The EMU Eagles continue to disappoint. Entering halftime the Eagles trailed Penn State 17-7 and despite a lackluster offensive performance, were very much in the game. That all changed in the second half.
Penn State scored four times in the final 17 minutes of the game to put EMU away easily, 45-7.
In the end EMU's lack of offensive production got the best of them as the defense was beat down in the final stretch of the game. The Eagles managed just 183 yards of total offense, compared to allowing 583 from the Nittany Lions. EMU's offensive line struggled to get any separation, and ti showed.
The Eagles managed just 65 yards on the ground, on 35 attempts for a 1.7 yards-per-carry average. Tyler Benz played relatively well, despite the fact that they couldn't get anything moving offensively. He was 17-of-26 for just 115 yards, but limited mistakes and didn't turn the ball over.
Penn State was bigger, faster, stronger, and hungrier for the win. Freshman quarterback Christian Hackenberg torched the Eagles' defense in the second half, finishing the game with 311 yards and a touchdown on a 45-yard pass to Allen Robinson less than three minutes into the fourth quarter. The Eagles allowed several big plays all game, including a 51-yard TD run by Bill Benton.
Ron English's defense allowed two 100-yard rushers on the day, Benton and Akeel Lynch. Benton and fellow running back Zach Zwinak added two scores apiece. All told the Nittany Lions accumulated 251 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.
With the loss EMU slips to 1-1, after pulling out a come-from-behind win over FCS opponent Howard in Week 1. Today the Eagles showed why many have picked them to finish last, and why unless something drastically changes in the next few weeks, English could be looking for a new job at the end of the season.
EMU is far from being competitive, and today proved it.