STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Trace McSorley isnt offended when he sees defenders packing the line of scrimmage, knowing their primary goal is to stop the electric running back lined up next to or behind him on any given play.The Penn State quarterback is content to build his own reputation as a playmaker, and eventually, a downfield-passer to be reckoned with.Although he and the rest of Penn States new-look offense started slowly in a 33-13 win over Kent State on Saturday, McSorley believes he made positive first steps toward that goal.When youve got Saquon (Barkley) in the backfield, teams are going to try to stop him, McSorley said. The first two drives we kind of got stalled out. The third drive we were able to get some first downs, push the ball down the field a little bit to our receivers to loosen them up a little bit and let Saquon get loose a couple of times.Barkley finished with 105 yards rushing, and Tyler Davis chipped in two field goals for the Nittany Lions. A 29-yard field goal in the second quarter gave Penn State a 16-13 halftime lead that grew as an opportunistic defense settled in and McSorley found receivers down the field.After hitting DaeSean Hamilton for a short touchdown pass in the first, McSorley slung a ball to Mike Gesicki for 30 yards to cap the scoring with less than two minutes to go. It was a satisfying finish for the quarterback whod tried to stretch Kent States underrated front seven early with deep throws to Saeed Blacknall and Gesicki that just missed.In the process, McSorley showed off own grittiness as a runner, chipping in 47 yards on the ground and lowering his head to finish off tacklers.I thought his composure was really good, Penn State coach James Franklin said. Thats just kind of who he is.Amani Oruwariye returned an interception for a score in the third quarter for the Nittany Lions who battered a trio of Kent State quarterbacks, sacking them seven times and forcing two more turnovers.Shane Hynes kicked two field goals for Kent State, and Elcee Refuge returned a McSorley fumble for a touchdown in the second quarter.ALL OR NOTHING FRONTPenn State safety Marcus Allen said earlier this week he and his defensive teammates had something to prove even after being ranked among the best defenses in college football each of the past two years.He understands losing three defensive linemen to the NFL will generate questions of the new guys. After Saturdays sack-filled performance, they have plenty to be proud of. But scrambling quarterbacks are still a problem.Kent States threesome of Justin Agner, Mylik Mitchell and George Bollas combined for 50 first-half yards on in scrambles or designed quarterbacks runs. Many came up the middle where defensive tackles Parker Cothren and Kevin Givens made their first career starts.It was either a sack or it was a scramble for a first down, Franklin said. Weve got to do a better job with our rush lanes on that side of the ball.INTERCHANGEABLE PARTSPerhaps Penn States greatest strength is the versatility it has among its back seven.The Nittany Lions showed a multitude of nickel looks with different linebacker and corner combinations. Penn State deployed a total of eight defensive backs and five linebackers to limit 129 yards on just 14-of-28 passing.Weve always been underrated since weve been here, Oruwariye said.THE TAKEAWAYKENT STATE: The Golden Flashes havent had much going for them offensively in quite a while, but their defense remains stout enough to give them hope.Kent States front seven kept the game within reach by limiting Barkleys running room early. Vaunted pass-rusher Terence Waugh killed a big wave of Penn State momentum midway through the second quarter when he hammered McSorley from his blindside, forcing a fumble that Refuge returned for a touchdown to tie the game 13-13. If Waugh can keep making plays, the Golden Flashes will have chances to turn games around.PENN STATE: A coordinator change doesnt guarantee immediate success. Saturdays sluggish start and uneven performance shows Joe Moorheads offense will need more time for all its parts to get on the same page.And the sooner the better as games loom against No. 7 Michigan, No. 6 Ohio State, and Maryland, teams that hung at least 52 points on its opponents in their openers. A bunch of missed tackles against Kent State is further evidence that Penn States offense will have to pull more weight than it has in the two previous years when elite defenses could bail it out.UP NEXTKent State will try to snap its six-game losing streak when it hosts FCS foe North Carolina A&T next Saturday.Penn State and Pittsburgh will renew a long-dormant rivalry when the Nittany Lions travel to Heinz Field next Saturday for the first game in a home-and-home series. Penn State leads the series 50-42-4 and has won seven of the last eight. Pittsburgh won the last meeting 12-0 in 2000. Dan Focht Jersey .S. Open champion Justin Rose birdied the first hole with a blind shot he hit to a foot of the pin, and he stayed in front Tuesday until he completed a 4-under 67 for a two-shot lead over Jason Dufner in PGA Grand Slam of Golf. Fredrik Sjostrom Jersey . Now, correct me if Im wrong but I saw one official distinctly pointing at the net indicating a good goal but after an inconclusive review they overturned the goal. Shouldnt the ruling on the ice (good goal) stand after an inconclusive review? Why was this overturned? James Veaudry Pembroke, ON -- Hey Kerry, Youll get a lot of these, but why was the Montreal goal against Nashville Saturday night overturned? Eller puts the puck on net and the on ice ruling from the ref behind the net is a Montreal goal. https://www.cheapcoyotes.com/298z-daniel-carcillo-jersey-coyotes.html . It was just business as usual for the Thunder at home. Durant scored 32 points and the Thunder beat the Bulls 107-95 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win. Derek Stepan Jersey .ca. Hey Kerry, big fan of yours, just finished reading your book. I think that we all saw the Canucks/Flames line brawl just after puck drop. It was obvious that something was about to happen, even to the referees because the fourth lines were on to start. Christian Fischer Jersey .ca. Kerry, Just watched the shootout in the Coyotes/Leafs game and I have to ask, why was the James van Riemsdyk goal allowed to count? All of the video replays we were shown on TV were inconclusive about whether the puck had entirely crossed the line or not. PEORIA, Ariz. -- Tim Tebow remains hitless in the Arizona Fall League as the ex-quarterback heads to Knoxville for Saturdays SEC football showdown between top-ranked Alabama and No. 9 Tennessee.Tebow went 0-for-3 with a walk, two strikeouts and a run scored Thursday as the designated hitter for the Scottsdale Scorpions in a 5-2 loss to the Peoria Javelinas.Through three games in the league for top prospects, Tebow is now 0-for-9 with three strikeouts, two walks and an RBI. All of his six outs put in play have been hit to the right side of the infield -- two grounders to second base, three to first base and a squibber in front of the plate. He manned left field in his opening two games.Im getting adjusted. I need to get back into the rhythm, Tebow said. I was a little late on a couple of fastballs I could have done something with.Scottsdale hitting coach Damon Minor, who played parts of four seasons with the San Francisco Giants, said, He hasnt done it in a while. ... Hes very athletic, and you can tell he competes.Tebow is excused from Friday and Saturday AFL games because of his ESPN broadcasting responsibilities. The AFL is dark on Sundays, so Tebow will resume his baseball pursuit on Monday.Coincidentally, the New York Jets -- one of Tebows former employers -- will be playing nearby against the Arizona Cardinals?on Monday. However, Tebow will be unable to attend because the Scorpions have the AFLs lone night game on Monday.Tebow signed a minor league deal for $100,000 with the Mets last month.The progress is being made, said Scottsdale manager Tom Goodwin, who also serves as the first-base coach for the Mets. Its slowly but surely coming along. Hes got some TV obligations to fulfill, and hell come back Monday and hell be ready to go.ddddddddddddGoodwin said Tebow does not seem overmatched.Im sure hes said it to you before: Hes missing pitches that he should hit, Goodwin said. Hes rolling over [pitches] right now. Thats going to happen, because youre anxious up there. You want to hit the ball. So you go out and get it instead of letting it travel a little deeper.Every time he comes out and plays, I would expect him to get better at that. And then hes going to have to learn, when he gets his pitch to hit, to not miss it. There are a couple of balls, Im sure, he feels he should have hit that hes not hitting. Thats a part of baseball. Thats a part of learning your strike zone and learning your bat path, and then putting a good swing on the ball that happens to be in your path.The employees at Peoria Sports Complex, the spring training home of the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres, had fun each time Tebow stepped to the plate during Thursdays AFL game. The scoreboard listed Tebows career statistics as TD 17, INT 9, YDS 2,422.Despite the initial on-field struggles, Tebow had an eventful opening week in the AFL. When a 30-year-old autograph seeker suffered a seizure after Tebows AFL debut on Tuesday, the ex-quarterback stayed with the man and prayed for his well-being until paramedics arrived.Tebow said he is not discouraged by his hitless opening week in the AFL.Its too much of a process, Tebow said. After everything Ive been through in sports, I wouldnt be up and down over three games. ' ' '
