Lion Tales: Buffalo
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In September 2015, Penn State was coming off an embarrassing loss to Temple in Philadelphia, a game that you saw mentioned a lot in this past week.
Well, just like this year, the Nittany Lions came back home to take on MAC opponent Buffalo for a Noon kick at Beaver Stadium.
That’s the subject of today’s Lion Tales – a completely forgettable first half that turned into a the coming out party for one of Penn State’s all-time stars.
The 0-1 Lions didn’t exactly start sharp. With temperatures unseasonably chilly and consistent rain, Penn State’s offense was stuck in the mud and the game was scoreless after a quarter of play.
In the second quarter, Penn State got some scoring going with a short Joey Julius field goal and then a 22-yard Brandon Polk touchdown run on a jet sweep.
Buffalo, under first-year head coach Lance Leipold, engineered a scoring drive to cut the Penn State lead to 10-7 in the third quarter. Most notably, the Bulls offensive coordinator that day was Andy Kotelnicki.
Leading by three and with the team looking listless, second-year Penn State coach James Franklin inserted a freshman running back into the lineup. Saquon Barkley, who had just one carry for one yard in Penn State’s opening loss to Temple, gave the Lions a burst.
Barkley finished with 12 carries for 115 yards – all in the second half. Most famously, he hurdled a Buffalo defender on a long run, drawing “oohhhssss” from the soaked Beaver Stadium crowd and rendering ESPN analyst Anthony Becht – yes, that Anthony Becht – speechless.
Barkley’s touchdown run midway through the fourth pushed Penn State’s lead to 27-7 and helped ease some major concerns about the Lions. Penn State actually won five straight games and seven of eight overall.
Other notable names who played prominent roles in that win against Buffalo included Christian Hackenberg who threw a touchdown to DaeSean Hamilton in the rainy weather, as well as Carl Nassib, who jump started his All-American season with a sack and an interception.
Barkley, meanwhile, went on to set a Penn State freshman record for rushing yards in a season, scored seven touchdowns, and began to establish himself as one of the greatest players in program history.
Buffalo went on to finish 5-7, but Leipold (and Kotelnicki) ultimately turned the Bulls into a solid G5 team before the coaching staff moved on to Kansas.
Oh, and that analyst for ESPN – he will be in Beaver Stadium this weekend watching his son, Rocco, play quarterback for the Nittany Lions.
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