STATE COLLEGE - Highlights, lowlights, and in-betweens from Penn State's 24-13 win over Temple Saturday at Beaver Stadium:
PLAY OF THE GAME: It was a sequence, but Penn State backed Temple up to its own 5 after a false start before the Owls punted with a minute to play. PSU coach Bill O'Brien said the staff made sure he called timeout on fourth down before the false start. The Lions took over on the Temple 35, and after Matt McGloin completed two passes to Kyle Carter, he snuck in from the 1-yard line for a 14-3 lead before halftime.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: McGloin completed 24 of 36 passes for 318 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for two scores.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: Defensive tackle Jordan Hill was second on the team with 7 tackles, with one sack and one forced fumble.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE GAME: Jesse Della Valle emerged as a solution at punt returner, with three returns for 45 yards.
TEMPLE PLAYER OF THE GAME: Brandon McManus kicked two field goals and averaged 48.5 yards on 6 punts.
WILLIAMSPORT: Second-string strong safety Jacob Fagnano was credited with two tackles.
BEST RUN: Michael Zordich's 16-yard run in the first drive was a Penn State season high.
BEST CATCH: Great job by Allen Robinson backpedaling and keeping his balance on the catch before running in a 41-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter.
BAD HANDS: Brandon Moseby-Felder needs to catch Matt McGloin's pass over the middle in the red zone early in the second quarter, not tip it so Temple's Tavon Young can intercept it.
WORST KICK: Alex Butterworth's rugby-style fourth-quarter punt bounced back and rolled out of bounds at the Temple 45, a field-position gain of 15 yards.
BEST TACKLE: Mike Hull wrapped up Chris Coyer for an 8-yard sack to force a Temple field goal in the second quarter.
BEST EFFORT: Della Valle bulldozed up the middle, if such a thing is possible, on a 29-yard first-quarter punt return.
WORST PENALTIES: Three of them ruined a possible PSU scoring drive late in the first half. Pass interference against Kyle Carter in Temple territory wiped out a completion to Matt Lehman, and then two holding calls pushed the ball back across midfield.
HEADS-UP: Nice fake by McGloin to pretend the ball was dead by slooping his shoulders in the pocket and stopping, only to restart a second later and find Carter for a 22-yard sideline completion.
WHERE'S HIS HEAD?: Don't recall ever seeing a kicker called for a late hit, but Sam Ficken was whistled for one late in the third quarter.
HIDDEN STAT: McGloin hit nine different receivers, one week after hitting eight different ones.
BEST CALL: Robinson's first-quarter touchdown came on a fourth-and-5.
WORST MOMENT: Did anyone really need the Penn State student section giving Temple a three-word expletive chant every so often on the blue-out for Child Abuse Awareness Day?
UNSUNG HERO: Zach Zwinak carried 18 times for 94 yards, more than any Penn State player had compiled through three games this season.
PERSONNEL: Zordich left with ice on his knee, but O'Brien said he was probably fine. O'Brien also said tailback Curtis Dukes, who did not play, was dealing with a thigh issue and the team did not want to risk him as the game progressed. Sean Stanley missed the game with a back injury but O'Brien expects him back next week. True freshman TE Jesse James and DE CJ Olanyan made their first career starts.
MILESTONES: Penn State has won 23 straight in the series and leads it, 31-3-1. PSU has outscored the opposition 35-0 in the first quarter. The Lions' 100 yards in penalties were the most since vs. Louisiana Tech in 2000.
BEST QUOTE: Mc-Gloin's hometown friends from Scranton greeted him as he got off the team bus before Saturday's game with a giant cardboard cutout of his head. McGloin said he didn't like that particular photo, and they'd been doing it since high school. "I don't care what they do, it's all in good fun. Playing college football is supposed to be fun."
NEXT WEEK: Penn State at Illinois, noon (ESPN). Temple is off and hosts South Florida Oct. 6.
