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Frances Slocum State Park hosts a Colonial Kids program

Penalties, miscues sink Nanticoke

Where was the passion, where was the pride, where was the passion over the start of a new season? Apparently all on Temple&#8217;s side. That&#8217;s why the Owls accomplished something never seen before, a victory over mighty Penn State at Lincoln Financial Field. It was the first time in years traditionally-tortured Temple was able to muster enough strength to take down the Nittany Lions, but this time, the show of strength by the Owls was purely overpowering in their convincing 27-10 win.OFFENSEA promising start fizzled fast, as the Lions scored 10 points within the first nine minutes and didn&#8217;t score again. Grade: C-OFFENSIVE LINE:A revamped offensive line led by Lackawanna College transfer Paris Palmer had no issues in the first half and a lot of them in the second, as quarterback Christian Hackenberg was sacked seven times. Grade: DQUARTERBACK: Hackenberg hit just 10 of 24 passes for a measly 96 yards and threw a game-changing interception that set up Temple&#8217;s go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter. Grade: DRUNNING BACKS: This freshman Brandon Polk looks pretty promising, with two carries for 50 yards and Akeel Lynch went for 74 yards on nine carries. Neither got the ball enough, though. Grade: BWIDE RECEIVERS: The Lions threw the ball Eugene Lewis&#8217; way during all five of their passes on the game-opening drive, then didn&#8217;t look for him again. What gives? Grade: C-DEFENSEThere wasn&#8217;t much from the Penn State side in the second half, after shutting down Temple for most of the first two quarters Grade: CDEFENSIVE LINE: Anthony Zettel and Carl Nassib sparked a front that made some big plays, just not enough of them. Grade: C+LINEBACKERS: It didn&#8217;t help when Valley View grad Nyeem Wartman-White left the field with an apparent knee injury in the first half and didn&#8217;t return. Before he left, Temple didn&#8217;t have a point. When he was off the field, Temple scored 27 straight. Coincidence? Probably not. Grade: DSECONDARY: Marcus Allen and Trevor Williams were flagged for pass interference on two Temple drives that turned into touchdowns, flipping momentum in the game. Grade: C-SPECIAL TEAMS: Kicker Joey Julius delivered as advertised, belting a 34-yard field goal and a touchback on one of his three kickoffs. Save for one shanked kick, punter Danny Pasquariello did a pretty credible job overall. Grade: CCOACHING STAFF: The Lions roared into the 2015 season looking like they were very prepared. To play for about a quarter. Grade: F<style>
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<div class="neCaption">Temple head coach Matt Rhule yells to his team during the first half of an NCAA college football game against the Penn State, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_APTOPIX-Penn-State-Te_Sopr.jpg</photo0><caption0>Temple head coach Matt Rhule yells to his team during the first half of an NCAA college football game against the Penn State, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)</caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta>By Paul Sokoloskipsokoloski@www.timesleader.com</bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta>Reach Paul Sokoloski at 570-991-6392 or on Twitter @TLPaulSokoloski</shirttailMeta></div>

Report card: Lackluster Lions tortured by Temple