Penn State Nittany Lions vs Maryland Terrapins Match Player Stats On Oct 24, 2015

The Sports Xchange
Oct 24, 2015

BALTIMORE -- Christian Hackenberg threw for 315 yards and three touchdowns to pace Penn State to a 31-30 win over Maryland in a Big Ten Conference game at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday.

The Nittany Lions (6-2, 3-1) avenged a 20-19 loss in Happy Valley last year, and Penn State leads the series 36-2-1.

The Terrapins (2-5, 0-3) dominated much of the game statistically in the debut of interim coach Mike Locksley, but Maryland couldn't overcome Hackenberg's big plays or the Terrapins' own mistakes (five turnovers).

Hackenberg completed just 13 of 29 passes, but his 27-yard touchdown pass to Geno Lewis at 13:39 of the fourth quarter put Penn State ahead for good, 31-27.

The Terrapins added a 29-yard field goal from Brad Craddock, his third field goal of the game, to close within one with 10:15 left. They had the ball at the PSU 32-yard line after a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, but a blitzing Brandon Bell rocked Maryland quarterback Perry Hills and forced a fumble that Garrett Sickles recovered for the Nittany Lions.

The lead had changed hands six times and Maryland had another chance after a Hackenberg fumble gave the Terrapins the ball at the PSU 45. The Penn State defense held on downs. After a punt, Malik Gulden intercepted Hills on Maryland's final possession with just over a minute to play.

Penn State got some big chunks in the passing game to build a 17-13 halftime lead. The Terrapins had a 12-yard scoring run from quarterback Perry Hills, part of his big day (26 rushes for 128 yards and 19-of-28 passing for 225 yards but three interceptions).

Hackenberg hit Chris Godwin on a 37-yard scoring play at 3:09 of the second quarter to put Penn State ahead 14-13, and Joey Julius added a 40-yard field goal 31 seconds before halftime.

Locksley and Penn State coach James Franklin coached together at Maryland under Ron Vanderlinden and Ralph Friedgen. Franklin was later named "coach in waiting" under Friedgen, but the deal fell through when Friedgen was released after the 2010 season.