Don’t expect a PSU blowout
Week One of the college football season is in the books, and while most people are expecting a Penn State blowout over Pitt this coming Saturday, I am not so sure it will be as bad as some think.
While the Pitt players have had a hatred of Penn State instilled in them by head coach Pat Narduzzi, the same has not happened with James Franklin and his players.
I would not be surprised if the game is close for a while based off of emotion, but can Pitt match Penn State鈥檚 offensive firepower?
Firsthand PSU recap
Prior to the game, I was on the field level and for the first time in years, Penn State actually looked like a full squad.
They have some large guys playing, and the offensive line is much bigger than it has been for as far back as I can remember.
This is also the fastest Penn State team I have seen, and Franklin knows what speed can do since he coached in the SEC.
Teams really have to figure out how to shut down both Saquon Barkley, Trace McSorley and the deep receiving corps and Saturday was the eighth straight game that Penn State scored at least 35 points.
If Penn State put up 39 points in its loss at Pitt last year while still learning its offense against a much better Pitt defense than this year鈥檚 version, what might it do this Saturday?
Akron鈥檚 鈥榣ocal鈥� interception
On Penn State鈥檚 first drive, McSorley was intercepted by Akron鈥檚 Zach Guiser.
Zach is from Newell and a 2013 graduate of Greensburg Central Catholic.
A redshirt senior majoring in pre-physical therapy, he is a captain for this year鈥檚 team and had team highs with 10 total tackles and eight solo tackles.
This was Guiser鈥檚 second game at Beaver Stadium, and he has also played games at Oklahoma and Wisconsin, so he has experience tuning out large crowds.
鈥淭o be quite honest, you don鈥檛 pay much attention to it after the pregame ceremonies and when you come down to it, football is football,鈥� he said of the crowd size before talking about his third career interception. 鈥淚t was a regular football play and I recognized the route being ran because of our preparation and I was able to capitalize on the opportunity.鈥�
Guiser spoke about how the team can take positives from the loss.
鈥淚t was very humbling and a reality check for our guys,鈥� he said. 鈥淎ny time you go against the sixth ranked team in the nation, and (Penn State) should probably be ranked higher, our younger guys now know they can play at this level because they have seen the best of the best.鈥�
Guiser was also recently named to the 2017 Wuerffel Trophy Watch List, with the award being given annually to the college football player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.
Akron has its home opener Saturday when it hosts University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff at InfoCision Stadium at 6:30 p.m.
The game is airing on ESPN3.
Pitt鈥檚 OT win
Several Pitt fans reached out saying its team is awful after almost losing to Youngstown State.
YSU is a very talented team, albeit an FCS team.
Have patience, Pitt fans, as it won鈥檛 get easier this week in Happy Valley or next week when Oklahoma State heads to Heinz Field.
But Pitt has to worry about its rival first.
WVU drops heartbreaker
Speaking of rivals, the Mountaineers lost to Virginia Tech Sunday night in a hard-fought game.
Will Grier took a few possessions to get going, but WVU fans are going to like what he brings to the team.
Calabrese at Tufts
Chuck Calabrese of Uniontown is a senior linebacker at Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts, and is a three-year letter winner.
Calabrese is majoring in Community Health and is the son of Dr. Charles and Sally Calabrese.
Busy Cal U weekend
Action was aplenty with Cal U teams this weekend.
The eighth-ranked football team came from behind to win a thriller Thursday over Ohio Dominican on a 25-yard field goal by Will Brazill with 49 seconds to play.
Cal did not commit a penalty and neither team had a turnover.
The Vulcans host Cheyney on Family Day Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
The Women鈥檚 Cross Country team won the Marty Uher Invitational Saturday while the Men鈥檚 team finished third.
Neither the Men鈥檚 (0-2) or Women鈥檚 (0-1-1) soccer teams won over the weekend.
Waynesburg action
The Waynesburg football team was shut out, 19-0, at Muskingum University Saturday and hosts Westminster Saturday in the 5th annual PAC Kickoff Classic.
The Waynesburg Women鈥檚 Cross Country team won the Fisher Invitational in New Wilmington while the Men鈥檚 team finished sixth.
The Men鈥檚 soccer team went 1-0-1 over the weekend with a 1-0 win at Penn State Altoona and a 1-1 tie at Juniata while the Women鈥檚 team beat Penn State Altoona 3-1 and lost in OT to Juniata, 2-1.
Share college sports news and names!
If you know someone currently playing a sport in college, coaching, or holding another role, email me or tweet me and we will get them mentioned in this column!
Email questions/comments to Bill at powerhousehughes@gmail.com or tweet them to me @BillHughes_III