Recap: Penn State survives a scare from Bowling Green via a 34-27 victory

STATE COLLEGE — No. 8 Penn State is 2-0 after surviving a scare from Bowling Green. The Nittany Lions did not have their first lead until the third quarter but ended the game with one. The final score was 34-27. Read how it happened below.

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Fourth quarter updates

3:06 — Penn State recovers the onside kick and that will do it. The Lions win, 34-27.

3:05 — Field goal: Bowling Green pulls within a touchdown with 47 seconds to play. It’s Penn State 34, Bowling Green 27.

2:54 — Touchdown, Penn State: Nicholas Singleton bounces off a Falcon and then races untouched 41 yards for six. That should do it on a struggle of a day for Penn State. The Lions lead 34-24 with 4:09 to play.

2:53 — Interception: Connor Bazelak heaves up a duck, and Zakee Wheatley fields it at the Bowling Green 41 with 4:16 to play.

2:51 — Drew Allar is hurried on third down and throws incomplete. Penn State does nothing with Tony Rojas’ interception and punts it back to Bowling Green with 5:09 to play. Falcons start at their own 15.

2:48 — Interception, Penn State. Linebacker Tony Rojas picks off Bazelak at PSU’s 38-yard line. 6:36 left to play.

2:36 — Penn State goes three and out after a holding call brings back a 10-yard catch to Tyler Warren on first down. Bowling Green takes over at its own 19-yard line. 10:03 left to play.

2:30 — Bowling Green will punt it away. PSU leads 27-24 with 12:07 to play.

Third quarter updates

2:25 — After three, Penn State 27, Bowling Green 24. The Falcons have the ball after their own 3 to start the fourth quarter after a Drew Allar interception to end the third quarter.

2:15 — Penn State pass rush forces a fast Bazelak throw to no one in particular. Bowling Green will punt it back to the Lions with 5:20 left in the third quarter.

2:05 — Touchdown, Penn State: Drew Allar throws a 14-yard strike to Nicholas Singleton for six. The Nittany Lions have their first lead of the game over Bowling Green. It’s 27-24 PSU with 6:13 left in the third quarter.

1:58 — Penn State gets just its third stop on third down as Cam Miller breaks up Bazelak’s pass. BGSU punts, and Kaden Saunders fumbles. The ball rolled out of bounds, which is an enormous break for the Lions, as plenty of Falcons were around. PSU takes over at its own 15.

1:52 — Penn State quarterback Drew Allar avoided two rushers but not a third and is sacked for a big loss on third down. The Lions will punt it away on their first possession of the second half.

1:45 — The second half is underway.

Second quarter updates

1:22 — Sander Sahaydak’s on for a 29-yard field goal attempt. It’s good. Bowling Green 24, Penn State 20 with 10 seconds left in the first half.

1:11 — Touchdown, Bowling Green: Johnson takes it right up the middle 41 yards for what could be one of the easiest scores he has this season. Jaylen Reed missed a tackle and Cam Miller couldn’t bring him down late. Falcons go back up on Penn State 24-17. There is 3:32 left in the half.

1:07 — Penn State runs on 3rd and 3 at the BGSU 24 and loses two yards. On 4th and 5, Sander Sahaydak comes out and drills a 43-yard field goal. Penn State 17, Bowling Green 17 with 5:28 left in the half.

1:02 — Scot Loeffler sent his offense back out on 4th and 1 and Abdul Carter gets home for Penn State and breaks up Bazelak’s throw. BGSU turns it over on downs and Penn State takes over at the Falcons’ 45.

12:51 — Touchdown, Penn State: Drew Allar floats a pass to a wide open Omari Evans, who pulls it in for a 29-yard score. A tidy three play, 75-yard drive for the Nittany Lions makes it Bowling Green 17, PSU 14 with 11:48 left in the half.

12:45 — Touchdown, Bowling Green: Bazelak to Johnson Jr. on 3rd and 14 from the PSU 15. Falcons are an extra point from going up 10 on the Nittany Lions. The extra point try is good. BGSU 17, PSU 7 early in the second quarter.

12:43 — BGSU opens the second quarter with another chunk play. Bazelak to Fannin Jr., for 32 to the PSU 11.

First quarter updates

12:32 — On 3rd and 17, Drew Allar hits Omari Evans right on the numbers, and he drops it. Penn State will punt it back to Bowling Green late in the first quarter.

12:26 — Bowling Green 10, Penn State 7 after a 33-yard field goal try is good. Falcons gave up 4th and 1 at the PSU 23 to kick there, which is an interesting choice as a 34.5-point underdog. At any rate, the Lions get it back with 4:50 left in the first quarter.

12:22 — Bowling Green is on the move again. DPI against Cam Miller has the Falcons back into Penn State territory at the PSU 24.

12:13 — Touchdown, Penn State: Drew Allar caps an impressive Nittany Lions drive with a five-yard scoring scamper. The offense looked as good as the defense did shaky on its opening drive.

12:06 — Touchdown, Bowling Green: Bazelak hits Fannin Jr., for an easy six-yard scoring strike. It was a mostly effortless first drive for the Falcons. Penn State trails 7-0 at the 12:39 mark of the first half. The scoring drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 2:21.

12:02 — We’re underway with a booming Gabe Nwosu touchback. Bowling Green starts at its own 25.

Noon — Penn State wins the toss and defers. Bowling Green will get the ball first.

Pregame updates

11:55 — The official kickoff time will be 12:05 p.m. ET. On BTN, of course.

11:36 — Warmups are wrapped up.

11:35 — Clifford, Wallace, Fleming start at WR.

11:34 — Cam Miller start at corner over Jalen Kimber. Nothing to read into there, they’ll rotate throughout the year.

11:343 — DL starters: Carter, Dennis-Sutton, J-Thomas, Durant

11:32 — Starters on special teams: Thompson, holder and punter, Duzansky, long snapper, Sahaydak, placement kicker, kick retuner, Nick Singleton, punt returner Kaden Saunders.

11:30 — Team portion of warmups are underway. Not seeing any surprises in terms of potential starting lineup changes.

11:17 — Receiver Peter Gonzalez is watching warmups on crutches. He is dealing with a long-term injury.

11:15 — Khalil Dinkins is back warming up as expected. He missed the West Virginia game. But, the tight end was at practice this week. Now, he’ll return to game action for the first time in 2024.

11:07 — Don’t see Ethan Grunkemeyer warming up after being listed as questionable. But, Jaxon Smolik is warming up despite being listed as out. Interesting development there.

11:05 — The following Nittany Lions are listed as OUT for game: Quarterback Jaxon Smolik, defensive end Mylachi Williams, linebackers Ta’Mere Robinson, Keon Wylie, and Kari Jackson, defensive ends Mason Robinson and Zuriah Fisher, receiver Peter Gonzalez, and linemen Sam Siafa, Liam Andrews, T.A. Cunningham, De’Andre Cook. Quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer is QUESTIONABLE.

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Game time, TV channel, how to watch: Penn State football vs. Bowling Green

Venue: Beaver Stadium in State College, Pa.

Kick time: Noon ET

TV: Big Ten Network

Stream: Watch College Football Games Live –Click HERE NOW TO TRY Fubo for FREE!

On the call: Chris Vosters (play-by-play), Matt Millen (color commentary), and Dannie Rodgers (sideline reporter).

Penn State radio: Steve Jones, Jack Ham, and Brian Tripp will call the Penn State Sports Network radio broadcast on Saturday. It airs on 99.5 & 103.7 FM/1450 AM locally and at GoPSUSports.com online.

Series facts: PSU holds a 2-0 all-time advantage in this series. It beat Bowling Green in State College for the first time in 1987 and again in 1998. It holds a 30-3 all-time advantage against current members of the conference.