Today on the Pride of Penn State Football! The win over NovaNation plus a bit of help gets the Nittany Lions into the Top 4. Coach Franklin as expected has taken this very lightly. He states that if you get caught up in the hype it can get the best of you. Sean Clifford had the same approach. “Obviously there is a bullet on our backs now that we are one of the Top 4 teams, but as long as we stay focused and play good football good things will happen.” The media as expected was a bit shocked that PSU jumped in front of Iowa and Oklahoma in the standings. That’s because both teams nearly lost to Colorado State and West Virginia at home. With Ohio State now beginning to gain ground in the standings as well as the 2 teams from PureMichigan, the pressure on James Franklin and his team especially on offense is only growing. Even with the struggles of the running game thanks to Noah Cain playing injured the last couple of weeks, Franklin has made an emphasis on pounding the rock against the bad teams and then airing it out against stronger opponents. A good strategy but time will tell with this story.
This upcoming game is important for the PSU Faithful. Not only is it the Stripeout Game they get to face a familiar foe from the previous season. The Indiana Hoosiers! The salt from last year’s overtime thriller is on the minds of everyone at University Park. A victory grabbed from the Nittany Lions thanks to a bad call on a 2 point conversion. It was later revealed that the runner was clearly short of the goal line. With the Hoosier Daddies entering WeAre Nation the energy for this game is just as nuts as the Whiteout. Early on the defense went right to work against Michael Penix. This time they were ready for Indiana’s dose of short passes and slants. As for the Penn State offense, Clifford and Brenton Strange connected 3 times on the opening drive including a 10 yard TD following a 4th and 7 conversion to Parker Washington. So far not a bad start but there needs to be a way to get the running game involved. Once that failed on their next drive, Clifford gave the Hoosiers an advantage with an interception. Looks like we are going to have a close game. Indiana got down to the Penn State 4 yard line following the INT and set up a 4th and 1. “Carr straight ahead, and that’ll be close.” CLOSE BUT NEVER CLOSE ENOUGH! (Zombie Nation playing WE! ARE! PENN! STATE!)
Shortly after that after that goal line stand, the Nittany Lions got out of their own territory with a big run by Keyvone Lee for 48 yards. (If that was Saquan running with it, he would be gone) He later converted a 3rd and 1 to set up a quick strike touchdown from Clifford to Jahan Dotson. (Money hands!) But Indiana was going to try and make this a game. Led by a long completion from Penix to Miles Marshall. But on the very next play, “Penix keeps backing up, lofts one up, and it is picked off if he is in bounds. Joey Porter has it, and it is Penn State ball!” Who ride? WE RIDE! Once again another great play by Jesse Luketa to force the interception. When you have a DE who can get to the QB that quickly. OUCH! You know what also hurts? CRACK! Penix getting knocked out on the next series, that’s what hurts. So now the Hoosiers have to trot out Jack Tuttle for the rest of the game. The difference between him and Sean Clifford, Cliff has Ja-Hands, Tuttle does not. Those 2 hooked up again for another touchdown this time on a 4th and 4. (FYI that breaks the school record for TD pass combinations that was held by Christian Hackenberg and Allen Robinson) At 21-0 you might think this game is over. But Indiana had one more charge in them to try and break the shutout. They got deep into PSU territory but stalled quickly and had to settle for a field goal. Charles Campbell is one of the better kickers in the nation and this is a 31 yarder there is no way he misses. “And this one is blocked!” (Zombie Nation playing again. WE! ARE! PENN! STATE!)
Ladies and Gentlemen there is a well deserved shut out of a group of Hoosiers. The 1st time Indiana has been shut out in almost 20 years. That’s how much Coach Franklin wanted to win this game. He wanted his team to make a statement on National TV before their big game against Iowa. And they did! Like I said now they have to go back on the road after sweeping a 4 game homestand. 3 of the next 4 games are away from Beaver Stadium, and they are all against good teams. (Iowa, Ohio State, and Maryland with Illinois at home sandwiched in) This upcoming stretch is going to say a lot about the Nittany Lions. Do they have the big guns to pull off a run into the College Football Playoff, or will they fall short yet again. I’m hoping they make it to the playoffs only for the optimism to reign supreme. All of that coming up in the next few weeks on the Pride of PSU Football! WE ARE! PENN STATE! WE ARE!! PENN STATE!! WE ARE!!! PENN STATE!!! THANK YOU! YOU’RE WELCOME!!!
Bragging Rights Sports 