Penn State vs. Maryland football: Trace McSorley, defense deliver last time at home

STATE COLLEGE — This would become Trace McSorley's proper sendoff, no matter the conditions or circumstance.

That's the way it felt Saturday from the opening minutes in the cold and freezing rain on Senior Day in Beaver Stadium.

Barely 90 seconds had run off the game clock when McSorley shook off his right leg injury and balky knee brace and sprinted into the end zone.

A bit later, the senior quarterback delivered even more impressively. With his receivers covered, McSorley spied only open spaces ahead.

He took off up the middle, looking as strong and fast as ever since he buckled to the turf against Iowa a month ago.

Two carries, two touchdowns and the Lions were away and running.

Sure enough, McSorley and the Penn State pass game struggled again in this still satisfying 38-3 victory in a stadium maybe half-filled.

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Things didn't look smooth and sound for stretches, especially early.

A bad penalty. Another dropped pass. Yet another Miles Sanders' fumble.

But it all kept coming back to arguably the toughest Penn State quarterback ever. He figured out a way to deliver his team to the verge of a third straight 10-win season.

While Sanders weaved and dodged for impressive yards, McSorley's running seemed to come at more crucial situations, like when he lowered his shoulder to pick up the final couple of yards on a third-and-15 play in the third quarter.

McSorley earned these nine Penn State victories in the hardest of ways this season — often overcoming a disjointed pass game and growing defense by running for yards and points.

No matter the toll that it took on his body.

Consider that his second rushing touchdown Saturday tied him for sixth place all-time on the Penn State list (29) — tying him with long-ago Heisman Trophy winner John Cappelletti. 

McSorley used to be known for his bombs-away passing. This season his running has been absolutely required, and he blew past the 700-yard milestone on the season. That bettered former Penn State leading runners like Akeel Lynch (2014), Austin Scott (2003), Larry Johnson (2001) and Eric McCoo — all tailbacks.

And that running game set the tone against Maryland, who wanted to fight but seemed always a step behind. Who could blame them after last week's crushing loss to Ohio State and the disarray of an entire season?

Penn State has dominated the Terps the past three years, no matter time or situation. They haven't scored a touchdown since the second quarter of the 2016 game.

And the Lions' rapidly progressing defense teamed perfectly with McSorley to make sure things would be just as difficult this time.

Penn State harassed Maryland backup QB Tyrrell Pigrome from beginning to end. Even more, it suffocated the Terps' impressive run game led by budding superstar Anthony McFarland.

The Lions totaled a stunning 13 tackles for loss midway through the fourth quarter. Sophomore Yetur Gross-Matos was a one-man wrecking ball off the edge again with 3.5 TFLs.

After bulldozing Ohio State for 339 rushing yards last week, the Terps managed only 65 when it mattered on Saturday.

Certainly, though, the game ball on Senior Day would go to McSorley, the all-time winningest quarterback in school history.

He even righted that pass game to a certain extent down the stretch (12-of-22, 230 yards, TD).

And with nine minutes left, coach James Franklin pulled him from the game to a standing ovation. 

Franklin gave him a long hug as he walked off the field. Cornerback and fellow senior Amani Oruwariye was next, and so it went down the line.

He found a way, after all, to steady a wobbly season at the end.

With still one trademark opportunity left in a bowl game yet to be determined.