University Park, PA (Sports Network) - Collin Wagner kicked five field goals before the Nittany Lion offense finally found the end zone late in the fourth quarter, as No. 23 Penn State gutted out an ugly 22-13 win over Temple at Beaver Stadium.
Relief In Happy Valley: Penn State Escapes Temple, 22-13
Senior Evan Royster had his first 100-yard rushing game of the season, totaling 187 yards on 26 carries, while fullback Michael Zordich scored the lone touchdown with 3 1/2 minutes to play.
Freshman quarterback Rob Bolden didn’t deliver much in the way of big plays for a choppy Penn State offense. He did lead the offense 96 yards in 12 plays with time winding down in the fourth quarter and was 18-of-28 for 223 yards.
Bolden was 3-for-4 for 58 yards on the scoring drive that shaved six minutes off the clock and turned a 15-13 game into a two-score lead for the Lions (3-1), who managed a solid defensive effort.
The defense stepped up to hold Temple to 202 yards and eight first downs, allowing only one drive over 28 yards.
Temple's Chester Stewart was picked off three times and completed just 8-of-19 passes for 46 yards. Bernard Pierce rushed for two scores before leaving with an apparent right ankle injury in the third quarter for the Owls (3-1), who were off to their first 3-0 start since 1979.
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