Quick start lifts No. 22 Penn State to otherwise shaky win, 24-0 over Kent State

Quick start lifts Penn St. to 24-0 win

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Evan Royster and freshman quarterback Rob Bolden each ran for first-quarter touchdowns, and the Penn State defense capitalized on quarterback Spencer Keith’s shaky performance in a 24-0 win Saturday over Kent State.

The 22nd-ranked Nittany Lions (2-1) scored on their first two drives before the offense played uninspiring stretches to give the Golden Flashes (1-2) hope of pulling off an upset.

But the Nittany Lions intercepted Keith twice and the defense improved its pass rush a week after getting roughed up in a 21-point loss at Alabama.

Bolden looked unimpressive at times himself in his third career start and threw two interceptions. The freshman regrouped late with a 48-yard touchdown pass to Devon Smith for the game’s final score.

Bolden finished with 217 yards passing and ran for 33 yards. Royster added 38 yards and went over 3,000 in his career.