Penn State beats Appalachian State, 45-38 in OT: What we saw and wondered

A wild game with a wild ending pic.twitter.com/h9us0jwZLm

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 2, 2018

On the 11-year anniversary of Appalachian State’s upset of Michigan, Penn State refused to fall victim to another Mountaineer stunner

Thanks to Trace McSorley, Miles Sanders, KJ Hamler and, of course, Amani Oruwariye, the Nittany Lions survivedhttps://t.co/7lg7Yym61d

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 1, 2018

Was on the field for most of the end without Internet ... but wow.

My ears are ringing after an OT win by Penn State after an unlikely comeback by Appalachian State, an unlikely rally by Penn State and an overtime that no one saw coming before the game.

— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 1, 2018

Miles Sanders (@BoobieMilesXXIV) — who scored the overtime game-winner in his first start — sings the #PennState alma mater pic.twitter.com/9Ihd1zz5sh

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 1, 2018

Amani Oruwariye with the end zone interception in OT, and Penn State hangs on for the 45-38 win.

— John Roach (@JohnJRoach) September 1, 2018

All Sanders all the way. TD to make it Penn State 45, App. St. 38 and now the Mountaineers get their OT possession feeling the pressure.

— John Roach (@JohnJRoach) September 1, 2018

Figures to be a Sanders and McSorley the rest of the way. Pretty good game plan. PSU at the App. St. 8 on the first OT possession.

— John Roach (@JohnJRoach) September 1, 2018

There was a whoooole lot of breath-holding in Beaver Stadium as the FG attempt hung in the air. Just missed, but it had the leg. Looks like OT.

— John Roach (@JohnJRoach) September 1, 2018

Mr. Hamler, you are the Human Joystick! You just brought this Happy Valley crowd to its full-throated feet. 15-yard TD from McSorley to Hamler to make it 38-38 with 42 seconds left.

— John Roach (@JohnJRoach) September 1, 2018

HUGE 4th down completion keeps Penn State alive at the App. St. 30 with 1 minute left.

— John Roach (@JohnJRoach) September 1, 2018

.@Chico_Hndrxx embraces the redshirt freshman who tied up, @Kj_hamler pic.twitter.com/nEpLIWZobi

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 1, 2018

KJ Hamler — a redshirt freshman making his first career start — with the game-tying score

42 seconds left

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 1, 2018

A classic "What are you doing?" "Wow!" moment as KJ Hamler returns a kickoff from deep in the end zone back to the App. St. 48.

— John Roach (@JohnJRoach) September 1, 2018

Jalin Moore breaking hearts in Happy Valley. App. St. up 38-31 with 1:47 left. Just wow.

— John Roach (@JohnJRoach) September 1, 2018

The Beaver Stadium crowd is trying to rally Penn State on the 11th anniversary of App St.'s upset of Michigan. 2:48 left, all tied, and App St. at the PSU 34.

— John Roach (@JohnJRoach) September 1, 2018

This is wild

Appalachian State ties it at 31 all with 6:03 to go

Time for Trace McSorley to save the Nittany Lions from being upset

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 1, 2018

App State will not go away

Mountaineers quarterback Zac Thomas finds Malik Williams for a 24-yard touchdown. Penn State's lead is 31-24 with 7:40 to go

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 1, 2018

Touchdown, Miles Sanders

Not quite the 150-yard performance someone predicted, but Sanders has looked good today. Puts the Nittany Lions up 31-17 with 11:17 to go in the fourth

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 1, 2018

Ricky Slade, 27-yard touchdown. Impressive dash through the heart of App State's defense

Penn State with some breathing room, up 24-10 with 2:41 left in the third quarter

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 1, 2018

Nice run by true freshman Ricky Slade, on a 27-yard scamper.

This is the Penn State offense that we've become accustomed to. It was tied at halftime, now it's PSU 24-10 in the 3rd.

— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 1, 2018

6-foot-5 Penn State defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos greeting App State quarterback Zac Thomas pic.twitter.com/kjt9VXLwGk

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 1, 2018

Announced attendance: 105,232

Real attendance: Not that, but still impressive

— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 1, 2018

And Penn State finally distances itself against Appalachian State, after McSorley rushes for his 2nd TD.

Penn State leads 17-10 early in the 3rd quarter.

— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 1, 2018

Welcome back, John Reid

The talented corner who missed 2017 hurries App State quarterback Zac Thomas and forces a punt

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 1, 2018

Joe Moorhead's second half adjustments helped Penn State win a Big Ten title

We'll see what changes Ricky Rahne made at the break to fix an offense that was, for the most part, toothless in the first two quarters

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 1, 2018

Appalachian State is doing a better job of beating Appalachian State than Penn State is right now.

— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 1, 2018

That entire half was weird

Penn State and Appalachian State tied at 10 going into the locker room

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 1, 2018

Penn State just ran literally its smallest back up the middle on 3rd-and-short ... I mean, I'm no OC, but -- what?

— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 1, 2018

And proceeds to go nowhere.

Miles Sanders has 6 carries for 42 yards. Might want to stick with him. https://t.co/svFderBU0W

— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 1, 2018

Penn State's blockers — from the offensive line to its wideouts — so far today pic.twitter.com/iNVShy3l12

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 1, 2018

App State rushed four, but Connor McGovern got worked, and down went McSorley. On 3rd down, Trace throws it away with no one open

Mountaineers with a chance to build on their 10-7 lead...

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 1, 2018

Silly mistakes have really defined the first 7 minutes of this game for Penn State:

-- Special teams breakdown, missed tackles lead to 100-yard KR TD
-- Juwan Johnson drop forces punt
-- Amani Oruwariye whiffs at receiver, allows first down

— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 1, 2018

Who else but Trace McSorley with Penn State's first touchdown of the season

A 12-yard run puts the Nittany Lions on the board

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 1, 2018

*Penn State scores TD on opening drive*

Well, this game could wind up pretty lopsided.

*Appalachian State answers with a 100-yard kick return; Juwan Johnson drops first down*

Huh.

— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 1, 2018

Juwan Johnson with the first reception of Penn State's season

He's going to have a lot of thosehttps://t.co/PhNyNbDXNB

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 1, 2018

The first drive of Penn State's season appeared to be a three-and-out ... but a taunting penalty kept it alive -- and Trace McSorley took advantage.

7 plays, 75 yards. McSorley runs for 12-yard TD.

PSU 7-0

— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 1, 2018

Prediction: 41-14 PSU

And in his first start, Miles Sanders goes off for 150+ pic.twitter.com/W8H2vo7ZRr

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 1, 2018