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Parsons ejected after targeting call

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons was flagged for targeting and ejected from Friday’s game for a late hit on Maryland quarterback Josh Jackson midway through the first quarter.

Jackson completed a 15-yard pass on the play, and the targeting penalty tacked on 15 more yards to the PSU 33. Jackson was later picked off by Tariq Castro-Fields in the end zone, killing the Terps’ scoring chance.

Because the ejection occurred in the first half, Parsons will be eligible to start next week against Purdue.

Parsons might have become the first PSU player ever to tweet during a game after getting ejected. He wrote on Twitter late in the first half, “My boys taking care of business regardless!!”

WRs banged up

Maryland’s Deon Jones was ejected for targeting in the second quarter on a hit to Justin Shorter. The PSU receiver was going to the ground when Jones hit Shorter head to head.

Shorter did not return after the hit.

KJ Hamler was hit hard late in the first quarter and was checked out on the sideline. He returned early in the second quarter.

Running back order

The Lions, as expected, continued to rotate four running backs Friday. Journey Brown got his second straight start, followed by Ricky Slade, then Noah Cain, then Devyn Ford. Cain started the second half.

Stout misses

Jordan Stout attempted a 52-yard field goal early in the third quarter but missed wide right. He had been 2-of-2 from beyond 50 yards this season, with a school-record long of 57.

Maryland returned a couple of Stout’s kickoffs, a rarity since he had been a touchback machine the first three games.

McSorley in house

Trace McSorley was on the sideline cheering on his former teammates during the game. The quarterback, who’s now with the Baltimore Ravens, led the Lions to three blowout wins over Maryland the past three years.

New recruit

The Lions got a commitment from three-star safety Elijah Gaines out of Virginia on Friday. The 6-foot-2, 193-pounder chose PSU over Pitt, Michigan, Notre Dame and Virginia Tech.

HBO show coming

Penn State will be featured on HBO’s new series about college football, with the Nittany Lion episode to be aired Oct. 9 at 10 p.m.

The one-hour episode will show what the PSU football team will go through this week as it prepares to face Purdue for homecoming.

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