2024-09-01 07:20:02
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. − The new, improved Penn State football offense was beginning to fide its stride in the season-opener before a weather delay shut everything down.
Thunderstorms with potential lightning rolling in from the West forced a stoppage of play here at halftime of Top 10 Penn State’s uneven but still overall impressive start against the West Virginia Mountaineers in Milan Puskar Stadium.
The game was suspended a few minutes into the break after a lightning strike was reported nearby. The stadium was evacuated with most seeking shelter under the stands.
The game was stopped just after 2 p.m. Gates plan to re-open at 4:08 p.m. with play resuming at 4:23 p.m. − as long as there are no further lightning strikes. The action will continue airing on FOX.
The latest weather forecasts show a potential break in storm activity until at least 6 p.m.
Penn State was on the verge of pulling away, ahead 20-6 at the half, led by the Drew Allar-to-Tre Wallace-connection on offense and the dynamic safety combination of Jaylen Reed and KJ Winston on defense.
Allar completed 8-of-13 first-half passes for 199 yards and three touchdowns − nearly all of the work going to the finally-healthy Wallace. The junior wideout pulled in five of those passes for 117 yards and two scores.
On defense, Reed and Winston each had eight tackles in the first half. Reed was the top defender on the field with a tackle for loss, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery.
Penn State’s last weather delay?
That was in 2017 at Michigan State. Lighting strikes caused that eventual last-play loss to the Spartans to be delayed by three hours and 22 minutes.
This weather delay clocks in at two hours and 19 minutes.
Today’s attendance is 62,084.
Penn State football vs. West Virginia weather updates
This section will be updated. All times Eastern.
2:04 p.m.: Penn State’s season-opener at West Virginia is delayed for an impending storm with lightning strikes shortly after halftime begins.
2:30 p.m.: Heavy rains washing over Milan Puskar Stadium. Stadium announcer reveals that re-start game clock will not begin for at least another 30 minutes.
3:05 p.m.: Lightning strikes force the 30-minute weather delay clock to re-start once more. Officials have not yet determined when the game plans to resume, according to the stadium announcer.
3:24 p.m.: Game officials meeting at 3:30 p.m. to determine when action will be re-started.
3:40 p.m.: Lightning strikes just canceled a plan to re-open gates at 3:50 p.m. and resume the game at 4:05. The 30-minute weather delay clock was restarted.
3:53 p.m.: A “resumption of play meeting” to be held at 4 p.m. Skies brightening but another pocket of storms may be hitting within 30 minutes.
3:58 p.m.: Gates plan to re-open at 4:08 p.m. with play planning to resume at 4:23 − as long as there are no further lightning strikes.
4:23 p.m.: Game resumes with West Virginia kicking off to Nick Singleton and the Lions.
Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at [email protected] and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.
