Maryland manhandled
Penn State opens Big Ten play with 619 yards of total offense in a shutout
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Penn State jumped on Maryland quickly, scoring 14 points in its first four plays, and ultimately took over Maryland Stadium in a 59-0 victory Friday night.
It got really ugly really quickly, as Penn State had 38 points before Maryland had 100 total yards. Terps quarterback Josh Jackson threw two first-half interceptions, both of which produced touchdowns, and committed a personal foul that began the unraveling. Maryland committed eight penalties in the first half alone, including a 12-men call on an extra point.
Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions were on point. Quarterback Sean Clifford needed just one play to score on an 8-yard run and then began picking apart Maryland’s defense. The Terps could not compete with the speed of Penn State’s receivers, notably KJ Hamler, who turned an 8-yard crossing route into a 58-yard touchdown.
Clifford completed his first eight passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns, including one to tight end Nick Bowers. He made a variety of throws, from quick slants to swing passes to his backs. He also lofted a 40-yard ball to Dan Chisena, which the receiver caught despite being mugged for pass interference.
After a mediocre game against Pitt, Clifford laid into Maryland’s defense. He went 26 for 31 for 398 yards (the third-highest total in Penn State history) and three touchdowns. The only blot on the card was his first interception, a terrific play by Maryland’s Nick Cross.
The big play: Though Hamler’s touchdown was breathtaking, the game pivoted on a defensive play by Jan Johnson. The linebacker read Jackson (who locked often on his receivers) for an interception that he returned 17 yards to the Maryland 32-yard line.
The Terps then piled on their own mistakes with two penalties (an illegal block and Jackson’s personal foul) to give the Lions a first-and-goal. Clifford made them pay with a touchdown run just one play later.
Maryland invested so much effort into this game, and its student section went at the Lions mercilessly during pregame. And in just over 2 minutes, the game essentially was over. For a full story, go to www.themorningcall.com/ sports.