Updated

Bronx, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Sam Ficken gave Penn State a walk-off win at Yankee Stadium.

The Nittany Lions have paid their penance.

Now it's time to celebrate.

Christian Hackenberg threw for 371 yards and four touchdowns, including a game-winning 10-yard TD pass to Kyle Carter in overtime, as Penn State edged Boston College 31-30 in the Pinstripe Bowl.

The Nittany Lions appeared in their first bowl game since a loss to Houston in the TicketCity Bowl in January of 2012.

Penn State was originally banned from participating in a bowl until 2016 after the NCAA levied sanctions against the school in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal. The NCAA, though, lifted the severe sanctions in early September due to Penn State's good behavior. The institution will also have all of their scholarships returned next year.

"I think experiences and games like this has restored the hope," PSU coach James Franklin said.

Tyler Murphy hit David Dudeck for a 21-yard score to conclude Boston College's overtime march, but Mike Knoll hooked the ensuing extra point. It was the Eagles' nation-leading eighth PAT miss of the season.

Hackenberg connected with Jesse James for a 17-yard completion on a 3rd-and-15 and then lofted his 10-yard score for Carter in the front-left corner of the end zone.

Ficken, who nailed a game-tying 45-yard field goal with 20 seconds left in regulation, split the uprights on the extra point to give Penn State (7-6) the dramatic comeback victory.

The Nittany Lions trailed by as many as 14 in the second half.

Hackenberg completed 34-of-50 passes, Chris Godwin caught seven passes for 140 yards and a touchdown and Geno Lewis hauled in seven balls for 82 yards and a score for Penn State, which hasn't won a bowl game since beating LSU in the 2010 Capital One Bowl. That victory was later vacated by the NCAA as part of the Sandusky sanctions.

Boston College got its vaunted ground game going against Penn State's stingy front seven.

Jon Hilliman totaled 148 of BC's 285 rushing yards against the Nittany Lions, who had allowed just 84.5 rushing yards per game coming in.

Murphy was 11-of-19 for 97 yards and two scores and added 105 yards and a touchdown on the ground for the Eagles (7-6), who dropped three of their last four games to close the season.

"Tremendous effort ... two teams slugging each other," Boston College coach Steve Addazio said.

The Eagles scored on their first two possessions of the second half to open up a 21-7 advantage late in the third.

Hackenberg floated a pass to Lewis' back shoulder along the left sideline and Lewis adjusted to haul in the throw for a 32-yard completion and a 15-yard facemask penalty following the play moved the ball to the BC 15. The Eagles' Justin Simmons tipped Hackenberg's 3rd-and-2 quick slant toss to Lewis, but Lewis was able to corral the deflected ball to claw PSU within 21-14 on the final play of the third.

Following a pair of punts, the Nittany Lions found the end zone again midway through the fourth to tie the game.

Akeel Lynch powered through several BC would-be tacklers along the left sideline for a 35-yard gain down to the 1. Brian Gaia's unsportsmanlike penalty on first down moved the ball back to the 16, but Hackenberg threaded the needle to DaeSean Hamilton along the right seam to knot the contest with 6:48 remaining in regulation.

Marcus Allen made a touchdown-saving tackle on Murphy inside the 5 following a 3rd-and-8 quarterback keeper along the right boundary. The Eagles then settled for a 20-yard Knoll field goal to put them back in front with 2:10 on the clock.

Hackenberg's 25-yard completion to Godwin led to Ficken's game-tying boot on PSU's ensuing series.

Earlier, Hackenberg lofted a 72-yard TD strike to Godwin along the right sideline to open the scoring at the 5:22 mark of the first, but BC answered 43 seconds later on Hilliman's 49-yard dash to the end zone.

Murphy fired a 19-yard TD pass to Shakim Phillips to cap the Eagles' 11-play, 6:45 trek to open the third. Murphy then broke off a 40-yard TD run later in the period for BC's 21-7 cushion.

Game Notes

No active PSU player had ever won a bowl game ... Penn State outgained Boston College, 453-386 ... The Nittany Lions were 9-of-17 on third down, while the Eagles finished 5-of-16 ... BC averaged 6.3 yards per carry ... PSU improved to 20-4 all-time against BC, although the Eagles won the previous three meetings coming.