MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Rob Bolden staggered his way toward the Penn State sideline, gave one look down at the play sheet on his wristband and slowly fell to the ground.
As the Nittany Lions freshman quarterback was tended to by trainers with concussion-like symptoms, the Lions turned the game over to quarterbacks 2A and 2B.
With Bolden trading in his white helmet and spot under center for a Penn State baseball cap and a seat on the bench, Matt McGloin and Kevin Newsome led the team to its first road win of the season. The Lions’ 33-21 win against Minnesota (1-7, 0-4 Big Ten) snapped the team’s two-game losing streak.
“He was having trouble remembering some things and I think they did what was right by keeping him out,” Joe Paterno said of Bolden, who will undergo concussion tests Sunday and whose status for next week’s game against Michigan is unknown.
With about nine minutes to go in the second quarter, McGloin got the first crack at the job and then was temporarily relieved by Newsome. Though Paterno would not say which quarterback would start next week if Bolden is unavailable, he said the game plan was to use McGloin’s experience in certain situations and Newsome’s athletic ability to open up the field.
McGloin came in after Bolden went 11-for-13 for 130 yards and thew a touchdown and had some success of his own. McGloin’s first career completion was a memorable one, hitting wide receiver Derek Moye for a 42-yard touchdown pass that gave the Lions a 21-7 lead. McGloin erupted into celebration after the touchdown but was picked by Minnesota’s Ryan Collado on the next possession.
The interception gave way to Newsome, who started the second half at quarterback but struggled. Newsome didn’t attempt a pass but lost seven yards on a run that set up a 49-yard Collin Wagner field goal.
“Newsome is probably a better athlete than McGloin, but McGloin’s a little bit more stable,” Paterno said. “I wanted him to switch over. I didn’t want to stick Newsome in a situation where he wasn’t quite ready for it.”
Though Newsome had a brace on his left knee after getting stopped for a loss of seven yards, Paterno said it was the situations of the game, not the injury, that allowed McGloin to take the bulk of the snaps.
McGloin finished the game by going 6-for-13 for 76 yards and two touchdowns and one interception. The former walk on said helping Penn State win the game was what his role is all about and said the coaches showed their trust in him by allowing him to attempt some deep balls.
“At that point you start doubting yourself,” McGloin said about losing the position battle in September. “But the people that are close to you and around you keep reminding you how hard you worked and how far you’ve come, and today it just showed.”
Moye, who was the recipient of two touchdown passes from McGloin, said Newsome and McGloin have responded well as the backups and said he wasn’t surprised by the redshirt sophomore’s desire to take chances with the ball.
“Sometimes he likes to maybe force some things, but that’s just his style of play,” Moye said. “That’s why I like him. He’s not afraid to take risks and not afraid to take any type of chances.”
But when it came time to seal the victory, the Lions were able to eat up the clock with their ground game. Though Evan Royster finished the game with 10 carries for 62 yards and had one touchdown, freshman Silas Redd was the workhorse in the fourth quarter.
The true freshman carried the ball nine times for 71 yards and reeled of a 26-yard run. With the ground game able to finish off the Gophers, the Lions (4-3, 1-2) will use the next week to figure out which quarterback will be ready to play against Michigan.
“I’m not gonna make up my mind until we have a chance to look at some tapes,” Paterno said. “If Bolden can’t go, then we’ll put the other kids in tougher situations than they’ve been so far.”