Penn State wasted no time turning Saturday into a runaway at Buffalo, rolling to a 55-13 win behind a dominant ground game and another efficient outing from QB Rocco Becht.
The Nittany Lions did most of their damage on the ground, piling up 284 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 34 carries. It was also a notable day for the offense in another way: for the first time since Sept.
2018, Penn State had both a 100-yard rusher and a 100-yard receiver. Quinton Martin Jr. hit the century mark with 100 rushing yards, while Koby Howard finished with 115 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Becht kept things moving through the air, finishing 11 of 19 for 212 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Penn State set the tone early with a 48-yard Ryan Barker field goal, then stretched the lead on its next possession. That drive covered 81 yards in six plays over 2:33 and ended with a 16-yard touchdown run by James Peoples.
The pressure kept building after a turnover. Caleb Bacon forced a fumble that Ike Ezeogu recovered, giving Penn State the ball at the Buffalo 20. Four plays later, Becht hit a wide-open Andrew Rappleyea for a 3-yard score.
Buffalo managed to get inside the Penn State 5 late in the first quarter after benefiting from a pair of 15-yard penalties, but the Nittany Lions’ defense tightened up and forced the Bulls to settle for a field goal.
Penn State answered by driving to the Buffalo 7, helped by a 61-yard run from Martin. That series also ended with Barker putting three more points on the board.
Later in the second quarter, Becht connected with Howard on a 70-yard touchdown pass, and that play pushed Howard past 100 receiving yards.
Buffalo added a field goal before halftime, trimming the margin to 34-6, but Penn State came out of the break and quickly buried the game. Carson Hansen opened the third quarter with a 12-yard touchdown run to make it a five-score lead.
Peoples scored again after that, and Cam Wallace joined the party with a 59-yard run as Penn State kept pouring it on.
The Nittany Lions now turn to Big Ten play next week against Wisconsin at Beaver Stadium. Kickoff is set for 5 on Peacock.
In Other News...
Penn State Has A New Injury Worry Before Wisconsin
Penn State came out of its Week 3 win over Buffalo with a couple of fresh concerns, even if the immediate outlook sounds relatively manageable. Starting center Brock Riker and tight end Andrew Rappleyea both went down in the first half, briefly thinning out two spots the Nittany Lions would rather keep stable as the schedule tightens.
Head coach Matt Campbell called both players dinged up and said neither injury appears serious, adding that either one likely could have returned if the game had demanded it. Still, with Wisconsin next on the Big Ten slate, Penn State will be watching closely to make sure both are ready, because the margin for error gets a lot smaller once conference play starts to bite. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Suddenly Has A Tight End Concern Fans Know Too Well
Penn States passing game took a hit in Week 3 when Andrew Rappleyea left the Buffalo game in the first half with a right shoulder injury and did not return. The tight end room has been a point of emphasis in the offense, and losing a player in that spot can ripple through both the run game and the short passing game, especially early in the season when roles are still settling.
The good news for the Nittany Lions is that there is no shortage of options waiting behind him. Gabe Burkle, Benjamin Brahmer and Finn Furmanek are all available to absorb snaps and keep the position group moving, even as the team waits for more clarity on Rappleyeas status. Penn State could also be monitoring the health of starting center Brock Riker, who left the game earlier and did not return, though it is still unclear whether his exit was injury-related. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Found A New Playmaker Fans Will Be Talking About
Penn States 55-13 win over Buffalo at Beaver Stadium gave the Nittany Lions plenty to like beyond the final score, and one of the biggest takeaways was the emergence of Koby Howard as a new offensive spark. Howard found the end zone in more than one way, breaking loose for a 20-yard rushing touchdown and later turning a pass into a 70-yard receiving score, the kind of all-purpose burst that tends to stick with a fan base.
The supporting cast did its part, too, as Caleb Bacon and Yvan Kemajou helped set the tone defensively with tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. Zay Robinson also added value in the return game with meaningful punt return yardage, giving Penn State another layer of field-position help in a game that looked comfortable but still offered a few fresh names worth watching as the season builds. [Read more 🡒]