Matthew McGloin takes the field for Penn State's fourth drive and he's greeted by a hearty cheer from the home crowd. He answers by skipping his first pass in front of Devon Smith. Poor Smith. He's getting open a bunch today and the quarterbacks are flat missing him.
Silas Redd bails McGloin out with an 8-yard run for a first down to keep the drive moving. McGloin finally completes as pass on the next set of downs with an 10-yard completion to Justin Brown.
Redd keeps the drive moving with another nice run, this one a 7-yarder to move the chains. With the quarterbacks giving a hit-or-miss performance, Redd is consistently getting positive yardage to keep drives alive.
As good as he is today, though, McGloin looks rough. He just threw a wounded duck into triple coverage and was lucky it fell harmlessly incomplete. McGloin's decision making has been much better this season than last, but he usually throws at least a couple bone-headed passes like that every game. No wonder coach Joe Paterno wants to keep giving Rob Bolden a shot.
Another incompletion on third down and the Nittany Lions are forced to punt once again. McGloin was just 1-5 on that drive.
Wit 8:30 to play in the half, Penn State continues to lead Purdue 7-3.