Story by
Reading Eagle, Pa.
Penn State opens Matt Campbell era with impressive 45-0 win over Marshall
- Story byReading Eagle, Pa.
- Penn State opens Matt Campbell era with impressive 45-0 win over Marshall
STATE COLLEGE — Rocco Becht passed for 271 yards and a career-high four touchdowns as Penn State opened the Matt Campbell era with an impressive 45-0 victory over Marshall Saturday at Beaver Stadium.
The win before an announced crowd of 108,489 was the largest for the Nittany Lions in a season opener since a 79-7 rout of Idaho in 2019.
Advertisement
"It was really special to be a part of this for the first time," said Campbell, who spent the previous 10 seasons as Iowa State coach. "It was really special to coach here today. The environment was second to none."
No. 18 Penn State dominated the Thundering Herd from the start, building a 17-0 lead in the first quarter behind Becht's scoring throws to wide receivers Koby Howard and Brett Eskildsen.
Becht, who started the last three seasons at Iowa State for Campbell, found tight end Ben Brahmer in the back of the end zone for an 8-yard TD, giving Penn State a 24-0 halftime lead. Then early in the third quarter, he connected with freshman Zay Robinson on a 39-yard score before giving way to backup quarterback Alex Manske.
Quinton Martin Jr. scored on a 6-yard run in the third quarter and Cam Wallace ran for a 6-yard TD in the fourth quarter.
Advertisement
Becht completed 13-of-18 passes, including six to Howard for a career-high 161 yards and one touchdown.
Penn State outgained Marshall by a whopping 487-147 margin.
"When you have a quarterback who has played extensively, I think he has the goods to take what the defense gives him," Campbell said. "I felt Rocco was really efficient today. They were putting eight or nine guys in the box and he was getting a lot of pressure.
"Rocco was able to handle that and distribute the ball. Sometimes being a great quarterback is like being a great point guard. He was outstanding today."
Advertisement
The defense, coordinated by former Penn State cornerback D'Anton Lynn, held Marshall quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson to 102 passing yards and just 30 yards on 13 carries.
The Lions sacked him twice and hurried him seven times. Linebacker Tony Rojas had seven tackles and two tackles for loss, including a sack, and converted linebacker Caleb Bacon, who's now at defensive end, had a sack and three tackles for loss.
"So much credit goes to Coach Lynn and that defensive staff," Campbell said. "The ability to be multiple in terms of what we showed them but simple in terms of our ability to execute was a big point.
"I thought our guys were really keyed in."
