Penn State drops 17-16 decision to Virginia
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Rob Carr/Getty Images(CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.) — Bill O’Brien is going to have to wait another week for a chance at his first win as head coach of Penn State.
The Nittany Lions lost a 17-16 heartbreaker to the Virginia Cavaliers (2-0) on Saturday afternoon, behind four missed field goals by sophomore place kicker Sam Ficken. Ficken missed three field goal attempts, and an extra-point attempt was blocked after a touchdown.
Cavaliers quarterback Mike Rocco led his team on a touchdown-scoring drive that ended with a six yard strike to Jake Mcgee with 1:28 to play.
Ficken missed a 42 yard field goal try as time expired, preserving the win for the Cavaliers.
“We just needed to make a play,” senior quarterback Matt McGloin said of the final drive, which got Penn State to the Virginia 22. “That’s something we practice every day. We got it down the field. Unfortunately, we just couldn’t finish.”
McGloin finished 19 of 35 for 197 yards and two touchdowns.
Penn State dropped to 0-2 on the season for only the fifth time in the last 45 years. They started 0-4 back in 2001.
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