Slow starts leave Penn State playing catch-up

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — The second half of games belong to Penn State. Too bad for the Nittany Lions the opening 30 minutes count, too.

Sluggish starts have left Penn State (3-2, 0-1 Big Ten) playing catch-up the last few weeks and in big road games. While the defense has pitched second-half shutouts each of the last three weeks, safety Nick Sukay isn't about to gloss over the shortcomings, particularly in the first quarter.

"I would give us a 'C' average. We haven't done anything spectacularly," he said. "Obviously our first-quarter letdowns are not too good ... but we show we have ability once we pick it up."

That's the good news for a defense that hasn't allowed a …