“Hackenberg, he’s gonna go for it right here…..”
PENN STATE FOOTBALL CLASSICS
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 12 2013 vs Michigan: A 4OT Marathon for the Ages
Created by Bragging Rights Sports (WE ARE! PENN STATE!)
Narrator: I know what you’re going to say when we talk about a game during the 2012 or 2013 season of Penn State Football. One man and phrase comes to mind. “Bill O’Brien is a HACK!” Yes he may have run the Houston Texans into the ground in 2020, and choked away a National Title at Alabama the next year but here at Penn State, this is the game he and QB Christian Hackenberg are remembered for. In the wake of the Paterno and Sandusky Scandal in 2011, the Nittany Lions went 8-4 in 2012 but thanks to limited amounts of Bowl Games they weren’t given an invitation. Even though they didn’t get a Bowl game, the 2012 season according to many at Penn State would lay the foundation for a new era for the football program. The 2013 season began with high hopes. The Nittany Lions started 3-1 including a victory over Syracuse at MetLife Stadium and nearly beating a juggernaut in UCF at home in Week 3. In Week 6 however the team took a massive defeat at the hands of Indiana. Their first ever loss to the Hoosiers was a result of giving up 23 unanswered points in the 4th Quarter after taking a 24-21 lead at the end of the 3rd. The way that game ended was considered a major dud on O’Briens tenure as head coach. Not being able to handle the bad weather in that game, especially with a tough schedule coming up, was a cause of concern for the Nittany Lions. They were getting their 2 most hated rivals in a stretch that would very well define their season.
The 1st game was against Michigan at home in Week 7. And if there ever was a time for PSU to right the ship this was it. The National Media thought that Michigan would not only win but destroy Penn State especially after Indiana did to them. Luckily this game was at Beaver Stadium and not only was it Homecoming Weekend at State College, the Whiteout made its annual appearance. Even if the Wolverines had crushed Minnesota at the Big House the week prior they would still have to deal with the monochromatic mayhem of PSU fans. Michigan early on would go right for the kill. Despite being ranked 18th in the nation, the Wolves felt like they were much higher than that. Early on they proved it. After Devin Gardner and company were shut down on the opening drive, it looked as if Penn State would score the 1st points of the game. But then things changed as Hackenberg was picked off by Jared Wilson deep in Michigan territory. But 3 plays later (Thunderstruck playing) “Oh, dangerous throw and he paid the price. Jordan Lucas.” Ok Wolverines I see you, we’ll give you an INT as long as you give us the ball back by the same outcome. The interception by Lucas led to a touchdown pass from Hackenberg to Brandon Felder. So far, a great start but the Wolves will have some tricks up their sleeves. Exhibit A: a 59 yard touchdown pass to Devin Funchess. (Where’s the secondary on that play) This had been Michigan’s recipe throughout the 2013 season, they don’t just score points, they score them in batches. That’s why the Nittany Lions had to be careful. After two 3 and outs, the Wolverines were only able to get 3 points off of those primed opportunities. The 2nd drive ended in an interception by Anthony Zettel. (Normally DE’s don’t play good coverage but he was one of them that did) Just when you thought the Wolves would take control, the exact opposite happens. (Ironman’s Can you get it playing) “Here’s Hackenberg now, up top and in. Christian Hackenberg to Jesse James!” Looks like O’Brien is spreading things out on offense. That was something they didn’t do against Indiana the week before. Things would get better for the offense, Gardner was sacked on the next possession by CJ Olaniyan, then later in the drive, IT’S A FUMBLE! (There’s a Chris Berman impersonation from NFL Primetime for you guys) Penn State recovered. Three 1st Half turnovers for Michigan. And just before the half Felder mossed Courtney Avery for his 2nd touchdown of the half. Up 21-10 at the break, it looked as if the Nittany Lions were awake and well after what happened against the Hoosiers the week before.
Even better news they were getting the ball to start the 2nd Half. This was their chance to put away Michigan, but this was when things changed (Hail to the Victors playing) “Christian Hackenberg, a true freshman QB had 3 TD passes in that 1st Half. This could be a scoop and score. Frank Clark, could he? Yes!” Oh boy, we’ve gotta ballgame lookout! And it looked that way when Michigan took the ball deep into PSU territory, but an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty undid it all. Luckily for Brady Hoke and his team, Hackenberg was picked off again, this time by Raymon Taylor. It didn’t lead to much as Michigan was forced to kick a field goal which cut the lead to 1. Penn State would get off the snide quickly as they drove into Wolverine territory in relentless fashion. It stalled thanks to a sack on 2nd Down at the Michigan 30. The good news was that Sam Ficken was able to push the lead up to 4 points. That lead eventually was banished as Gardner led his team towards a go ahead touchdown before the 3rd Quarter ended. He hit Jeremy Gallon on the left side to give Michigan the lead. However Penn State marched towards another score, however this time they would come up empty handed as Ficken missed a 47 yarder. (Kicking a field goal in college, especially at Beaver Stadium is not easy) The downside to the missed kick is that it gave the Wolverines outstanding field position. And wouldn’t you know it, Gardner found Funchess for another touchdown. At this point you may be asking yourself why are you putting in a game that Penn State is likely to lose in this series. You wanna know why? BOOM! Because they would come back from this, though the outcome is yet to be decided. The Nittany Lions were about to make a gutty effort to try and win this game. It started with a 4th and 1 conversion at midfield with 7 minutes left. It may have only gotten PSU 3 points in the end, but it was still a 1 score game. Michigan thought they would try and run the clock out. However a delay of game penalty pushed them out of field goal range thus giving Hackenberg and the offense one more shot. However it would be an uphill climb. There were only 50 seconds and Penn State had no timeouts. But within 2 plays, Hackenberg got them within striking range of a tying score. And with 29 seconds left “Hackenberg, he’s gonna go for it right here. (HERE I COME TO SAVE THE DAY!) And Robinson comes down with it!” Allen Robinson, he had been shut down all evening long, and then when the chips were down he made the catch of the game. And on the next play Hackenberg snuck the ball into the endzone for the tying TD.
Although Michigan was about to provide a scare. This time they did get in field goal range. And with 7 seconds left Brendan Gibbons had the chance to win it. “For the win………. (DRAMATIC MUSIC) And it’s just short!” As Yogi Berra and Olivia Rodrigo would say, it’s deja vu all over again. This game is going to Overtime! What better way for a game as crazy as this one to be decided in the extra period. And it would get even more bizarre. Penn State did little with what they were given in the 1st OT, at least they could get 3 points. “He missed it.” Urk! Now Michigan can cruise to victory. Take 2, Michigan can kick to win AGAIN, lets see what happens? “IT IS BLOCKED!” (“Oh No! We suck again” -Every Michigan fan) Are you kidding me, what deal did the Football Gods make for this game to keep on going. This is why we love sports, because just when you think it’s over it’s not. In the 2nd OT, both teams would trade field goals after nice defensive stands by the defenses. Now the game was tied at 37. But then the tides changed again. Allen Robinson who made the catch that set up the OT period fumbled and Frank Clark made his 2nd fumble recovery of the game. Now can we just say this game is over. Take 3, Michigan can kick to win YET AGAIN, what will the gods give them? “33 yards to win, (Zombie Nation playing) AND HE MISSED IT AGAIN! THAT’S IMPOSSIBLE!” What in the world is going on. Can someone please win this game? This is just getting crazy. Whoever wins I feel like is going to break the internet. It better be Penn State. I want to laugh at the Maize and Blue any chance I get. The 4th OT began with Michigan again having to settle for a field goal yet this time Gibbons would convert it. Oh it has to be a sign of relief for him at this moment. Now he has put the game in the hands of Frank Clark and the Wolves defense. This game would be basically decided by a gutsy call by Bill O’Brien. Everyone remembers the fake punt he called in the Texans vs Chiefs playoff game in 2019. But they forget the call he made right here. He trusted Bill Belton to pick up 2 yards. And he did. Plus PSU was aided by a PI call which took the ball at the 2 yard line. Now it’s time to wrap up this marathon of a game. “1st and Goal, Belton to the edge, PENN STATE HAS DONE IT!” (League of Legends theme playing) PSU STUDENT BODY ACTIVATED!
THE NITTANY LIONS HAVE COME BACK FROM THE JAWS OF DEFEAT TO THE THRILL OF VICTORY! OH MAN IT DOESN’T GET BETTER THAN THIS!!! The most unlikely finish to a game you’ll ever see in the long history of Penn State Football. Bill O’Brien, overcome with joy from his teammates said after the game that “Someone had to go for it, and it happened to be us and I’m glad it worked out.” I agree, there was going to be a winner or loser at some point. And the winner happened to be PSU. When people outside this university talk about this game, they think it was a massive choke from Michigan. That was part of it, but to me and every other Penn State fan or student. This game is what Bill O’Brien is best known for on this campus. Even when it appeared lost, he wouldn’t let his guys give up. This indeed was something that the Texans lacked when he was there. He may be a hack according to some people but the real hacks are the players that don’t execute the scheme to perfection. (I’m looking right at you Deshaun Watson) This is something that James Franklin is going to put heavy emphasis on next season. He can take a page out of this game for sure. Speaking of the Franklin Era I wonder what game is going to be next? “Fires to the end zone. TOUCHDOWN! Juwan Johnson a walk off touchdown!” Oh yes, it’s the 2017 classic against Iowa. That should be fun. Anyways, that about wraps things up for this week, you know the drill… WE ARE! PENN STATE! WE ARE!! PENN STATE!! WE ARE!!! PENN STATE!!! THANK YOU! YOU’RE WELCOME!!!
Bragging Rights Sports 