Kent State Golden Flashes vs Penn State Nittany Lions Match Player Stats On Sep 03, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Sep 3, 2016

Penn State running back Saquon Barkley rushed for 105 yards and a touchdown, and Amani Oruwariye returned an interception for a score to helping the Nittany Lions knock off visiting Kent State 33-13 on Saturday in nonconference play at State College, Pa.

Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley completed 16 of 31 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns. McSorley hooked up with DaeSean Hamilton for a 4-yard touchdown pass in the first half and then delivered the clincher for the Nittany Lions (1-0) with a 30-yard touchdown pass to tight end Mike Gesicki late in the fourth quarter.

Running back Justin Rankin led Kent State (0-1) with 82 yards on 13 carries.

In a back-and-forth first half, Penn State was leading 13-6 midway through the second quarter, when Kent State's Elcee Refuge scooped up a McSorley fumble, caused by a sack-strip by Terence Waugh, and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown.

Penn State answered with a 25-yard field goal from Tyler Davis and took a 16-13 lead into halftime.

On Kent State's opening possession of the second half, Oruwariye cut in front of a pass from Golden Flashes quarterback Justin Agner and made the grab and sprinted 20 yards for a touchdown. Agner, one of three Kent State quarterbacks to play, threw two interceptions.

Penn State's defense forced three total turnovers, and Davis made two field goals, helping coach James Franklin open his third season in Happy Valley with a victory.