Penn State notes: Rocco Becht rebounds with strong outing in loss to USC

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

STATE COLLEGE – Rocco Becht rebounded from poor performances in the last two games, but he and Penn State still fell short Saturday night at Beaver Stadium.

“Not good enough,” Becht said when asked to evaluate his performance. “I’ve always said I’m a perfectionist. I need to be better, whether that’s in the red zone or with down and distance. I need to be better.”

Becht completed 21-of-32 passes for 289 yards and one touchdown in the Nittany Lions’ 31-23 loss to USC. He completed his final pass to wide receiver Brett Eskildsen, who fumbled and lost it after a 25-yard gain to the Trojans’ 35 with 3:59 left.

Becht didn’t miss many open receivers like he did in a 34-13 loss to Northwestern last week. He also avoided sacks several times with short gains.

“We played in a better rhythm, which allowed Rocco to play his style,” Penn State coach Matt Campbell said. “I thought he moved in the pocket at times. I thought he was really comfortable in the drop-back game.

“Rocco certainly gave us every opportunity to be successful. I thought we found a rhythm that we want to play in.”

White Out reaction: Several Penn State players marveled at their first White Out Game and the announced crowd of 114,419, a Beaver Stadium record and the fourth-largest crowd in the history of college football.

“It was amazing,” Becht said. “The fans came out despite two losses in a row and they showed out with a record-setting attendance. Props to all of those people. I appreciate them. We just need all their support as much as we can get for the rest of the season. I know this team’s not done.”

Campbell also experienced his first White Out as Penn State coach.

“It was an unbelievable atmosphere,” he said. “It was one of the most impressive environments that I’ve been able to coach in or be a part of. My disappointment is, right now, we can’t give them the result they deserve.”

Neal absent: Junior safety Marcus Neal, who was Penn State’s fourth-leading tackler, did not play against USC.

Neal had struggled in pass coverage in the Lions’ first five games and was beaten on Wisconsin’s game-winning touchdown pass last month.

“Today was such a unique football game,” Campbell said. “Coverage was at a premium in terms of what was going on. As we’re continuing to put this defense together, Marcus is a critical piece to our success.

“As the game got into a spread game and playing in space, it was a situation where we went with probably more coverage than we did from a tackle standpoint at the safety position.”

Zion Tracy, who has played cornerback and nickel back, played more snaps at safety, along with Jeremiah Cooper and Jamison Patton.

Loss of timeouts: Penn State had no timeouts remaining when USC recovered Eskildsen’s fumble late in the fourth quarter, so Campbell couldn’t stop the clock.

He called his final timeout of the second half a few minutes earlier with USC facing a fourth down from its 13 and the play clock winding down.

“We had our punt safe group out there,” Campbell said, “and they kept their offense out there. I just didn’t want to screw around with it. I wanted to make sure we secured the football.”

Campbell said he used his first timeout of the second half to avoid a delay of game penalty because wide receiver Zay Robinson came onto the field late and USC took its time changing its defensive personnel in response.

He said he used the second timeout early in the fourth quarter to avoid another delay of game call.

“They started the 25-second (play) clock, but they didn’t announce it,” Campbell said. “I think it was a lack of clarity.”

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos