Nov 19, 2016; Piscataway, NJ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Saquon Barkley (26) rushes against Rutgers Scarlet Knights defensive back Anthony Cioffi (31) during first half at High Points Solutions Stadium. Photo Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Tyler Davis set a career record with four field goals and Trace McSorley passed for 210 yards and a touchdown to lead No. 8 Penn State to a 39-0 win over Rutgers on Saturday night before 51,366 at High Point Solutions Stadium.
Penn State (9-2, 7-1 Big Ten) outgained Rutgers (2-9, 0-8) 549-87. Sophomore running back Saquon Barkley ran for 92 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown in three quarters for the Nittany Lions, who remained in a three-way tie with Ohio State and Michigan for first place in the Big Ten East Division. Each team has one conference game left.
Rutgers managed only five first downs and connected on just one play of more than 15 yards. It has been shut out by Ohio State (58-0), Michigan (78-0), Michigan State (49-0) and now Penn State.
Since joining the Big Ten three seasons ago, the Scarlet Knights have only four conference wins. They close out the season on Saturday at Maryland.
Rutgers quarterback Giovanni Rescigno was 7 of 16 for 48 yards. Penn State had 11 tackles for loss.
McSorley hit sophomore running back Mark Allen for a fourth-quarter touchdown pass before ending his night with 7:59 to play.
Andre Robinson’s 2-yard TD run and Davis’ fourth field goal of the night, a 32-yarder, extended Penn State’s lead to 25-0 after three quarters.
The Nittany Lions capitalized on a blocked punt by Juwan Johnson at the Rutgers 10-yard line at the start of the third quarter to move ahead 16-0. Barkley barreled in from the 1 three plays later for his 16th touchdown this season.
Penn State dominated the first half, accumulating 216 yards, but it converted only 4 of 11 third downs, leading to three field goals.
Davis tacked on his third field goal of the first half and longest this season, a 40-yarder, with 5:28 left in the second quarter for a 9-0 Penn State edge.
One bright spot for Rutgers in the first half was its ability to stop Penn State on fourth-and-goal from the 2. It marked its 13th stop of the season inside the red zone. The Scarlet Knights were 16th in the country in red-zone defense entering Saturday.
Penn State grabbed a 6-0 first-quarter lead thanks to 32- and 34-yard field goals from Davis. The Nittany Lions outgained the Scarlet Knights 114-28 yards in the quarter.
NOTES: Rutgers lost its first seven Big Ten games this season by a combined 290-73. … Nineteen players on Penn State’s roster are from New Jersey, the most-represented state on the team after Pennsylvania. … Penn State is the fourth team to be ranked on Rutgers’ schedule this season. It also faced No. 2 Ohio State, No. 4 Michigan and No. 6 Washington. … The highest ranked opponent Rutgers has defeated was No. 2 USF in 2007. … The Nittany Lions lead the Big Ten in plays of at least 20 yards and are tied for sixth nationally in the category. … Penn State QB Trace McSorley leads the country in passing yards per completion. … Rutgers honored their 20 seniors before their last home game this season.
