STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - There were bowl aspirations.
There was supposed to be momentum from last week’s improbable 30-10 pounding of Purdue at Spartan Stadium.
But after 15 minutes of football Saturday, MSU had nothing.
Before the 96,070 fans at Beaver Stadium had a chance to get comfortable in their seats, host Penn State was already leading 28-0 after the first quarter.
After the early disaster, the Spartans never got closer than 28-10.
MSU head coach Bobby Williams said the large early deficit made things difficult on the visiting Spartans.
“Our offense got off to a relatively slow start, and the field position really hurt us,” Williams said following MSU’s 42-23 loss. “The defense had to play with their backs against the wall.”
The defeat ended MSU’s season at 5-6 - just one game short of a postseason bid and the worst finish since forfeiting all 11 games in 1994. For many of the players, it hadn’t sunk in that the season was over.
“I really couldn’t tell you what we did wrong,” senior defensive tackle Jace Sayler said after the contest. “I’d like to watch the film of the game right now because I’m still puzzled.”
Freshman quarterback Jeff Smoker’s return to his home state was dizzying - literally. After enduring an abundance of hard hits from Penn State defenders throughout the game, Smoker left early in the fourth quarter with a concussion.
He completed 13 of 25 passes for 183 yards and a touchdown.
“This was a big game for me, obviously,” the Manheim, Pa., native said. “I’m disappointed with the way things turned out.”
The Spartans’ offense failed to help combat Penn State’s early barrage of points. MSU went three-and-out on its first four possessions, giving the Nittany Lions prime field position.
Quarterback Rashard Casey’s 1-yard run and tailback Larry Johnson’s 58-yard touchdown sprint gave Penn State a 14-0 lead with 7:10 left in the first quarter.
After MSU’s inability to move the ball, Penn State got it back at its own 28-yard line. Four plays later, Casey threw a pass that sailed through intended receiver Eddie Drummond’s hands, and fell into receiver Kenny Watson’s lap for a 40-yard touchdown score.
When Watson crossed the goal line, sprinting past stunned Spartan defenders, Penn State led 21-0 with 3:50 still on the first-quarter clock.
MSU sophomore tailback T.J. Duckett, who rushed for 136 yards and a touchdown, didn’t have an explanation for the onslaught.
“They came out excited and strong, and we didn’t react,” he said. “I don’t know how it happened.”
Junior tight end Chris Baker was equally exasperated.
“I’ve never been in a game like that where you get down so fast,” said Baker, who caught four passes for 78 yards.
MSU outscored Penn State 10-0 in the second quarter, and went into halftime with a bit of momentum, despite trailing the Nittany Lions 28-10. But Penn State took the wind out of MSU’s sails when it marched 69 yards on the opening possession of the second half, capped by a 31-yard touchdown pass from Casey to tailback Eric McCoo, giving Penn State a 35-10 advantage.
Sayler said there’s no reason for MSU’s early lackluster effort.
“They had a few lucky breaks but that’s still no excuse for the way we played that first quarter,” Sayler said. “It makes it real tough to come back from something like that.”
Jeff Karzen can be reached at karzenje@msu.edu.
