UNIVERSITY PARK — Following are the highlights and lowlights from Penn State’s 44-13 victory over Ball State on Saturday at Beaver Stadium:

Play of the game: On second-and-10 from the Ball State 25, Sean Clifford hit Jahan Dotson with a flanker screen, and Dotson weaved his way for a touchdown that gave the Nittany Lions a 24-3 lead with 2:50 left in the first half. If the game wasn’t over before that, it was then.

Offensive player of the game: Sean Clifford completed 21-of-29 for 230 yards and a TD and rushed 11 times for 66 yards and another score.

Defensive player of the game: Penn State defensive end-linebacker Jesse Luketa made a nifty, one-handed interception that he returned 16 yards for a TD. He also made four tackles.

Most telling statistic: The Lion defense limited Ball State to 69 yards rushing on 26 attempts.

Most deceiving statistic: The Cardinals made 12 first passing downs.

Hidden statistic: Penn State had nine receivers catch passes in the first half.

Best run: Clifford raced

43 yards in the third quarter.

Best pass: Clifford feathered a 24-yarder up the right sideline to Keyvone Lee in the first quarter, setting up second PSU touchdown.

Worst pass: Ball State quarterback Drew Plitt threw a flat pass directly to Luketa, whose Pick-6 bumped Penn State’s lead to 31-6 with 5:56 left in the third.

Best catch: Parker Washington went up to make an 8-yard catch out of a high pass in the second quarter and danced for a first down, extending a PSU drive. He also made a shoestring reception 18-yard reception to close the third quarter.

Catch it, will ya: KeAndre Lambert-Smith dropped a second-quarter pass.

Hold it, won’t ya: Lee fumbled for the Lions but recovered it.

Best tackle: Penn State’s defense was in good position all day so plenty of options here. With the Nits up 7-0, Joey Porter Jr. made a one-on-one stop on Ball State tight end Jordan Williams on third down, forcing a punt and a change of possession (which didn’t happen enough in the opener.)

Best block: Lion guard Juice Scruggs hustled downfield to help escort Dotson’s TD.

Best hit: Brandon Smith blew up Carson Steele after a 1-yard gain in the second.

Best kick: Ball State punter Nathan Snyder boomed a 56-yard punt in the third quarter.

Worst kick: Jordan Stout missed a 45-yard field goal in the third quarter, but he also made a 45-yarder.

Best call: How about Clifford’s quarterback sneak on second-and-short from the 1 — from under center, no less — for a touchdown that put the Lions up 14-0.

Worst call: Thought Ball State, down 24-3, should have gone for a touchdown on fourth-and-5 with four seconds left in the first half. Instead, it kicked a field goal.

Worst penalty: Smith was hit with a personal foul on a punt/touchback that gifted Ball State 15 yards and possession at 35 in the second.

Best effort: Lee rushed eight times for 68 yards (8.8 per carry) in addition to his 24-yard reception.

Unsung hero: Devyn Ford rolled up 105 yards of total offense — 32 rushing 67 in kick returns and a 6-yard catch.

Touching moment: Penn State’s honorary captains were the family members of former Nittany Lion football player Patrick Dwyer, who perished in the World Trade Center on 9/11.