STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Everyone sitting in the rain at Beaver Stadium knew that in order for visiting Massachusetts to have any chance against sixth-ranked Penn State, the Minutemen were going to need more than a few breaks.

UMass actually got one when Isaiah Rutherford forced a first-quarter fumble after Penn State's Harrison Wallace III caught a pass. Former Nittany Lion Tyler Rudolph recovered on the UMass 32.

That bit of good news turned sour in a hurry, as the Minutemen went backwards in a 3-and-out series.

A punt return for a touchdown after UMass had another 3-and-out, were the first of 28 unanswered points in the first quarter. The hosts never let up and, on a rainy day in Beaver Stadium, UMass left Central Pennsylvania on the short end of a 63-0 final score.

"It just seemed like the wind came out of our sails on the punt return," UMass coach Don Brown said. "We never really got going again. We had another punt return. Those two kill you, when you're trying to just compete in that kind of a football game."

UMass is now 1-7, and after a win in the opener against New Mexico State, has dropped seven straight games. Unbeaten Penn State is now 6-0.

"The last four out of whatever games, we can sit here and say the battle, and we are," Brown said. "Sooner or later, you can't just be in them. You've got to win them."

Penn State's Daequan Hardy, a redshirt senior from Pittsburgh, had not returned a punt in his Penn State career. After UMass' second drive stalled, he caught the punt from C.J. Kolodziey at the Nittany Lion 44-yard line, eluded several UMass tacklers and sprinted down the right sideline into the end zone. He also scored on a 68-yard punt return late in the third quarter.

While those plays stick out, they were only part of what was a really rough afternoon for the Minutemen.

Penn State dominated both lines of scrimmage. The Lions, who had averaged 194 yards on the ground in its first five games, had 37 rushing attempts for 262 yards and four touchdowns. Penn State had positive yardage practically every play. The biggest negative play came when Penn State quarterback Drew Allar was sacked. 

UMass starting quarterback Taisun Phommachanh was sacked seven times on Saturday. He eventually gave way to freshman Ahmad Haston with five minutes to play in the third quarter. While Haston wasn't sacked, he was harassed by the Penn State defensive line. Phommachanh was 6 for 14 for only 25 yards.

That was where the game was really won. The Nittany Lions dominated both sides of the line of scrimmage. The longest play from scrimmage for UMass was a 16-yard run by Kay'Ron Adams, and a 16-yard pass play from Phommachanh to George Johnson III.

For the game, UMass had only 109 yards in total offense after the seven sacks against Phommachanh.

"It's a huge deal," Brown said. "Obviously, we've gotten better in the offensive line, would you agree? We got woken up a little bit tonight. Not down on it, but it's where you're at and shows you where you've got to go to get to where you want to go. We still got a ways to go."

Penn State took the opening kickoff and looked like a Top 10 team. The Lions marched from its 29-yard line into UMass territory, keeping drives going with a couple of big third-down conversions.

On second-and-9 from the UMass 43, Allar was looking for Harrison Wallace III. The pass was on target, but Rutherford dislodged the ball after the catch and Rudolph fell on the ball. After video replay confirmed the turnover, UMass had the ball. It was the the first turnover of the season for Penn State.

Unfortunately for UMass, it was a 3-and-out. Phommachanh threw incomplete twice to Anthony Simpson and was sacked on third-and-10.

Penn State was forced to punt on its next drive, and after UMass couldn't get a first down, the Lions' Hardy took the punt to the house, making it 7-0.

The first quarter ended with UMass trailing only 7-0, a score that Brown — or for that matter — any UMass fan would have taken and run with it. However, the sixth-ranked Nittany Lions scored 21 points on three consecutive touchdown drives in the second quarter, taking a 28-0 lead into the locker room.

The last of those three touchdowns came on a seven-yard touchdown pass from Allar to tight end Tyler Warren with 1:01 left in the half.

Any slim prayer UMass had about getting back in the game was dashed when Penn State stuffed UMass on the third quarter's opening drive. A 34-yard punt by Kolodziey was fair caught by Hardy at the Penn State 49. Five plays later, Allar hit Theo Johnson for 30 yards and the touchdown that had football fans reaching for the remote.

Allar was a competent 16 of 23 for 162 yards and three touchdowns. KeAndre Lambert Smith caught six passes for 30 yards while Johnson caught four balls for 66 yards and two touchdowns. 

UMass is off this coming week and will head for West Point, N.Y. on Oct. 28, for a game with Army.

For his part, the UMass head coach said he's not planning on throwing in the proverbial towel on 2023.

"I think we'll be able to utilize the bye week, be smart, back in practice," Brown said. "Got to get them right."