Temple @ Penn State preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 19, 2009 ) Temple 6, Penn State 31

Temple is 3-0 for the first time since 1979, but will have its hands full against favored Penn State when the two teams clash for the 40th time on Saturday in Happy Valley.

No. 20 Penn State (2-1) leads the series 35-3-1 and is coming off a 24-0 win over Kent State, the 41st shutout recorded in the Joe Paterno Era. The Nittany Lions bring a balanced attack, averaging 140 yards rushing and 205 yards passing.

It starts with freshman quarterback Rob Bolden, who has completed 50 of 85 passes for 600 yards and three touchdowns. But Bolden has been intercepted five times. Derek Moye has been his favorite target with 12 receptions for an 18.1 yard average. The Penn State running game features Evan Royster (110 yards, one TD) and Stephfon Green (104 yards, one TD).

Temple’s strength may be defense. End Adrian Robinson was named the Walter Camp Defensive Player of the week for his effort against Connecticut. He forced a fumble and returned it 24 yards for the go-ahead touchdown, one of two fumbles he caused in the game. He also had four tackles, three of them solos. He’s got 12 tackles, two forced fumbles, a sack and one fumble recovery in three games and will try to attack a Penn State line that has yet to allow a sack.

Linebacker Tahir Whitehead had five tackles, three for loss, and a sack against UConn and was an honorable mention choice for national defensive player of the week. Elijah “Peanut” Joseph leads the team with 19 total tackles. Temple ranks No. 32 in rushing defense.

Temple’s Bernard Pierce, a Heisman Trophy nominee, rushed for 169 yards and three touchdowns against UConn and was named the MAC’s Offensive Player of the Week. He also caught a touchdown pass and posted the sixth multi-touchdown game in his career. Pierce now has 301 yards for the season and 1,662 for his career.

Penn State has played solid, but not opportunistic defense. The Lions have intercepted only two passes and forced only two fumbles. Chris Colasanti leads with 27 tackles, while Bani Gbadyu and Michael Mauti each have 18 stops.

The game matches Penn State graduate and former Nittany Lion assistant Al Golden, now the Temple coach, against his former mentor, Joe Paterno. Penn State has not lost to Temple (26-0) since Paterno became the head coach. Temple’s last victory in the series came in 1941.