Michael Zordich scored on a 1-yard run with 2:42 left to stretch Penn State‘s winning streak against Temple to 29 straight games in a 14-10 victory on Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field.
Temple took a three-point lead into the fourth quarter before a flurry of Owl turnovers turned the game’s momentum. Penn State’s offense went 44 yards in 12 plays, including two fourth-down conversions, for Michael Zordich’s one-yard touchdown run with 2:42 left gave the Nittany Lions a 14-10 win.
Penn State (2-1) struggled all day with turnovers and an atrocious kicking game (two missed field goals, one blocked) before surviving in front of 57,323 fans, the third-largest crowd in Temple history.
For all the strides Temple has made in its program the last five years, it still can’t beat Joe Paterno and the Nittany Lions. Temple has not defeated Penn State since a 14-0 victory on Oct. 18, 1941. The teams tied 7-7 in 1950.
The Owls opened like a team playing for a BCS bowl berth, pressuring Rob Bolden and rattling ball carriers that set an early tone. It was clear that they wouldn’t be pushovers. They got it done on offense early, with Mike Gerardi connecting to Deon Miller for 33 yards that set up Bernard Pierce’s 2-yard score and a 7-0 lead.
Matt McGloin replaced Bolden in the second quarter and led the Nittany Lions on a tying scoring drive, capped by Silas Redd’s 17-yard scoring run.
Brandon McManus put the Owls, 10-7, ahead with a 40-yard field goal with 37 seconds left in the half.
Penn State’s Sam Ficken had his 49-yard tying attempt blocked by Shahid Paulhill as time expired to help the Owls take a lead into halftime — and set the stage for a historic win.
But the Nittany Lions had other ideas.
Penn State converted a fourth-and-1 on the 3 late in the fourth. Zordich then scored to make it 14-10.
Aided by a defensive penalty, the Owls drove to the 34 on their final possession. Mike Gerardi was sacked on fourth down to end the drive and the upset bid.
In the end, Temple was held to just 197 total yards and Gerardi threw two interceptions as the streak continued.