on a punt return that was scooped up by Nick Scott for a touchdown, and punter Blake Gillikin absorbed a hit to draw a personal foul for a first down, leading to yet another touchdown drive. It marks the first time since 2001 that Penn State has had two special teams touchdowns in the same game.
Indiana (2-2, 0-2 Big Ten) responded with a pair of touchdowns in the second quarter to cut the deficit in half, but the Hoosiers were shutout in the second half, while Penn State added a field goal and a pair of Hamilton touchdowns for the final margin. Turnovers were a factor throughout the game, as Penn State won the battle in the category 4-1, forcing and recovering three fumbles and adding an Amani Oruwariye interception.
Barkley surpassed 200 all-purpose yards for the fourth time this season and added a touchdown pass to Hamilton in the fourth quarter to become the first Big Ten player and sixth in FBS since 1996 to return a kickoff for a touchdown and throw a touchdown pass in the same game. He finished with 205 all-purpose yards with 98 yards coming on the return, 56 yards rushing on 20 carries and 51 yards receiving on four catches.
Trace McSorley had his seventh 300-yard passing game of his career, completing 23-of-36 passes for 315 yards and two touchdowns, extending his games with a touchdown streak to 20 games. He also rushed for one touchdown.
Difference Makers
Penn State
– WR DaeSean Hamilton – Hamilton became Penn State’s career receptions record holder with nine catches for 122 yards and a career-high three touchdowns. It was his first career multi-touchdown game, and he became the first Penn State receiver with three touchdown catches in a game since Allen Robinson in 2012, also against Indiana.
– RB Saquon Barkley – Barkley totaled 205 all-purpose yards, bolstered by his first career kickoff return for a touchdown. It was the first kick return by Penn State for a touchdown since 2011. He was limited to 56 yards on 20 carries, but added 51 yards on four catches and added a 16 yard touchdown pass to DaeSean Hamilton for 123 yards of total offense. It was the first throw he had attempted.
– QB Trace McSorley – Is now second to only Christian Hackenberg (9) with seven career 300-yard passing games, as he totaled 315 against Indiana on 23-of-36 passing with two touchdowns and an interception. It marks his 10th career game with both a receiving and rushing touchdown and third this season. McSorley also cracked Penn State’s top-10 list for completions with 349 for his career, and now has 43 career touchdown passes to rank for a tie for third all-time at Penn State. He became the ninth Nittany Lion passer to surpass 5,000 career passing yards, as well.
– LB Jason Cabinda – Cabinda matched his career high for tackles with 14, and also made one sack, assisted on another tackle behind the line and recovered a fumble.
Takeaways – Safety Marcus Allen, cornerback Christian Campbell and special teamer Irvin Charles all forced fumbles, while Cabinda, defensive tackle Parker Cothren and special teamer Nick Scott all recovered fumbles, with scooping and scoring for a first-quarter touchdown.
– Passing Defense – In addition to Oruwariye’s interception, Penn State broke up five passes and limited Indiana quarterbacks Richard Lagow and Peyton Ramsey to a combined 15-of-32 passing for 175 yards and a touchdown.
– P Blake Gillikin – Gillikin averaged 46.5 yards on six punts with a career-high matching four inside the 20 and three for more than 50 yards. His long for the afternoon was 57.
Indiana
– LB Tegray Scales – Scales led Indiana with 11 tackles and a game-high 3.0 sacks that resulted in 25 lost yards.
Ground Game – Seven different Hoosier rushers combined for 177 yards, led by quarterback Peyton Ramsey (12 carries) and running back Morgan Ellison (9 carries) with 53 yards each. Cole Gest added 48 yards on 10 carries.
– TE Ian Thomas – Thomas caught five passes for 91 yards, with a game-long 54-yard reception that led to a touchdown in the second quarter.
– WR Simmie Cobbs Jr. – Cobbs caught five passes for 44 yards and a touchdown.
Up Next
Penn State visits Northwestern for a noon kickoff on the ESPN family of networks.
