The No. 10 ranked Penn State Nittany Lions met the Appalachian State Mountaineers in an NCAA college football game in Week 1 on Saturday, September 1, 2018 (9/1/18) at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.
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Here's the AP recap:
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -- Amani Oruwariye intercepted a Zac Thomas pass in the end zone and No. 10 Penn State held on to beat Appalachian State 45-38 in overtime on Saturday, exactly 11 years after the Mountaineers stunned Michigan in one of the biggest upsets in college football history.
Miles Sanders rushed 19 times for 91 yards with two touchdowns including the go-ahead score in overtime for the Nittany Lions (1-0). But Penn State let a 31-17 lead evaporate when Appalachian State scored on three straight possessions over 5:53 in the fourth quarter and things were tense in Happy Valley.
Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley, who completed 21 of 36 passes for 230 yards and ran for two scores, led a game-tying drive that ended with a 15-yard touchdown pass to KJ Hamler with 42 seconds left.
Thomas, who returned from injury to lead his team's comeback, completed 25 of 38 passes for 270 yards, threw for two touchdowns and ran for another for Appalachian State (0-1). Jalin Moore ran 18 times for 88 yards and a touchdown and Malik Williams caught two touchdowns for the Mountaineers.
Mountaineers kicker Chandler Stanton added a field goal but missed a 56-yarder wide right with 20 seconds left. Jake Pinegar kicked a 32-yard field goal for Penn State to tie the game 10-10 just before halftime.
THE TAKEAWAY
Appalachian State: The Mountaineers continued their trend of playing Top 25 teams tough in season openers. They pushed Tennessee to overtime two years ago and hung tough against Georgia last season. They controlled play for much of the first half and looked poised to deliver another stunning performance after their 2007 stunner over Michigan in The Big House. Despite the loss, they appear to have the pieces to make a run at what would be at their third straight Sun Belt championship.
Penn State: Having lost their three top playmakers and vaunted offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead, who took over as Mississippi State's head coach, the Nittany Lion offense looks like a work in progress. McSorley can do plenty with his legs if he and his receivers aren't on the same page but Penn State's defense couldn't get a stop in the fourth quarter where the Nittany Lions were outgained and outscored 28-14.
UP NEXT
Appalachian State travels to Charlotte on Sept. 8
Penn State visits Pittsburgh on Sept. 8.
Here's what you need to know:
Who: Appalachian State vs. Penn State
What: College football, Week 1
When: Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018
Where: Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pa.
Time: 3:30 p.m. Eastern
TV: BTN
Livestream: BTN2Go, fuboTV (free trial)
Line: Penn State -24 (Over/under: 54.5)
Series record: None.
WHAT'S AT STAKE?
With just three losses by a combined seven points over their last 23 games, the Nittany Lions appear to have a good mix of veterans and up-and-comers to continue winning. The Mountaineers have been ready in recent season openers against Top 25 teams, nearly beating Tennessee in 2016 and hanging tough with Georgia last season. They can celebrate the 11-year anniversary of their upset at Michigan by shocking another Top 10 team.
KEY MATCHUP
Penn State's front seven vs. Appalachian State's running game. Most of Penn State's fresh faces are in the middle of the defense where coach James Franklin wants to spread reps for new defensive tackles and linebackers. They'll have to slow Jalin Moore, a physical running back who's run over defenders for many of his 3,170 career rushing yards.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Appalachian State: Moore. The 5-foot-11, 207-pounder doesn't need big holes, he can find daylight in crowds and is at top speed in an instant.
Penn State: QB Trace McSorley. The program leader in nearly every passing category, McSorley enters his final season as a Heisman Trophy candidate with a host of weapons around him. He's 22-5 as a starter and has thrown a touchdown pass in 28-straight games, the longest streak in FBS.
FACTS & FIGURES
Penn State has won 14 straight inside Beaver Stadium with 33 or more points in 12 of those games. . CB John Reid will return for Penn State after missing all of last season with a knee injury. . Penn State LB Jan Johnson is expected to make his first start. He competed in eight matches for Penn State's wrestling team in 2015 but saw action in only six football games last season. . Appalachian State's 36-9 mark over its last 45 games is the fifth best nationally. Only Alabama (41-4), Clemson (41-4), Ohio State (40-5) and Wisconsin (37-8) have been better. . The Mountaineers have 56 interceptions since 2015.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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