No. 12/11 Penn State Blanks Maryland, 59-0

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: September 28, 2019

Courtesy of GoPSU Athletics

Clifford sets first half passing record; Defense earns first shutout since 2017

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford (Cincinnati, Ohio) threw for 398 yards and three touchdowns in less than three quarters of action to lead the No. 12/11 Nittany Lions (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) past Maryland, 59-0, in the Big Ten football opener for both teams Friday night in Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium.

It was a career night for the sophomore Penn State quarterback as he set personal bests with 26 completions on 31 attempts for 398 yards, including a Penn State-record 287 yards in the first half. Three of his throws went for touchdowns and he earned his first career rushing touchdown on the Lions’ first play from scrimmage.

Quarterback Will Levis (Madison, Conn.) relieved Clifford with 5:45 remaining in the third quarter and added 23 passing yards to give Penn State 421 yards for the night, ranking as the second-most in program history (behind Christian Hackenberg’s 454 passing yards against UCF in 2014) and the most in a Big Ten game in program history.

Thirteen different Lions caught a pass, led by a career-high six receptions by KJ Hamler (Pontiac, Mich.), who finished with 108 yards receiving and a 58-yard touchdown reception.

In total, Penn State’s 619 yards of total offense were its third-most in a Big Ten game all-time.

On defense Jan Johnson (Mohnton, Pa.) and Tariq Casto-Fields (Upper Marlboro, Md.) both hauled in interceptions that led to Penn State touchdown drives and Ellis Brooks (Mechanicsville, Va.) led the unit with six tackles and 2.5 sacks.

It was Penn State’s first shutout since 2017 (Georgia State), first Big Ten shutout since 2016 (Rutgers) and first shutout of Maryland since 1970.

How it Happened

Johnson intercepted Maryland quarterback Josh Jackson on the Terps’ fifth play from scrimmage, returning it 17 yards to the Maryland 32, and penalties on the play and after the play gave the Nittany Lions the ball at the Maryland 8-yard line. Clifford called his own number on the first play and scampered untouched into the end zone for a quick 7-0 lead.

The Penn State defense forced a three-and-out on Maryland’s next possession, and the Lions went up 14-0 on an electrifying 58-yard touchdown reception by Hamler with 9:28 remaining in the first quarter. Maryland threatened on its next drive, but Castro-Fields intercepted Jackson at the goal line and returned it to the Penn State 5-yard line, setting up a 95-yard touchdown drive that stretched into the second quarter.Running back Ricky Slade (Meadville, Pa.) capped the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run for a 21-0 lead.

Tight end Nick Bowers (Kittanning, Pa.) caught a 15-yard touchdown pass with 9:40 remaining in the half,Journey Brown (Meadville, Pa.) turned a check-down pass into a 37-yard touchdown with 3:04 remaining and Jake Pinegar (Ankeny, Iowa) kicked a 21-yard field goal as time expired for a 38-0 halftime lead.

Brown added a touchdown on the ground in the third quarter and Levis rushed for two touchdowns in the fourth quarter for the final margin.

Up Next

Penn State returns to Beaver Stadium for its annual Homecoming game Saturday, Oct. 5, hosting Purdue for a noon kickoff on either ABC or ESPN.

Single-game tickets are available for the 2019 Penn State Football season presented by PSECU. Fans can visit www.PSUnrivaled.com, call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. or visit the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office weekdays from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.