After four games, it appears Penn State is no closer to naming a full-time quarterback than it was at the beginning of the season. Following big performances from Rob Bolden and Matthew McGloin in the Nittany Lions' 34-6 win against Eastern Michigan on Saturday, though, that might not be such a bad thing.
The pair followed up a respectable performance at Temple last week with some big numbers against the Eagles, finishing the day a combined 21-for-30 for 335 yards and four touchdowns.
"I think they both played well. I think they threw the ball well," coach Joe Paterno said after the game. "We got in the ball game with the idea that we were going to have to beat an eight-man front most of the day and we're going to have to get the ball down field. So I think the kids did a good job."
Bolden started the game and led Penn State to its first points of the day, scored on a field goal by new placekicker Anthony Fera in the first quarter after a seven-play, 45-yard drive. Two of his first three drives resulted in punts, however, at which point McGloin entered the game and had some success.
On his first drive of the day, McGloin led a five-play, 63-yard drive, capped by Penn State's first passing touchdown of the season, a 27-yard strike to fullback Joe Suhey. He followed that up with another drive to Eastern Michigan's door step that ended with Micahel Zordich fumbling the ball out of the end zone for a touchback, then a five-play, 31-yard drive that ended with a Derek Moye touchdown.
Bolden returned to start the second half, and got his first touchdown pass of the season on an electrifying 71-yard pass to Devon Smith, and McGloin returned later to throw a 20-yard score, again to Moye, to finish off a solid day for the quarterbacking duo.
"We threw it and caught it, and that's what we needed to do for this team," co-offensive coordinator Galen Hall said afterward. "I thought they both played very well."
Bolden finished the day 7-for-13 for 115 yards and that long score. The touchdown was his only completion of the second half, but he did come out sharp early, completing six of his first eight passes for 44 yards.
The start marked his fourth straight to open the season, for whatever that's worth. Whether he'll get another after McGloin's big performance and experience against next week's opponent, Indiana, remains to be seen.
Here's video of some of his comments after the game.
McGloin's final line boasts an impressive 220 yards and three touchdowns on 14-for-17 passing. If Michael Zordich had held onto the ball on his fumble, the touchdown total very likely could have been higher, too.
He'll now look to build on the success he had against Indiana last season in Penn State's 41-24 win against the Hoosiers at FedEx Field in Landover, Md. He finished that game with 22-for-31 for 315 yards and two touchdowns.
Here's video of his post-game comments.