Penn State rolls over MAC champ Ball State, 44-13

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Jesse Luketa’s one-handed-interception return for a touchdown highlighted a strong defensive showing for No. 11 Penn State as it took down Ball State, 44-13 on Saturday to move to 2-0 in front of a near-sellout crowd at Beaver Stadium.

Penn State allowed only one touchdown late in the fourth quarter, but it forced five three-and-outs, intercepted two passes, forced a fumble, and made three stands inside the 10-yard line, forcing Ball State to settle for three points twice.

“The defense is playing real hard,” senior Jonathan Sutherland said. “Everyone has been running, pursuing to the ball, attacking the ball when it’s in the air. [I’m] pretty proud of of what we’ve been putting on so far.”

It wasn’t only the defense that was working for the Nittany Lions Saturday, as senior quarterback Sean Clifford had one of his better days in the blue and white, completing 21 of his 29 passes for 230 yards and one touchdown.

“I thought he was very efficient,” head coach James Franklin said of Clifford. “He was very poised early on. I thought [offensive coordinator and quarterback coach] Mike [Yurcich] called a very good game that put Sean in advantageous situations, and then when Sean had an opportunity to extend some plays, he did that.”

Clifford was especially good in the first half where he went 16-for-21 for 178 yards and a touchdown and also ran for a TD.

He spread the ball all over the place, hitting 10 receivers, with senior Jahan Dotson leading the way as he hauled in five passes for 65 yards, including a screen pass which he took 25 yards for a score after making a few defenders miss.

“I love that we were able to spread the ball around offensively this game,” Franklin said. “I thought we were able to get Jahan involved early on, not only in the passing game, but [also] in the fly sweep that we ran.”

Penn State’s offense played at breakneck speed, with its four touchdown drives combining for 34 plays and 268 yards in just 11 minutes, 47 seconds.

“We still kept that tempo,” Clifford said. “I think there was a lot of good stuff.”

The ground game was also working for Yurcich’s offense, racking up 240 rushing yards, with three players over 60 yards.

Junior Noah Cain handled a majority of the duties, as he took 20 handoffs for 69 yards and found the end zone to open the scoring.

“Noah Cain continues to do some really great things,” Franklin said.

The touchdown was Cain’s first since Penn State’s Cotton Bowl game against Memphis, and his first in Beaver Stadium since the Nittany Lions’ Oct. 5, 2019, date with Purdue.

On top of Cain, sophomore running back Keyvone Lee also had a solid effort on the ground, as he compiled 68 yards on only eight carries.

Lee noted that seeing the way in which Cain plays, specifically Saturday, and running downhill were keys to his success against the Cardinals after tallying minus-4 yards on three carries the week prior.

“I just had to lock in,” Lee said. “Watching Noah go out there and play, that’s my type of game, too.”

Following the first home game with fans since 2019, and the 300th Penn State win in Beaver Stadium, Franklin’s squad now turns its sights toward a Week 3 primetime matchup against No. 25 Auburn in Happy Valley in front of a Whiteout crowd.

“I can’t wait for next week,” Lee said. “The fans [are what I’m most excited about] — and that we’re gonna win.”