Players: Penn State offense was unacceptable

PennLive.com via Trib Total Media

Penn State’s defense has performed at a high level in six of the season’s first eight quarters.

But the Nittany Lions’ play in the opening 30 minutes against Bowling Green on Saturday was not good enough, and the defense’s veterans knew it.

The visitors put up 24 points while averaging 7.9 yards per play.

Sixth-year defensive tackle Dvon J-Thomas addressed the team at halftime.

Fourth-year linebacker Kobe King said after Penn State’s 34-27 victory over the Falcons that the ‘D’ had an energy problem in the first half.

“The energy was low,” said King, who finished with seven tackles, four of them solos.

“I would say that for myself, as well. It definitely changed in the second half, and it showed.”

Trailing 24-20 at halftime to a five-touchdown underdog at Beaver Stadium, Tom Allen’s defense forced three punts, intercepted a pair of passes and limited Bowling Green to 89 total yards.

Second-year linebacker Tony Rojas and fourth-year safety Zakee Wheatley produced fourth-quarter interceptions.

With PSU leading 27-24, Rojas intercepted a Connor Bazelak pass at the Penn State 38.

Wheatley ruined the Falcons’ next possession with an interception at the Bowling Green 41, and Penn State running back Nicholas Singleton scored on the next play to extend the Lions’ lead to two scores.

“I’m just trying to be a game-changer and that play I feel like kind of changed the momentum, so I think I did a good job,” Rojas said of his interception.

“We’ve been down at games before, we’ve made mistakes before, we’ve tried to do more than what was required before, we’ve been here before,” J-Thomas said when asked about his halftime message to his teammates.

“We’re definitely getting better,” said PSU edge rusher Abdul Carter, who finished with seven tackles, a tackle for loss, a quarterback hurry and a pass defensed.

“And it’s kind of the same aggressiveness since last year, but you got to come out faster. That was unacceptable. It was unacceptable for us.”

“We don’t want anybody to score any points on us, especially the first drive of the game,” said King, referring to B0wling Green’s 75-yard march for a score at the start.

“We don’t want anybody to score more than a certain amount of points and certain amount of rushing yards and passing yards. It’s just an urge, a sense of urgency. That’s what it is, a sense of urgency with our defense.”