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Penn State shakes off rusty first half, tops Buffalo

It’s still a big work in progress at Penn State as the Nittany Lions sputtered early before putting on jets in the second half to defeat the Buffalo Bulls Saturday night.

With the huge success in the opening contest against Idaho, things looked so promising.

With its defense holding the Vandals to negative yardage, things were great in Happy Valley.

Saturday evening Penn State got the scare of their life early on in a feisty Buffalo team in the prime-time contest.

The Bulls weren’t Idaho in any way shape or form.

Bottom line is the Lions got tested and tested hard before hearing it in the locker room at halftime.

Until the third quarter, that is when the Lions pounded out 28 points en route to the 45-13 win.

Defensively, the Lions couldn’t stop the running tandem of Kevin Marks and Jaret Patterson early on

However after allowing three first downs to the Bulls, the Nittany Lion defense made the first big play of the game as they forced a fumble that wound up in the arms of Cam Brown.

Two plays and 30 seconds later, Sean Clifford found Jahan Dotson for the 28-yard TD reception, giving PSU a quick 7-0 advantage.

Buffalo was Bull-ish on its next offensive possession, getting the ball deep into the Nits end.

However, the Penn State defense forced Buffalo into a 49-yard field goal attempt. The kick was wide, keeping the Bulls scoreless.

The Bulls running game seemed to be the Lions’ kryptonite at first as they were able to push their way downfield.

But late in the second, the Bulls picked up a 32-yard field goal and then a touchdown pass by Matt Myers to Julien Bourassa, taking the lead at halftime at 10-7 and leaving the Penn State fans at a loss for words as an upset seemed to be in the making.

Things looked like they would turn around in the third as PSU marched the ball downfield but a fumble by Ricky Slade, gave it back to the Bulls, spoiling the promising start, momentarily.

PSU’s safety John Reid came to the rescue as he intercepted a Myers pass and took it to the house for a 26-yard touchdown, putting the Nits back ahead 14-10 at 12:58 left in the third. That play seemed to turn around the Lions’ fortune.

With a 20-yard point return by AJ Hamler plus a Buffalo personal foul penalty, Penn State got the ball on the 23.

One play later, Clifford hit Pat Frierermuth down the middle for a 23-yard TD hook up, upping the lead to 21-10 with 11:54 to go in the third.

With the lead, Buffalo battled right back threatening to score another touchdown to cut into the lead.

But the defense halted that idea, forcing the Bulls into a 25-yard field goal, making it 21-13 with 6:59 left in the third.

However, the Lions were heating up. Clifford called his own number and put his team down to the 2-yard line on a 58-yard scamper.

Teammate Noah Cain sealed the deal muscling his way in from the two, upping the Penn State lead to 28-13.

Once again the defense stood strong, giving the ball back to a now firey offense. Clifford found Frierermuth for a 27-yard TD, extending the lead to 35-13, with still 3:35 to go in the third.

That would be all that the Lions would need to hold onto the lead.

In the final pass of the third, Clifford found Hamler on a 45-yard pass reception, putting the ball at the 19.

In the fourth quarter,

Though it was t pretty early on, the Nittany Lions were able to regain its swagger and turn on the pressure in the second half to secure the victory and win going away.

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