NO. 21 AUBURN 56, NO. 17 ARKANSAS 3: Eli Stove broke free for a 78-yard touchdown run on Auburn’s first play, giving the Tigers momentum they never lost in a surprisingly dominant win. This game was, undoubtedly, the biggest win of the James Franklin Era. Coming into the game Penn State had been 0-6 against ranked teams under James Franklin. However, that has changed. The Nittany Lions also are ranked without Joe Paterno as coach for the first time since 1954. Pry vowed to terrorize offences with high-pressure packages akin to those his predecessor used to mould the Nittany Lions into a top defensive unit the last two seasons.
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The win was by far the biggest of the James Franklin era and the Big Ten East race that looked like it was headed for a massive showdown between Ohio State and MI took a slight left turn.
The Nittany Lions will worry about that later.
Despite the feeling of being the underdog pervading the ever-present confidence that most of the Lions display when asked about big match-ups, the Lions weren’t going to hold anything back when it came down to it.
Penn State’s defense became the first to hold Ohio State scoreless in any quarter this season. It was no help the previous two times, 2014 in State College (OSU won 31-24 in two overtimes) and in 2013 (63-14 OSU in Columbus). That makes two out of the last three weeks for No. 4 seeing a reduced role in the offense.
Saturday night, into Sunday morning, was filled with raw emotion. Baugh should see an expanded role on third downs going forward, as he had five grabs for 55 yards, and a great touchdown catch-and-run. And lo, Trace McSorley passed for 34.8% on the evening, but still delivered just enough backbreakers to win the game. He did not play football in high school in St. Charles, Illinois, and in 2013 was a member of the Bradley University soccer team.
The Nittany Lion defense got multiple boosts on Saturday night.
(22) North Carolina 35, Virginia 14: In Charlottesville, Va., Mitch Trubisky threw three touchdown passes and North Carolina limited Virginia to one trick-play touchdown until the fourth quarter. The dynamic duo returned to a injury-filled position group and made their impact known immediately. He also recorded a pair of quarterback hurries and was a terror for the Buckeyes all night long.
“Nights like this don’t happen very often”, Franklin said he told his team, according to ESPN.com’s Josh Moyer.
But then Marcus Allen leaped into the air and Haley grabbed the ball. Fans last rushed the field like this October 8, 2005, when Penn State marked its return to national prominence with a mild upset against the No. 6 Buckeyes. For the second week in a row, it looked as if Ohio State would survive a tough prime-time test, seeking to extend its road winning streak to 21 games after escaping Wisconsin in overtime last Saturday. “People had us down to lose by 17, 21 points, they didn’t give us a chance to be in the game”.
All because Marcus Allen soared, and took everyone else along with him.
Smeared with grass stains and blue field paint, Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett’s ruffled uniform was proof of what No. 24 Penn State’s defence can do with two of its most versatile players available.
Cornerback Grant Haley gathered the loose ball, sprinted downfield and stumbled as holder Cameron Johnston almost caught him, but he found the end zone, stood up and raised his arms into the air as the white-out crowd Beaver Stadium roared around him, celebrating a 60-yard touchdown.
Godwin, still Penn State’s most electric receiver despite reduced numbers, made the catch under a cloak from Ohio State cornerbackGareon Conley. And thousands screamed, hugged, skipped and jumped until the Nittany Lions finally retired into the locker room after a stunning 24-21 upset of No. 2 Ohio State. What a play, what a night, what a win, and what a team. After hitting Gesicki twice on the opening drive, McSorley went 0-for-9 passing before Penn State’s final possession of the half. I still expect the Nittany Lions to win out, but now that would put them at 10-2.
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“Maybe”, Franklin said, “I should suspend him for the first half for the season”. “To have them to back them up, so if BBell needed a blow or something… anybody could come in, I felt the exact same with BBell in”.
