Penn State dismisses Indiana, 29-7
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Christian Hackenberg took the snap from the Indiana 5-yard line and dropped back, but instead of hanging in the pocket until he found a receiver, he started to run up the middle. When he got to the 1, he launched himself over a would-be tackler and over the goal line for a Penn State touchdown.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Christian Hackenberg took the snap from the Indiana 5-yard line and dropped back, but instead of hanging in the pocket until he found a receiver, he started to run up the middle. When he got to the 1, he launched himself over a would-be tackler and over the goal line for a Penn State touchdown.
"When he dove, I was thinking to myself: 'Is this man crazy?' " said running back Nick Scott, who was on the field for the score.
Hackenberg, the 6-foot-4, 228-pound junior, showed Saturday he could produce touchdowns with his legs as well as his right arm. He passed for two touchdowns, ran for two more scores, and carried the Nittany Lions (5-1, 2-0) to a 29-7 victory over Indiana in a Big Ten Conference game before 97,873 fans basking in bright sunshine - for a change - at Beaver Stadium.
He was sacked four times for 13 yards in losses, but on his five other carries, he picked up 37 yards, including a career-high 22-yard scramble that set up his first TD run late in the second quarter.
Hackenberg, who said his diving technique was based on "a little lesson from Matt McGloin," his predecessor at quarterback, said running is something you get a feel for.
"Today I was able to get a feel for it in terms of how [the Hoosiers defensive line was] rushing, the lanes that were opening, being able to take advantage of it," he said.
Another topic of conversation that was just as significant was the apparent expansion of the playbook and the shots that Hackenberg took downfield all day, starting with the very first play, a nearly 50-yard pass that fell incomplete. He went 21 of 39 for 262 yards, completing passes to eight receivers, with two long gains - both for touchdowns - of 39 yards, to Brandon Polk and DaeSean Hamilton.
Lions head coach James Franklin said the game plan the last few weeks was to allow the offensive line to mature and to deal with the elements, which saw rain fall three of the last four games.
"[Indiana's] rush defense, they had everyone in the box, they were basically daring you to throw the ball," Franklin said. "We knew we were going to have to do that, so it was all those factors that it really all probably came down to."
Hackenberg said his team is used to changes on offense from week to week, and "whatever it is we're asked to do, we're going to go out and execute it at a high level and with great intensity. I thought we were able to do so today for the most part."
The Nittany Lions defense stood out, as usual. The unit was called upon twice in the first quarter after Indiana succeeded on a surprise onside kick following its only touchdown - a 12-yard first-quarter run by Zander Diamont - and a fumble lost by Mark Allen. It kept Indiana off the board.
"The most important area was to stop the run, that's our main focus every week," said linebacker Brandon Bell (Oakcrest High), referring to Indiana's 79 yards on 33 rushes. ". . . I'd say we did that."
The Hoosiers, who led the Big Ten in total offense at 498 yards per game, managed just 234 Saturday. They played without No. 1 quarterback Nate Sudfeld and No. 1 running back Jordan Howard. Diamont, the second-team quarterback, left the game in the third quarter with an apparent shoulder injury.
The Nittany Lions rushed for 154 yards despite being without Saquon Barkley and Akeel Lynch again. Scott and Allen shared the load. Then, of course, there was Hackenberg.
"If a quarterback can get two first downs a game for you with his legs, you're going to be in a really good position," Franklin said. "Christian was able to do that. I've been saying for a while that he has the ability to do that, and it showed up today."
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