“We can’t throw the ball up where we threw it, either”. The Panthers will hope to crack Penn State’s offensive line, which allowed just one sack last weekend (down by nine from theiseason-opener a year ago at Temple).
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It was very fitting, in a sad-trumpet sound kind of way, that Penn State’s game ended with a turnover.
On Saturday, Pitt senior defensive back Ryan Lewis proved a living example of the adage “practice makes flawless”. On his touchdown, which came with just under 12 minutes to go in the third quarter, McSorley located running back Saquon Barkley on the left sideline, who ran a straight line 40 yards for the first score of the second half, pulling the Nittany Lions to within one possession of Pitt for the first time since late in the second quarter. They burned a little brighter than their level of effectiveness.
“It was a big surprise because we were expecting we had them figured out”, Brown said. The athletic department’s preference would be to play all three nonconference games in a given season at Beaver Stadium, and away games against Virginia Tech (2020), Auburn (2022) and West Virginia (2024), respectively, virtually eliminate a game at Pittsburgh as a possibility in those seasons. The Panthers overwhelmed the Lions for 341 yards rushing but still clenched their teeth in the fourth quarter.
Points by Barkley, the most for Penn State since Larry Johnson scored 30 against Michigan State in 2002. The sophomore running back totaled five touchdowns, the most by a Penn State player since Ki-Jana Carter did it against Michigan State in 1994. Corey Clement ran for two scores before leaving with an injury, Jazz Peavy had two touchdown catches and host Wisconsin stuffed Akron 54-10. Two plays later, he tried to go for the lead and dialed up another deep ball against Lewis, who instead made the game-clinching.
“I just get to the ball as much as I can”, Caprara said.
Gallagher and Barron might be stretching the hype by writing that “the stakes are higher than ever”, considering that the teams used to play regular-season finales, often on Thanksgiving. Penn State won 33-13.
The state of Pennsylvania is home to two of the better running backs around the country, and this weekend they will be on the same field (albeit at different times, obviously).
McSorley liked the look, liked the route and liked Gesicki as a 6-6 body in the end zone.
“Every mistake that happens in the first quarter is going to affect you in the fourth quarter”, McSorley said. But the offense had momentum after converting on fourth down, and he’s a quarterback with penchant for the big play.
“We just have to make sure we have our composure and we have our poise when we go out and play hard and execute”, Penn State head coach James Franklin said earlier this week via Penn Live.
Nelson lingered on the field for a moment, knowing the game was over.
Pitt held Penn State star Saquon Barkley to 90 yards on 20 carries, but he scored five touchdowns. I think at times it will be a bit ugly offensively, but I think a big play by Barkley and the cohesion of a Penn State offense that is still coming together will be the difference.
“I’m always getting interviewed after games, but it’s a team job”. “We were grounded pretty quick last week”. Penn State’s undersized and thin defensive line better be ready to battle inside or it could be a long day. “We will fight to the end”.
For the return of a rivalry, though, the game delivered on the years of hype and anticipation, going from Pitt’s dominance to an impressive comeback by Penn State to a dramatic Pitt win that was heartbreaking for the Nittany Lions. What does having that game back mean for Pitt? Whether Penn State wants to admit a rivalry or not, Pitt now has bragging rights for the next 363 days.
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Resiliency- Pitt took the ball 99 yards on its opening drive to the end zone and Penn State never could recover. That play – kick in the wrong spot, leading to confused coverage – really rankled Franklin.
