UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – A rushing touchdown from Miles Sanders and an interception in the end zone by Amani Oruwariye secured a thrilling 45-38 overtime victory for No. 10/9 Penn State over Appalachian State in front of 105,232 roaring fans in Saturday’s football season opener at Beaver Stadium.
(Photo by Paul Burdick. Check out more of Burdick’s work here)
It was the largest crowd for a Penn State season opener since 2008.
Trailing by a touchdown with 1 minute, 39 seconds to go in regulation, senior quarterback Trace McSorley engineered a touchdown drive to tie the game at 38-38 and force overtime. Penn State (1-0) went on offense first and handed the ball to Sanders four consecutive times, with his last rush crossing the goal line from 4 yards out. Appalachian State (1-0) threatened, converting a fourth-and-1 to earn a fresh set of downs at the 15-yard line, but Oruwariye picked Zac Thomas’ first-down pass off in the back of the end zone to end the game. This is the third consecutive season opener Oruwariye has pulled in an interception.
The Nittany Lions held a 24-10 lead through three quarters, but the Mountaineers stormed back in the fourth quarter, scoring four touchdowns and allowing just one for a 38-31 lead with under two minutes to play.
Penn State responded as redshirt freshman KJ Hamler setup a game-tying touchdown drive with a 52-yard kickoff return out of the end zone, patiently waiting for a lane to develop before bursting down the right sideline. McSorley went to work from the App State 48 with 1:39 on the clock, going 5-for-6 passing – including a fourth-and-2 conversion – and ultimately connecting with Hamler for a 15-yard touchdown to tie the score at 38-38 with 42 seconds to play.
Appalachian State missed a 56-yard field goal attempt on its ensuing drive with 15 seconds left on the clock before the game was sent to overtime. Penn State got the ball first in overtime and handed it over Sanders to do all of the work on the ground. Sanders used four carries to rush for 25 yards and a touchdown that put the Nittany Lions ahead 45-38.
After the Mountaineers converted on a fourth down, Thomas heaved a ball into the corner of the end zone, but it was Oruwariye who came down with the pigskin to seal the Penn State victory.
McSorley accounted for three touchdowns, two rushing and one passing, and finished with 283 total offense yards. The senior signal caller connected on 21 of his 36 passing attempts.
Sanders rushed for 91 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner. Linebacker Jan Johnson led the Nittany Lion defense with 11 total tackles.
