Live updates: Penn State football vs. Maryland
Hey y'all. Finally here at Capital One Field after a disaster of a travel day -- eight hours in traffic, an Uber that showed up a half hour late, and then a sprint from one side of Maryland's campus to the other. Apologies for any inconvenience.
Anyways, Penn State couldn't have asked for a better start. Jan Johnson picked off Josh Jackson on Maryland's first drive of the game, then Sean Clifford ran for a touchdown to give the Lions an early 7-0 lead. Penn State got another stop, and then KJ Hamler did KJ Hamler things to make it a two-touchdown game.
Follow along for more organized updates throughout the rest of the nigh.
First Quarter
9:13 -- Another look at the 58-yard touchdown by KJ Hamler
https://twitter.com/CFBONFOX/status/1177741463263858688?s=20
Former Nittany Lion and DMV native Marcus Allen took the time to chime in on Hamler's long TD
https://twitter.com/Chico_Hndrxx/status/1177741136754073600
7:04 -- Micah Parsons just got called for roughing the passer and targeting. He's been disqualified from the game. First-and-10 for Maryland at the Nittany Lions' 33 with Jesse Luketa, Cam Brown and Jan Johnson at LB.
6:01 -- Javon Leake rushes up the middle to give Maryland a first down on fourth-and-1.
4:32 -- Another first down for the Terps on third-and-9 as Jackson finds Tyler Mabry across the middle. Maryland ball at the PSU 11.
3:19 -- Maryland's red zone woes continue as Tariq Castro-Fields picks off Jackson. Lions ball at the 5.
https://twitter.com/CFBONFOX/status/1177745936417722368?s=20
0:00 -- Lions are all the way down to the Maryland 33, facing third-and-12. They got there thanks to a first down rush by Ricky Slade on third-and-1, an 18-yard reception by KJ Hamler a couple plays later, and then a 40-yard grab bomb from Clifford to Dan Chisena, which he brought in despite clear pass interference on the defense.
https://twitter.com/CFBONFOX/status/1177747691427844096?s=20
Second Quarter
14:53 -- Maryland continues to shoot itself in the foot. The Terps appeared to have Jahan Dotson stopped well short of a first down, but a face mask penalty will give the Lions a first down and the ball at the 15. Mac Hippenhammer was open for a touchdown, but Clifford opted to go for Dotson in the flat instead.
13:23 -- TOUCHDOWN, Penn State. Ricky Slade runs it in from three yards out to finish off a 10-play, 95-yard drive. 21-0 PSU. Great job by the o-line to pave the way. Slade has been the guy so far for the blue and white, accounting for 7 of the 9 rushes by PSU running backs.
12:01 -- Maryland made a switch at quarterback, opting to go with Tyrell Pigrome over Josh Jackson, but Penn State's defense forced a three-and-out. Lions will take over at their own 27.
12:01 -- Noah Cain checks into the game for the first time.
10:38 -- Penn State moves the ball to the Maryland 38 after four straight completions, but Justin Shorter is down injured. The play is under review for targeting.
Targeting is confirmed. Deon Jones has been ejected. First-and-10 for PSU at the 23.
9:59 -- First two-back set of the game for PSU with Noah Cain and Devyn Ford in the backfield.
9:40 -- TOUCHDOWN, Penn State. Sean Clifford finds Nick Bowers for a 15-yard score. 28-0 Lions. Clifford is now 9-for-9 with 166 yards, two touchdowns and a 328.3 QB rating.
8:09 -- Penn State forces another three-and-out and will take over at its own 14. The Lions' d-line has been lights out all night. Just dominating a poor Maryland o-line.
https://twitter.com/audsnyder4/status/1177754960181760000
7:13 -- Sean Clifford goes deep and throws the first interception of his collegiate career. Maryland ball at its own 43.
5:44 -- Penn State rebounds from a pass interference call against Joey Porter Jr. to get another stop. Big sack by Ellis Brooks on third-and-5. Lions take over at their own 12.
5:06 -- After nearly getting picked off on second down, Sean Clifford rushes for 25 on third-and-7 to pick up a first down. Ball at the PSU 40.
3:04 -- TOUCHDOWN, Penn State: Journey Brown hauls in a short pass on third-and-5 and runs 37 yards to the end zone. 35-0 Lions. Great job by Sean Clifford to fake the pass and then dump it off to Brown, who had nothing but open space in front of him.
https://twitter.com/PennStateOnBTN/status/1177758963145666560
Micah Parsons, who was ejected earlier in the contest for targeting, just tweeted from the locker room.
https://twitter.com/Micah_Parsons11/status/1177757833061961728
1:51: Penn State forces another three-and-out.
0:00 -- Jake Pinegar nails a 21-yard field goal and Penn State will take a 38-0 lead into the half.
At the half, Penn State is 5 for 5 on third down and is averaging 15.1 yards per completion and 5.1 yards per rush.
Sean Clifford is 19-22 with 287 yards, 3 TDs and 1 INT, with 5 carries for 41 yards and 1 TD.
An absolute offensive clinic by the Nittany Lions in the first half.
Third Quarter
Back for the second half. Penn State will start at its own 25.
14:00 -- Clifford is over 300 yards after finding Pat Freiermuth for a 14-yard gain on third-and-6.
11:36 -- Looked like Clifford found Dan Chisena on a deep shot down to the 10, but it was ruled incomplete. The call was reviewed, but stood as called. Third-and-5 upcoming from the Maryland 35.
Still haven't seen Justin Shorter since he left with what looked to be a head injury, and Cam Sullivan-Brown just went down injured, as well.
https://twitter.com/PatrickBurns_/status/1177768178115588096
10:55 -- A 53-yard field goal attempt by Jordan Stout is no good. Maryland will take over at its own 39.
9:54 -- Penn State's defense forces yet another three-and-out. Lions ball at their own 6. Maryland has just 98 total yards of offense thus far.
8:10 -- Lions march all the way down to the Maryland 7 after a 55-yard reception by Nick Bowers, who evaded a couple tacklers.
7:16 -- TOUCHDOWN, Penn State: Journey Brown punches it in from one yard out. 45-0 PSU after a 6-play, 94-yard drive that took 2:38. The Nittany Lions are outgaining the Terps 528-98.
5:45 -- Another three-and-out for the Terps. Penn State's d-line is downright terrifying when it plays up to its potential, and that's what's happening tonight.
Sean Clifford's night is over. He finished 26 of 31 for 398 yards, 3 touchdowns and one interception, while 7 times for a team-leading 54 yards and 1 touchdown.
4:02 -- With Will Levis now at QB, Penn State goes nowhere and punts from its own 31 -- the Lions' first punt of the game. Maryland takes over at its own 39 following a shaky punt by Blake Gillikin.
3:08 -- Two plays, two near-interceptions by Joey Porter Jr. and Jesse Luketa. On the next play, Ellis Brooks and Adisa Isaac combine for a sack. Another punt upcoming.
0:48 -- Two drives, two punts with Penn State's second-team offense now in the game. Maryland takes over at its own 22.
0:00 -- Third-and-6 upcoming for Maryland as we enter the final quarter. Lots of true freshmen in on defense for the Nittany Lions, including Porter Jr., Isaac, Keaton Ellis, Brandon Smith and Marquis Wilson.
Fourth Quarter
12:52 -- After making two tackles in a row, Brandon Smith is called for targeting. Following a review, the call is reversed, and Penn State comes up with a stop on fourth down. Lions ball right at midfield.
12:46 -- Penn State's second team offense hasn't looked sharp at all, compiling just 20 yards over three series. Another punt, and Maryland takes over at its own 20.
Some thoughts as we get a break: Maryland has been horrific. Like so, so bad. But Penn State's defense is the real deal and this is as good as the offense has looked under Ricky Rahne.
10:19 -- Granted, this one has been over a while, but there's been little-to-not drop-off on the defensive end as backups have filtered into the game. The d-line is just ridiculously deep.
8:15 -- Zack Kuntz just tried to hurdle a guy. Didn't work, but on the next play, Devyn Ford picked up a first down with a nasty stutter step. Lions have first-and-goal from the 10.
6:37 -- Will Levis trucks a defender to find the end zone from five yards out. 52-0 Lions.
I'm heading down to the field for the last few minutes of the game, so that'll be it for a little bit from me. Stay tuned for plenty of coverage from College Park after the game!
