The two opposite approaches both seemed to work. The Nittany Lion even stopped by to pump up the ground.
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Maybe even more critical to this matchup will be Pitt tailbacks James Conner and Qadree Ollison.
Either way, the two biggest football programs in Pennsylvania will renew their once decades-long series Saturday when the Nittany Lions travel to Heinz Field for what many on both sides of the aisle consider an early season must-win clash if either team has any hope of a breakout year.
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi made it a point in the run-up to Saturday’s renewal after a 15-year hiatus to give his kids a crash course, one that happened to coincide with a rare media blackout that Narduzzi described as necessary to make sure the Panthers didn’t get caught up in any distractions before arguably the program’s most notable nonconference game since September 16, 2000, when Pitt handed Penn State and coach Joe Paterno a 12-0 loss. 2-for-10 on third downs coupled with plenty of miscues is hardly going to get the job done against much better teams.
Conner’s pace, like that of his team, slowed in the second half, But he, and it, did just enough. It was more than an 8-minute drive and the Panthers only threw the ball one time, a 10-yard gain to tight end Scott Orndoff.
“We had a 99-yard drive and what did we pass it, once?” Conner ran for four times for 48 yards on the drive. Same metrics, Pitt had two passing and 11 rushing.
Asked his thoughts on Penn State’s announcement last week that it would commemorate the 50th anniversary of coach Joe Paterno’s first game as head coach against Temple on September 17, Franklin noted he has in the past acknowledged and shown appreciation for the traditions and success Paterno helped build during his 45-year run on the sidelines.
QB Trace McSorley, Penn State: Completed 24 of 35 passes for 332 yards and a touchdown, almost leading the Nittany Lions all the way back from down 28-7 in the first half.
Conner, who was held to 53 yards (3.1 average) last week, broke loose for 117 yards (5.1 average) on Saturday.
And the offense did continue to fight, scoring 28 more points.
On first-and-10 at the 30-yard line, Pitt’s Jordan Whitehead took the sweep and raced down the sideline, getting a block from Henderson on John Reid as he neared the end zone. The two first-half fumbles doomed the Penn State offense and they were truly never able to recover from the 14-point swing.
Wartman-White played a very solid game and accounted for nine total tackles, seven of which were solo. “We watched some old Pitt-Penn State clips and we talked about who was going to be the hero today”, Narduzzi said.
This grade should be higher.
Penn State’s opening drive stalled after six plays and 40 yards. All of these things should have been the highlights. Receiver Quadree Henderson added 58 rushing yards on only four carries, which was only part of his huge day.
Penn State has finally been able to stabilize the punt game thanks to the stellar play thus far of Gillikin.
Coaching: The offense clearly can be explosive, and the coaches have to get some credit for Penn State’s perseverance down 21 points early in a hostile environment.
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This, he said, was the worst he had ever felt after a football game. That has to hurt this final grade and it does. “Trace may have been the dude that let it go, but everybody else was right there and had a chance to make a play on the ball”. Other than that it was as stout as usual. “I think Penn State was really, really good when they played and I think they beat the crap out of them”. And while this wouldn’t be his first signature victory at Penn State (15-12 record), it would be another important step in the rebuilding and recovery mode.
