STATE COLLEGE — The Penn State Nittany Lions kicked off the Matt Campbell era in style, delivering a resounding 45-0 victory against the Marshall Thundering Herd on Saturday at Beaver Stadium. Quarterback Rocco Becht was the standout performer, throwing for 271 yards and a career-high four touchdowns, marking a promising start to the season.
The impressive win was witnessed by a packed crowd of 108,489 fans, making it the largest season-opening victory for Penn State since they overwhelmed Idaho with a 79-7 score in 2019. Campbell, who previously coached Iowa State for a decade, expressed his excitement about leading the team in such an electric environment. "It was really special to be a part of this for the first time. The environment was second to none," Campbell remarked after the game.
Ranked No. 18 in the nation, Penn State wasted no time asserting their dominance over Marshall, jumping to a 17-0 lead in the first quarter. Becht connected with wide receivers Koby Howard and Brett Eskildsen for touchdowns early on, setting the tone for the game. By halftime, the Nittany Lions had extended their lead to 24-0, thanks to Becht's 8-yard touchdown pass to tight end Ben Brahmer.
In the third quarter, Becht continued to shine, throwing a 39-yard touchdown pass to freshman Zay Robinson before giving way to backup quarterback Alex Manske. Running back Quinton Martin Jr. added to the score with a 6-yard rushing touchdown, and Cam Wallace capped off the scoring with another 6-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Becht's accuracy was evident as he completed 13 of his 18 passes, including six receptions for a career-high 161 yards from Howard. The Nittany Lions' offense was relentless, outgaining Marshall by an overwhelming margin of 487 yards to 147 yards.
Campbell praised Becht's performance, noting his ability to read the defense and handle pressure effectively. "When you have a quarterback who has played extensively, I think he has the goods to take what the defense gives him. Rocco was really efficient today," Campbell stated. He likened Becht's role to that of a great point guard, emphasizing his distribution skills under pressure.
On the defensive side, Penn State's unit, under the direction of former cornerback D’Anton Lynn, stifled Marshall's offense. The Thundering Herd's quarterback, Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, struggled throughout the game, managing only 102 passing yards and 30 rushing yards on 13 carries. The Lions' defense recorded two sacks and pressured Del Rio-Wilson on multiple occasions, with linebacker Tony Rojas leading the charge with seven tackles, including two tackles for loss and a sack.
Campbell acknowledged the defensive staff's efforts, highlighting their ability to execute a versatile game plan while maintaining simplicity. "So much credit goes to Coach Lynn and that defensive staff. I thought our guys were really keyed in," he said.
This commanding victory not only marks a successful start for Campbell at Penn State but also sets a strong precedent for the rest of the season, as the Nittany Lions look to build on this momentum in their upcoming games.
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