No. 10 Penn State returns to play Saturday, when it welcomes Kent State to State College, Pa., after each side faced their fair share of struggles the last time they stepped onto the field.
Penn State (2-0) earned a victory on Sept. 7, but one that felt far too close from a top-10 Big Ten side against unranked Bowling Green out of the Mid-American Conference. In the first two quarters, Bowling Green had 286 yards of total offense to 236 for Penn State as the Nittany Lions trailed 24-20 at the half.
Penn State scored the first 14 points of the second half to earn a 34-27 victory as Nicholas Singleton (119) and Kaytron Allen (101) each rushed for 100 yards. But future opponents were exposed to a path forward against the Nittany Lions.
Missed tackles and the wide-open style of play in the first half raised concerns for Penn State head coach James Franklin with how his defense was able to communicate throughout the opening two quarters.
“We were trying to rely specifically on the headset communication and at home that can be a little bit more challenging with the linebacker trying to verbally communicate to all 11 guys on the field,” Franklin said.
Kent State (0-3) was walloped Saturday at Tennessee, falling behind 65-0 at halftime before losing 71-0.
Playing against an opponent that is clearly overmatched this weekend, Penn State will get a chance to work on the shortcomings it showed in the first half against Bowling Green.
“The challenge is ultimately about us and our focus on Penn State and us getting better and developing and playing up to our standard week in and week out,” Franklin said. “(It) is easier said than done.”
It will be far easier than the situation Kent State is up against.
The Golden Flashes’ injury issues at running back increased Saturday, only adding to the woe felt after the humiliating defeat.
Starter Gavin Garcia already was lost for the season before the schedule even began with a knee injury. Against then-No. 7 Tennessee, running backs Curtis Douglas and Ky Thomas also sustained knee injuries after they combined to gain 25 yards on 11 carries.
“The way it’s going, you’re going to have to utilize that whole room and even maybe bring a guy into that room from another position,” Kent State head coach Kenni Burns said.
Even when taking into account what Bowling Green was able to expose with Penn State, Burns knows his team has a tall task ahead against a team that is likely to run the ball at his team all day.
On defense Saturday, the Golden Flashes were helpless as the Volunteers scored points on each of their first 11 drives. Tennessee delivered a program-record 37 points in the first quarter and piled up 740 yards of total offense against an overwhelmed Kent State defense.
“Like Tennessee, you’re not going to find very many weaknesses anywhere,” Burns said about Penn State. “I thought (Bowling Green) did a good job with some of the formational stuff to create confusion. But I think, like any good coaching staff, (Penn State is) going to make adjustments. They’re coming off the bye week. They’re going to know how to fix these things and grow. But they’re exceptional.”
Penn State is 31-3 all-time against MAC programs and earned a 63-10 victory over Kent State the last time the programs met in 2018.
