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Penn State Vs. Indiana State: Nittany Lions Take Opener

Penn State football kicked off its 125th season against Indiana State on Saturday, and the team didn't waste any time celebrating.

Literally.

Cornerback Chaz Powell returned the opening kickoff of the game and the season 95 yards for a touchdown, staking the Nittany Lions to an early 7-0 lead and sending the on its way to a 41-7 victory against the Sycamores.

Silas Redd led the way for the big Penn State offensive effort with 104 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries. The run game also got touchdowns from fullbacks Michael Zordic and Joe Suhey on the way to 245 total yards rushing on the afternoon.

The big story entering the day, however, was the quarterbacks. With no single starter yet selected by coach Joe Paterno, all eyes were on Matthew McGloin and Rob Bolden, the two candidates for the job.

Neither was particularly impressive.

Bolden started the game and played the entire first quarter as well as most of the meaningful snaps in the second half. He finished just 6-12 for 37 yards. His receiver didn't help him out much, though, dropping a few well thrown balls that could have given the sophomore a nicer day on the score sheet.

McGloin played the second quarter and got a few snaps in the second half. He finished 6-8 for 77 yards, including a nice 29 yard pass to Derek Moye.

Joe Paterno said after the game that the plan is to have both quarterbacks play against Alabama next week.

Stay tuned to SB Nation Pittsurgh for postgame reaction throughout the holiday weekend and extensive coverage in the lead-up to the tilt with Alabama next Saturday in Happy Valley.

Photographs by dizfunk used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.