Penn State 63, Kent St. 10: What we saw and wondered

.@coachjfranklin when asked about @McSorley_IX’s leadership

The QB kept Penn State’s offense going despite three touchdowns negated due to penalties pic.twitter.com/c1LBtguEvg

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 15, 2018

James Franklin said winning is like deodorant

Masks the funk that comes with mistakes, errors https://t.co/yG71wH5KNd

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 15, 2018

James Franklin: "There are times where we look like a Super Bowl team ... and there are other times where we're hurting ourselves."

— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 15, 2018

James Franklin's squad still has a couple things to clean up before Sept. 29

But Trace McSorley, DeAndre Thompkins and a certain linebacker highlighted today's 53-point win for the Nittany Lions https://t.co/aD3BuJbSI4

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 15, 2018

Who got things started for Penn State? https://t.co/uSvzF4cjgk

— Centre Daily Times (@centredaily) September 15, 2018

Penn State rolls to an easy 63-10 win. https://t.co/zXt1JfTLyV

— Centre Daily Times (@centredaily) September 15, 2018

Penn State running back Johnathan Thomas with a 69-yard run

This game truly has it all

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 15, 2018

Daniel George with his first career catch goes for a touchdown! The 95 yard pass play is the longest in school history. Old record was 92 yards in 1919.

— Kris Petersen (@GoPSUKris) September 15, 2018

Sean Clifford hits Daniel George for 95-yard TD to make it 56-10 midway through the fourth quarter.

— John Roach (@JohnJRoach) September 15, 2018

The fans are heading for the exits.

The clock says there's still 10:12 left. But this game is over. PSU 49, Kent State 10 so far.

DL has been great today, Hamler has been explosive, McSorley terrific, Sanders solid -- but silly penalties/mistakes remain.

— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 15, 2018

Trace McSorley is the first B1G player with at least 3 rushing touchdowns & 2 passing touchdowns in the same game since Braxton Miller against Michigan in 2013

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 15, 2018

It's Sean Clifford — not Tommy Stevens — time

McSorley takes a seat with 283 total yards and five touchdowns

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 15, 2018

With true freshman Jayson Oweh getting in on the action, Penn State has six sacks on the day

Defense had a preseason goal of 50 sacks. Now have 12 for the season.

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 15, 2018

PSU's really pouring it on now. McSorley has accounted for five -- FIVE -- touchdowns so far.

His stats: 11-of-22, 229 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT. 9 carries, 54 yards, 3 TDs.

PSU leads 49-10 with 2:37 left in the 3rd

— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 15, 2018

Live look at Trace McSorley pic.twitter.com/gy7PiVA3L8

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 15, 2018

PSU's announced attendance: 106,528

My announced height: 8-foot-11

— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 15, 2018

That's Penn State's third touchdown called back because of a penalty

This time a holding on redshirt freshman guard CJ Thorpe

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 15, 2018

Nah. Illinois isn't that much better than Kent State. PSU should be favored by more than 3 TDs ... https://t.co/NFN5HnbYAv

— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 15, 2018

Touchdown, Ricky Slade

Short scoring run set up by McSorley's 39-yard dime to DeAndre Thompkins

QB 1 has accounted for 213 yards today

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 15, 2018

Shareef Miller having himself a day

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 15, 2018

After checking into the medical tent in the second quarter, Shareef Miller looks just fine

Rips down Woody Barrett for a sack

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 15, 2018

Penn State is up 28-10 over Kent State after the first half #pennstatefootball pic.twitter.com/a4rn258cxW

— Phoebe Sheehan (@phoebe_sheehan) September 15, 2018

Three rushing touchdowns for Trace McSorley

Getting little help from wideouts. Juwan Johnson has to turn his head and catch that out route

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 15, 2018

KJ Hamler has always been there when PSU needs it. His return against App State sparked this team, and his 52-yard return against Kent State might've just been the *looks at list of cliches* nail in the coffin.

PSU leads 28-10 after McSorley's third rushing TD of the day.

— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 15, 2018

You deserve what you get if you kick it to KJ Hamler.

— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 15, 2018

Kent State should have kicked it out of bounds again

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 15, 2018

Kent State coach Sean Lewis rather kick it straight out of bounds than give KJ Hamler a shot

And I don't blame him

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 15, 2018

Kent State takes the field goal, and it's 21-10 Penn State

With 40 seconds to go in the half, let's see if McSorley takes a shot to KJ Hamler downfield

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 15, 2018

Welp, that was weird

Miles Sanders probably should have caught that pass by McSorley, who saved a touchdown on the tackle following Kent State's INT

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 15, 2018

This is your weekly reminder that Trace McSorley was once recruited by many colleges to play safety. Nice tackle there.

That INT will go on him, but you can't blame Trace for that.

— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 15, 2018

Thank goodness Nebraska doesn't have to worry about those 9-win seasons anymore ...

— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 15, 2018

Blake Gillikin is pic.twitter.com/2CAoHVbLKE

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 15, 2018

Second time today that PSU had an offensive penalty that nullified a TD.

Sept. 29 (Ohio State) is coming fast ...

— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 15, 2018

That's a pick on freshman tight end Pat Freiermuth

Penalty called after it sprung Juwan Johnson on the drag route

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 15, 2018

Trace McSorley's first-quarter stats:

3-of-7 passing, 71 yards, 1 TD
4 carries, 29 yards, 2 TDs

The QB now has 23 career rushing TDs, which surpasses record-holder Daryll Clark.

— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 15, 2018

I still don't understand these RB rotations and why 5-foot-6 Mark Allen is carrying it near the goal line.

But no matter. McSorley takes it in on fourth down for the 2-yard TD. PSU up 21-7 and WE'RE STILL IN THE FIRST QUARTER

— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 15, 2018

Touchdown, Trace again

True freshman tight end Pat Freiermuth provides the block that gave McSorley room

21-7 Penn State with 1:09 left in the first quarter

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 15, 2018

Not helping his case in a battle for snaps at tight end https://t.co/WLDUEcycd3

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 15, 2018

The good: DeAndre Thompkins made a great diving TD catch and has no drops.

The bad: Both Jon Holland and Brandon Polk already have drops this game. #PSUMissingJoshGattis

— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 15, 2018

This is the first quarter that never ends. It just goes on and on my friend ...

— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 15, 2018

Trace McSorley barrels in for the 1-yard TD run to make it 14-7 PSU, but Miles Sanders was really the star on that drive. His run right before the TD is definitely making the cut in his junior season highlight film. Incredible balance.

— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 15, 2018

Also, touchdown Trace McSorley

The QB — who is now over 1,000 career rushing yards — gets his 4th rushing score of the season

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 15, 2018

Analysis: Miles Sanders looks faster / stronger / better when not running on mud at Heinz Field

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 15, 2018

Penn State holds after the onside kick and is marching downfield.

— John Roach (@JohnJRoach) September 15, 2018

Onside kick recovered by Kent State, pulling a page out of App State's playbook

James Franklin talked two weeks ago about PSU's front line of kickoff team leaning back, trying to get head start on running downfield to block. Looks like it happened again

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 15, 2018

Kent State needs to take chances like this. Big break to recover the surprise onside kick. Gutsy call.

Let's see if PSU can have a mistake-free drive here or if James Franklin has a sideline meltdown

— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 15, 2018

And now Ellison Jordan is offsides, so Kent State gets a free shot -- and Oruwariye misses the INT by inches and Kent State gets the long TD.

Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy

— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 15, 2018

Not ideal, Cotton https://t.co/aYMZEoGJdh

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 15, 2018

Listen, PSU's going to win this big in the end. But a holding call that negates a TD and an offsides that gives Kent State a first on a fourth down? That should not be happening in Week 3, especially not within the game's first four minutes.

— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 15, 2018

DeAndre Thompkins, who struggled with drops the first two games, just made a nice diving catch in the end zone for a 39-yard TD.

Oh, Kent State. I think we've already seen the game's turning point.

— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 15, 2018

Touchdown, DeAndre Thompkins

The fifth-year senior — who had three drops at Pitt — lays out in the end zone and hauls in McSorley's 40-yard heave

7-0 Lions

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 15, 2018

Not so fast, my friend. The drive continues -- after Kent State roughs the punter. https://t.co/TZCUNcDule

— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 15, 2018

Trace McSorley had soooo much time on that pass and still couldn't find anyone. Also looked like Will Fries got away with some holding there too.

First time this season PSU won't score on its first possession.

— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 15, 2018

KJ Hamler flashes his speed on a beautiful 56-yard TD catch -- but it's coming back. Holding on OG Michal Menet.

Silly mistakes like that cost PSU. Not like the game's in doubt ... but PSU wanted to clean that stuff up.

— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 15, 2018

56-yard touchdown pass from Trace McSorley to KJ Hamler...called back on a holding by center Michal Menet

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 15, 2018

We’re minutes away from kickoff. Our #PennStatevsKentState predictions:

Me: PSU 48-10@jmcgonigal9: PSU 52-14@JohnJRoach: PSU 37-20@byncobler: PSU 38-10@lmuth1259: PSU 52-17 pic.twitter.com/Iccvu3RY7L

— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 15, 2018

It was an "OR" on the depth chart, but Brandon Polk announced as today's starter over DeAndre Thompkins

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 15, 2018

Penn State has arrived ahead of its noon kick against Kent State @PennStateFball #PennStatefootball #PennStatevsKentState pic.twitter.com/geoj8R14S6

— Phoebe Sheehan (@phoebe_sheehan) September 15, 2018

Observations from the Beaver Stadium press box:

- Tommy Stevens dressed & throwing, something he didn't do past two weeks

- Justin Shorter and fellow freshman Jahan Dotson warming up. WRs could get first game action

- Shane Simmons out of his boot

- Mac n cheese is good

— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 15, 2018

Some pregame reading for #PennStatevsKentState:

5 things to watch: https://t.co/D3JqOuSTeM

Kevin Givens' return: https://t.co/9VLkuBc4j1

Jan Johnson's journey from walk-on to starter: https://t.co/Fvl6GYGhBC

Freiermuth impressing: https://t.co/YqWez5w4CY

— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 15, 2018