Penn State offense struggles in 21-3 win over Akron

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - With its running game still mired in quicksand and Christian Hackenberg still finding that heroic throws sometimes lead to interceptions, Penn State continued Saturday to discover the ability to dial up a big play whenever it needed one.

Hackenberg threw a pair of picks, giving him four in two games, but he shook them off to pass for 319 yards and three touchdowns, as the Nittany Lions got their offense untracked late and went on to a 21-3 victory over Akron in coach James Franklin's debut at Beaver Stadium.

Hackenberg, who tied Matt McGloin's school record with his sixth career 300-yard game, hit some clutch passes, particularly in the second half. He connected with Geno Lewis for 28 yards on a third and 25 in the third quarter that kept alive the Lions' second TD drive, and found Jesse James behind a linebacker for a 44-yard touchdown strike in the fourth.

"It puts a lot of confidence in all of us," Hackenberg said. "Even if we dig ourselves in a hole, we understand that we can step up and be able to make a play. If we get a good play call in there, which we've been doing consistently in those types of situations, guys come up and make plays in tough situations."

Hackenberg's other two touchdown throws were 22 yards to Bill Belton in the first quarter and 13 yards to James in the third.

The 97,354 who turned out for the home opener saw the visiting Zips (1-1) battle it out with the Nittany Lions (2-0) for the better part of three quarters. Akron marched down the field after the opening kickoff but missed a 31-yard field-goal try.

The Penn State offense wasn't in sync, gaining just 74 yards in the second quarter, with Hackenberg going 5 of 14.

The rushing attack accounted for only 42 yards through three quarters.

And then there were the interceptions, both coming from the Akron 19 and both picked at the 2-yard line.

"I just think it's me trying to force things," Hackenberg said. "It's not that it's something that I can't correct. So I just have to go back and continue to work on it and continue to learn from those mistakes and try not to make them again."

The second interception, early in the fourth quarter, was returned to the Penn State 47, giving Akron a chance to get back into the game. But linebacker Brandon Bell and defensive end C.J. Olaniyan stopped Conor Hundley on fourth and 1. The Lions took over and needed two plays to score on James' second TD catch.

The defense held Akron to 277 yards on 71 plays (3.9 average). The Zips field goal completed a 30-yard, third-quarter drive after they recovered a fumble on a premature Penn State snap.

The lost fumble and two interceptions gave Penn State six turnovers and a minus-5 mark in two games.

"I think when you have quarterbacks that have really strong arms and believe in themselves and their talent, they're going to try to make some throws that probably other quarterbacks don't," Franklin said. "It's part of the growth process. We'll get it resolved."

The Penn State running game picked up steam in the fourth quarter, accounting for 64 of the Lions' 131 total yards in the period. The Lions had some success with the Wildcat offense, in which Akeel Lynch picked up most of his team-high 45 yards.

After some gains on the ground, a great play-action fake by Hackenberg sprang James for his second TD.

"We were finally able to establish the running game and get it going," Franklin said, "and then you go play-action, and guys are wide open. That's what I'm trying to get everyone to understand. It's going to help the tight ends. It will help everyone out once we establish the run."