University Park, PA (93.7 The Fan) - No. 15 Penn State went from being booed as it left the Beaver Stadium field at halftime to wildly cheered by game's end. Outplayed and trailing Buffalo 10-7 at the half, the Nittany Lions erupted for 38 second-half points on way to a 45-13 win.
The game turned two minutes into the 3rd quarter when cornerback John Reid intercepted Matt Myers and returned it 38 yards for a touchdown and a 14-10 lead.
"I really just wanted to get into the endzone," Reid said. "I wanted to make a play for the defense, getting a defensive score is really exciting."
The interception was Reid's second in as many games. Coach James Franklin was effusive in his praise of the senior cornerback.
"Obviously, it was a huge play from a momentum perspective," Franklin said. "He's a guy that everybody respects, so the sideline reacts to him because they feel so strongly about him, but I also think it was a huge play. We were able to get some momentum. It got the fans going, it got our sideline going and we were able to go on a pretty good run from that point on."
That it did. Penn State scored three more touchdowns before the quarter was over to build a 35-13 lead. Two Sean Clifford to Pat Freiermuth touchdown passes sandwiched a Noah Cain 2 yard touchdown run. Clifford's 56 yard run set up the score.
Late in the fourth quarter, Clifford threw a 56 yard touchdown pass to Jahan Dotson, giving the sophomore receiver a two touchdown game and Clifford four td passes in his second career start. Franklin appreciates a big play offense, but wasn't completely satisfied with what he saw.
"We just have to be more consistent," Franklin said. "We were obviously very explosive, and we averaged over 7 yards per play, but it was too inconsistent. It was either touchdown or a lot of times three and out."
Penn State will carry a 2-0 record into Saturday's game vs 1-1 Pitt, a noon kickoff in Happy Valley.
"We have a really good opponent next week, and we have to take the next step," Franklin said.
Franklin will have more to say on the last scheduled meeting between the programs on Tuesday when he holds his weekly news conference.