McSorley extends his Penn State record to 68 touchdowns

Trace McSorley has dreamed of this day for years.

In Penn State's first win in three weeks, McSorley on Saturday extended his team record to 68 touchdowns, which includes his TD passes and scoring runs.

After the game, in which Penn State beat Rutgers 35-6, the quarterback said he has aspired for record-breaking success since high school.

"It's definitely something when I'm older I'll be able to look back on and enjoy," the redshirt junior said. "It's definitely an honor with all the great players who have been through this program over the years, all the great tradition we have, to have my name in the conversation among those guys. It's the greatest honor for myself."

In his record-breaking game, McSorley threw for 214 yards and two touchdowns. He made a splash in the running game, rushing 13 times for 44 yards and a touchdown, averaging 3.4 yards per carry.

Coach James Franklin said the Nittany Lions' offense is at its best when McSorley factors into the running game and "keeps people honest" and "on their toes."

The 6-foot, 195-pound quarterback backed up his coach's statement, saying he was able to help in that area when the Rutgers defense was keying on Saquon Barkley, something that is all too common for the Nits.

Barkley was noticeably struggling to gain yardage, as he has been the last few weeks. After the first quarter, the Heisman candidate compiled minus-six yards. He was still in the negative when the half wrapped up, with minus-three.

"It's never always going to be pretty," McSorley said of his rushing. "Running the ball sometimes, you have to take four yards, five yards, just keep pushing and pushing."

McSorley said the team has been preparing to make in-game adjustments when it faces challenges.

"There have been things we've seen over the past couple of weeks that teams are showing," McSorley said, "One, two new wrinkles a game that we have to be ready for."

Earlier in the season, Franklin said the Nits were saving some trick plays for the second half of the season. One was the hook-and-lateral. McSorley threw to Hamilton, who pitched it back to Barkley, who then hurdled a Scarlet Knight to land just one yard short of the goal line.

Why didn't offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead use that play against Ohio State or Michigan State? McSorley said Moorhead has been waiting for the right time.

"We've had it the past few weeks," McSorley said. "I know Joe Mo has been wanting to call it."