UNIVERSITY PARK - Following are the highlights and lowlights from Penn State's 41-7 victory over Indiana State on Saturday at Beaver Stadium:
Play of the game: Chaz Powell returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown.
Offensive player of the game: Penn State tailback Silas Redd rushed for 104 yards on 12 carries, an 8.7 yards per-carry average, and two touchdowns.
Article Photos
Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski
Silas Redd (25) celebrates with teammates after scoring in the first quarter.
Defensive player of the game: Lion safety Drew Astorino intercepted a pass and returned it 33 yards in the first quarter. He also broke up two other passes.
Most telling statistic: Six of Indiana State's eight first downs came in the fourth quarter.
Hidden statistic: Penn State was penalized seven times for 45 yards.
Best run: Redd used a nifty spin move for a 17-yard gain late in the first quarter.
Best pass: Indiana State quarterback Ronnie Fouch zipped a 29-yarder over the middle to Alex Jones in the first quarter.
Worst pass: This was more of a decision. Either way, Matt McGloin made a real bad one late in the second quarter. While stumbling backwards, he threw the ball directly into the belly of Sycamore linebacker Phil Walker. Fortunately for the Lions (and McGloin) Walker dropped it.
Best catch: True freshman cornerback Adrian Amos made a leaping interception and returned it 46 yards in the fourth quarter.
Catch it, will ya: Derek Moye dropped an early deep fly pattern up the sideline, from Rob Bolden, inside the Indiana State 5. Brandon Beachum muffed a late second quarter screen.
Hold it, won't ya: No Lion fumbled.
Best call: When it wins the coin toss, PSU typically defers - even against an outmanned opponent - but it won the flip and took the ball Saturday. Powell returned it for a touchdown.
Worst call: After calling a timeout late in the first quarter because the play clock was about to expire, on fourth-and-3, the Lions came back with a reverse to Moye for the second time. It was snowed under for an 8-yard loss.
Best tackle: Credit Indiana State's Alex Sewall for stopping Lion punt returner Justin Brown in a one-on-one situation.
Best hit: Michael Zordich crushed Sycamore kickoff returner Leonard Riston in the first quarter.
Best block: Wide receiver Shawney Kersey did a nice job blocking downfield to spring Curtis Dukes' 30-yard run in the third quarter.
Best kick: Didn't see one.
Worst kick: Evan Lewis' missed extra point trumped the 20-yard punt Indiana State's Antonio Davis shanked in the third quarter.
Worst penalty: Johnnie Troutman's false start pushed Lewis back 5 yards for a 38-yard field goal in the first quarter that missed, blunting momentum after Astorino's interception return.
Best effort: Zordich and fellow Nit fullback Joe Suhey, both legacies, combined for 44 yards on 11 carries, and each scored a touchdown. Suhey also caught two passes for 16 yards.
Unsung hero: Nit defensive tackle Jordan Hill made five tackles and caused and recovered a fumble in the third quarter, setting up a short-field TD drive and a 34-0 lead.
