Game Coverage

PSU-Temple Highs & Lows

PHILADELPHIA --- Following are the highlights and lowlights from Penn State's 27-9 victory over Temple on Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field:

Play of the game: Rocco Becht threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Ben Brahmer with :08 left in the first half to give the Nittany Lions a 10-3 lead.

Offensive player of the game: Becht was 21-of-27 for 268 yards and three touchdowns. He was not intercepted.

Defensive player of the game: Penn State linebacker Tony Rojas made a team-high seven tackles and returned an interception 13 yards.

Most telling statistic: State limited the Owls to 107 passing yards.

Most deceiving statistic: Temple outrushed PSU, 176-148, on one less carry (34-33).

Hidden statistic: The Lions were 0-for-4 on third/fourth down in the first quarter.

Best run: Temple QB Jaxon Smolik flipped field position by scrambling 47 yards to the Nits' 29 late in the first quarter.

Best pass: Becht's pretty 56-yard post to Koby Howard on the game's first play.

Worst pass: On second-and-goal at the Temple 5, Becht was across the line of scrimmage and called for an illegal forward pass.

Best catch: Rojas faded back into coverage to pick off Smolik.

Catch it, will ya: Temple defensive tackle Adrian Laing made a nice play, but Chase Sowell could have caught the perfect 48-yard TD pass in the second quarter. Brahmer also dropped one in the third quarter.

Hold it, won't ya: Brahmer fumbled but the ball went out of bounds.

Best tackle: Penn State defensive tackle Siale Taupaki shoved a Temple lineman into Smolik for a 7-yard sack in the first quarter.

Best hit: Lion defensive back Jeremiah Cooper drilled Kevian Mason, albeit after a 14-yard gain, in the second quarter.

Best kick: Nathan Tiyce pooched a 35-yarder that the Lions caught at the Temple 3.

Worst kick: Ryan Barker pushed a 33-yard field goal left to spoil the Lions' first drive.

Worst penalty: Down 17-3, Temple's Kolin Dinkins was hit with a personal foul after a late hit at the Penn State sidelines, which triggered a brief scrum.

Best call: On third-and-6 from the Owls' 16, the Nits dialed up a flanker screen, and Sowell scooted into the end zone for a 17-3 lead.

Worst call: On third-and-8, leading 17-3 in the third quarter, Carson Hansen was sent into the line for 3 yards, cueing the FG unit.

Best effort: James Peoples capped a 12-yard run by leaping over Denzel Chavis late in the second quarter.

Unsung hero: Daryus Dixson broke through to block Temple's 52-yard field goal attempt in the third quarter.