STATE COLLEGE — Matt McGloin had been waiting to make this call.

The seconds were ticking down in Penn State’s 34-7 win Saturday over Navy, so the senior quarterback got teammates Jordan Hill and Gerald Hodges to sneak up behind rookie head coach Bill O’Brien to douse him with a bucket of water.

“I said `Hey listen, it’s his first win as a head coach. You’ve got to give it to him,”’ McGloin said with a laugh.

It was too much to resist. Penn State football finally had a victory to celebrate.

McGloin threw for 231 yards and four touchdowns, Allen Robinson torched the Midshipmen secondary with 136 yards and three scores, and the Nittany Lions (1-2) rolled to the morale-boosting win following two draining losses to open a season of change in Happy Valley.

“In many ways, it was a long time coming,” said O’Brien, soaking wet while speaking to reporters after the game. “All the hard work they’ve put in this week, it finally paid off ... But it’s just one win. We’ve got to soak it in tonight but get back to work on Monday.”

Penn State hadn’t come off the field victors since last Nov. 19 at Ohio State. That was soon after former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky was charged with child sex abuse and the late Joe Paterno was fired. O’Brien was hired in January as Paterno’s replacement, and the Penn State program was slammed with NCAA sanctions in July over the school’s handling of the Sandusky case.

Among the penalties, the school was forced to vacate all its wins since 1998, so technically that 20-14 victory over the Buckeyes didn’t even count. The Nittany Lions last official win was 35-10 over Wisconsin on Nov. 22, 1997.

“When you think about all the things they’ve been through — it’s a pretty neat group of kids,” O’Brien said. “I just feel great for these football players here at Penn State today.”