(In the Air Tonight playing) (Chris Fowler from 10-21-17): “Tonight in Happy Valley there is a massive buzz. The Wolverines of Michigan enter a hostile environment in a game that could very well define their season. The Nittany Lions are all the hype. 5-0 and at the top of the BIG10 East. The #2 ranked team in the nation has hopes of a National Title in front of 110,000 fans. The Monochromatic Mayhem of the Whiteout is ready to make it hard on Jim Harbaugh and Wolves. With everyone in State College claiming that fate is about to smile down on James Franklin like in the BIG10 Title game last year. Michigan, and Penn State. On Saturday Night Football on ABC.”
PENN STATE FOOTBALL CLASSIC GAMES
Joe Paterno, James Franklin, Ki-Jana Carter, Todd Blackledge, Kerry Collins, Saquan Barkley, Trace McSorley, Tamba Hali, and so many more household Nittany Lions.
BLACK SHOES, BASIC BLUES, NO NAMES, ALL GAME
October 21 2017: Mr Electricity Exercises the Doubters
Created by Bragging Rights Sports (WE ARE! PENN STATE!)
Narrator: To the delight of current PSU Head Coach James Franklin, he finally gets to be showcased in this series. This game in particular is one of the biggest statement wins in his 8+ years at State College. The 2017 season for Penn State began with the expected. 6 straight wins to open the season highlighted by a Walkoff TD by Juwan Johnson against Iowa in Week 4. Many of the key players on offense were still lingering from their BIG10 Championship season in 2016. Trace McSorley was off to the best start of his career in 2017, Saquan Barkley wasn’t as effective in the run game like he was a year ago but now he was starting to become a deadly pass catching running back. Juwan Johnson and DaeSean Hamilton were an underrated receiver combo who were torching defenses for much of the season. (Exhibit A, Week 3 against Georgia State) Plus you had Mike Gesicki who was making his case as one of the best TE prospects for the upcoming draft. Just like in 1994, the Nittany Lions offense was the story of the team but the defense had some talent but not as much as some of the other great teams over the years. (Chris Campbell, Marcus Allen II, and Grant Haley among others) In their first 6 games, Penn State averaged 39 PPG. (Which was 3rd in the nation behind Alabama, and Georgia) Although many people around the country thought that the Nittany Lions dominated thanks to an easy schedule and a number of bad defenses that they faced.
According to the Talking Heads at ESPN and FS1, this stretch of the season would prove just how good they were. 3 games against their Top 3 rivals all made for primetime television. Their first game of that stretch, plus the showcase game for this week’s PSU Classic. MICHIGAN! A team that had gotten off to a 5-1 start with the only loss being a defensive struggle at home against Michigan State. The Wolverines didn’t have particularly the same offense as Penn State, but their defense was strong. They had Devin Bush, Rashan Gary, Chase Winovich, as well as other top prospects over the next few years. This was one of the more hyped games of the weekend. As expected, College Gameday came to State College and it featured Lee Curso riding the wave of fans all dressed in white as well as the Nittany Lion. When the game picks for the week rolled around, the target of every PSU student was Desmond Howard. As expected he picked Michigan to pull off the upset. (He’s a total homer of the Maize and Blue) The others picked Penn State including LC pulling out the mascot head of the Nittany Lion. All picks aside, the emotions in the PSU locker room were high. A year ago, Penn State went to the Big House and got absolutely crushed. Trace McSorley made it clear that these Nittany Lions weren’t going to get crushed again. What made him as well as the entire offense more ticked was that much of the National Media said that Michigan’s highly touted defense would shut Saquan, and his receivers down. McSorley: “You don’t come into our house, and disrespect us, and think you’re going to be alright.” Narrator: This young man and the rest of his team were looking to make a statement. Even better news, Michigan was only entering the greatest atmosphere in College Football. Beaver Stadium Emcee: “BEAVER STADIUM, WELCOME TO THE WHITEOUT! (Crowd: YAAAAAAAAA!) ARE! YOU!! READY!!! FOR! PENN!! STATE!! FOOTBALL!!!” Narrator: The Wolves aren’t going to know what hit them. If there is one thing you don’t do it’s make PSU mad. And they just did.
As the game began Penn State, surprisingly, wanted the ball to start the game, instead of trusting their defense. Why? Because Coach Franklin wanted to shut up the media. And just 2 plays into the game, “Barkley, to his left, through the hole, 35, 40, there goes Barkley 50, 35, 25, 15, 10, 5, TOUCHDOWN! (Zombie Nation playing) MR ELECTRICITY LIGHTS IT UP AT BEAVER STADIUM TONIGHT!” HOLY COW! The Nittany Lions just made a massive statement. If Michigan is going to keep up, they will have to match them point for point. It would be tough for them since John O’Korn had trouble hearing the snap count because of how loud it was at the Whiteout. A 3 and out is the result. As soon as Penn State got the ball back, they continued to run all over the vaunted Michigan Front 7. And it wasn’t just Saquan, Trace was also running wild. Following a long completion to Gesicki, Saquan scored his 2nd touchdown in a matter of minutes. And now the Lions were up 14-0. But Michigan wouldn’t give up so easily. Just when you thought PSU would go up 21-0 McSorley was picked off at the 15 by Michigan. That led to Karan Higdon punching it in from 1 yard out as the 2nd Quarter again. But unfortunately for the Wolves they missed the extra point! Things got very sloppy after that. Penn State went 3 and out, then stopped Michigan on their next drive, but then couldn’t convert a 4th and 7 at the Michigan 33. (Why don’t you take the points right there?) The Wolverines regained possession and ended up cutting the Penn State lead to 14-13. Then McSorley went right back to work! Thanks to another big play, this time from DaeSean Hamilton, the Nittany Lions were about to regain momentum. AND THEY DID! 2 plays later Trace kept the ball on a read option, and look at that, Penn State’s offense is firing on all cylinders again! Touchdown and a 21-13 lead is their reward. At the end of the 1st Half, the game was looking like a shootout with both teams trading blows even if PSU dominated the stat sheet. As many expected the 2nd Half would come down to a chess match between James Franklin and Jim Harbaugh.
The half began with Penn State crushing O’Korn right from the get go. Even if they got 2 1st Rounds on that drive they only gained 9 yards thanks to a sack by Ryan Buchholtz. That right there was the beginning of the end for Michigan’s comeback hopes. McSorley, and Hamilton were once again dotting up the Wolves secondary just like they did at the end of the 1st Half. And wouldn’t you guess it. Trace’s outstanding night would continue with another highlight reel run, this time resulting in 6 points. We are witnessing the offense of Penn State taking over this game. The defense would oblige. “O’Korn lost the ball, it’s a scramble, and Penn State recovered the fumble!” Welp that might be it, and we all know what happens next. Whenever PSU smells blood whether it’s Franklin, or JoePa, or whoever they take advantage of it. See for yourself. “McSorley, downfield, (Trace McSorley TikTok song playing) OH SAQUAN TOUCHDOWN OFF THE JUGGLE!” That right there is the KNOCKOUT PUNCH! In a game that was supposed to be an epic clash, it is turning into a one sided affair. The Whiteout consumes every visitor whole and Jim Harbaugh is wondering what he got himself into. To me if there’s one quote that describes this offensive domination it would be this. “Michigan defense softer than that cheesecake, Beaver Stadium getting loud, home team for Team Trace!” That’s right MattyFresh, this was where the internet sensation of Trace McSorley and Saquan Barkley once again destroyed anyone who came their way. Add in a few highlight plays, and a defense that can take no prisoners and you got yourself a nice solid win against a Top 20 program.
Just like JoePa did many times, James Franklin silenced the doubters in a hurry. A 7-0 record and #2 in the country. Just the way PSU fans and students like it. Even if they lost heart breakers to Ohio State and Michigan State on the road over the next 2 weeks, this game still reigns supreme in Nittany Lion and Whiteout Lore. This was a game where Penn State made it clear that they were still a contender for the National Title. Not to mention it boosted Saquan Barkley’s stock to the #2 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. When you look at past Penn State games against teams like Ohio State and Michigan, usually those games are very close. Not this game. This was a massive statement for a team that needed one. We all know that Penn State loves being doubted. It’s part of the history of the football program and how they become successful. When you look at the talent this squad had particularly on offense you think to yourself Wow! These guys were that good despite not making the College Football Playoff. (Thank the CFB Playoff Committee for that) Many of the players on the 2016 and 2017 teams are very well known still at State College. Well next week in this series we are going back to the 80s. A time where JoePa and his boys destroyed Dan Marino and #1 Pitt at the old Pitt Stadium. Enjoy the rest of your week and we’ll see you then. WE ARE! PENN STATE! WE ARE!! PENN STATE!! WE ARE!!! PENN STATE!!! THANK YOU! YOU’RE WELCOME!!!
Bragging Rights Sports 