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Royster gets back on track

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Through the first three weeks of the season, one question hung over everything dealing with Penn State football: "What's wrong with Royster?"

Penn State QB Rob Bolden hands off to Evan Royster.  (David Swanson / Staff Photographer)
Penn State QB Rob Bolden hands off to Evan Royster. (David Swanson / Staff Photographer)Read more

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Through the first three weeks of the season, one question hung over everything dealing with Penn State football: "What's wrong with Royster?"

Evan Royster, the star running back of the Nittany Lions, came back Saturday with the answer: Absolutely nothing.

The Lions' fifth-year senior, who had rushed for just 110 yards in three games, established a career high with 187 yards in 26 carries in the 22-13 victory over Temple at Beaver Stadium.

The performance got Royster back on track in his pursuit of Penn State's all-time rushing record held by Curt Warner. Royster's career number now stands at 3,215, putting him 189 yards away from breaking Warner's mark.

Royster said he wasn't worried about his earlier showings, that it was more a matter of getting the offensive line and the running backs in sync.

"It's something that comes with getting more into the season," he said. "It's tough to come out and play your first two or three games like you'll play your next six or seven. Your offensive line's not fully come together and our meshing with the quarterback is not really there. It's something that you'd like to be there, but until you get into games it's not the same. I think we were all fairly confident it would come together and click."

Royster tied John Cappelletti on the all-time list with his 13th 100-yard game. The Lions are 13-0 in those games.

Growing confidence

Sophomore defensive end Pete Massaro continued to show his ability to make plays.

The Marple Newtown High graduate put a hit on Temple quarterback Chester Stewart that resulted in a third-quarter interception by linebacker Nate Stupar. He also sacked Stewart, causing a fumble that he recovered on the game's final play.

"Any time we're pass rushing it's the same thing," Massaro said. "Any time they throw the ball, I'm just trying to make a big play, something that could change the game for us."

Massaro had one of two sacks of Stewart. It appeared as if the defense increased its pressure on him, particularly after Temple's Bernard Pierce left the game with an apparent ankle injury.

"I think any quarterback is going to get rattled once you start to hit him," Massaro said. "I think we did a pretty good job of getting pressure on the quarterback although we didn't have the numbers to show it."

Sturdy defense

All day, the Temple defense had kept Penn State from scoring a touchdown even though the Owls had to be getting tired from being on the field so much.

The Lions finally scored after being kept out of the end zone for the first 56-plus minutes of the game, but the Owls had made their point and won some respect.

"We get tired but we stick with it," safety Jaiquawn Jarrett said. "We know our offense will come through on a long drive for us eventually, so we just keep fighting."

Jarrett led the Owls with 11 total tackles. He also delivered a hit on Lions quarterback Rob Bolden, but Bolden still managed to complete a 27-yard third-down pass on the game's decisive drive.

"I would say they looked at us differently," Jarrett said. "We came out flying and we were physical. You could tell, they were talking to us and saying 'Good job' and 'Nice play.' So it was a good experience."

Extra points

Sophomore fullback Michael Zordich, who scored Penn State's only touchdown on a 1-yard run, is the son of former Penn State and Eagles star Mike Zordich. . . . The Nittany Lions lost offensive tackle Lou Eliades to what Paterno said was a torn ACL in his right knee, and he is apparently lost for the season. Quinn Barham, the offensive tackle on the left side, departed with a right ankle injury but returned to the game. . . . The game was the closest in the series since the Lions, then ranked 11th, posted a 27-25 victory on Sept. 14, 1985.