Chase Sowell’s first big moment in a Penn State uniform came with a sting attached, but the fifth-year wideout didn’t let it linger.
Early against Temple, Sowell had a touchdown pass slip away in the second quarter - a play that would have stretched Penn State’s lead. Whether he had full control before the ball came free was up for debate, but Sowell wasn’t interested in replay debates or moral victories.
“It starts with me. I can’t drop those balls and have got to execute on those,” Sowell said.
“We’ll be fine. But definitely, definitely feel good about you know just him [Becht] having that trust in me because I still have that trust in him just the same way.”
That trust matters, especially for a receiver who already has history with quarterback Rocco Becht. The two hooked up 32 times for 500 yards and two touchdowns last year at Iowa State, and that connection showed up again in Penn State’s 27-9 win over Temple.
Sowell had just two catches for 33 yards last week, but he looked much more like the dependable chain-mover Penn State needs when the offense gets bogged down. Against Temple, he caught three passes on one drive, all of them for more than 10 yards and all of them moving the sticks before he finally got to the end zone on a screen pass.
That score came with help. Andrew Rappleyea, Malachi Goodman and Brock Ricker helped spring the play, and Sowell finished it off on 3rd-and-6. It was one of Penn State’s two third-down conversions in the quarter, and it gave him his first touchdown in blue and white.
“I literally went up right up to them after the after the play and was just telling them how much I love them,” Sowell said of his blockers. “Just because of how hard they play for each other and how hard they play for us. So really, just did my job and let them block.”
The touchdown pushed Penn State ahead 17-3 with 8:25 left in the third quarter, marking the first time the Nittany Lions led by more than a score.
Even with the score in hand, Sowell wasn’t ready to call it a finished product.
“Obviously, I still need that back,” Sowell said. “I think I could be a lot better throughout the whole game. I think there’s some things that I just need to clean up overall, but it did feel good to get in there.”
What stood out just as much as the touchdown was Becht’s response after the earlier drop. Sowell said the quarterback kept coming back to him.
“He was still picking us up, telling us like, ‘Hey, I still believe you. I still got trust in you.
I’m coming to you,’” Sowell said. “Even after the drop, he told me, ‘Hey, like we’re going right back to it.’
And that means a lot, especially to a receiver because you only get so many plays where you’re involved.”
Becht followed through. Sowell finished with five catches, tied with tight end Ben Brahmer for the team lead on Saturday, and he was one of seven Penn State players and four wide receivers to make a reception in the win. Of his 58 receiving yards, 41 came after contact, another reminder that he can do more than just catch the ball - he can fight for extra yards, too.
“We work countless hours with timing, depth, all those things on routes,” Sowell said. “I think I literally went up to him and told him that it starts with us. It starts with the older guys that have been in this offense that have played.”
In Other News...
Penn State Just Lost A Defensive End It Couldnt Afford To Lose
Penn States defensive line took another hit in practice, with defensive end Max Granville set to miss the rest of the season after a new injury, as announced by head coach Matt Campbell. Granville had worked his way back onto the field this year after sitting out the entire previous season, so this latest setback lands especially hard for a group that was already counting on him to provide depth and energy off the edge.
The injurys nature was not disclosed, leaving the program with one more unanswered question at a position where availability has already been an issue. For a defense that needs steady rotation and dependable pressure up front, losing Granville again is the kind of blow that can ripple beyond one roster spot and force the staff to reshuffle its plans in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Suddenly Has A Week 2 Availability Problem To Watch
Penn State heads into its Week 2 matchup with Temple already juggling some early-season injury uncertainty, and the latest update from Matt Campbell added a few names to keep an eye on. Defensive end LaVar Arrington II is expected to miss four to six weeks after knee surgery, while offensive tackle Owen Aliciene and defensive tackles Armstrong Nnodim and Alijah Carnell were all listed as questionable as the Nittany Lions continued preparing for the game.
There was better news elsewhere on the depth chart, with tight end Gabe Burkle and linebacker Alex Tatsch both probable to return after working back from injuries. For a team trying to settle into the rhythm of the season, the availability picture matters on both sides of the ball, especially with the front still sorting out who will be ready to go when Temple comes to town. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Faces An Early Test On The Edge In Week 2
Penn State is already dealing with a hit to its edge depth heading into Week 2, as defensive end Max Granville will sit out the Temple game because of injury. Granville took part in the season opener against Marshall, logging 22 defensive snaps without showing up on the stat sheet, but he was still part of the early rotation the Nittany Lions were trying to settle.
His absence puts a little more pressure on the defensive end group to hold up as Penn State tries to move to 2-0 under head coach Matt Campbell. Early September is often about sorting out roles as much as chasing wins, and this is one of those spots where the staff will have to adjust quickly while waiting to see how long Granville is sidelined. [Read more 🡒]