“(Crowd Screaming) McSorley across the middle.”
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
September 23 2017: Juwan Johnson Sucks the Gravity Out of Kinnick Stadium
Created by Bragging Rights Sports (WE ARE! PENN STATE!)
Narrator: Kinnick Stadium. In College Football terms it’s a place where Top 5 teams lose their momentum and their hopes of going to the College Football playoff. It is one of the harder places to play in the BIG10 for good reasoning. The fans are very close to the field, and the sound is remarkable. We have a great crowd at Penn State but the crowd at Kinnick isn’t as loud but it’s right up there. Iowa’s record against Top 5 teams at home is one of the best in the country this millennium. But as James Franklin has said many times over the years “Don’t let the atmosphere get in your head both at home or on the road.” Penn State began the 2017 season fresh off their BIG10 Title and a berth in the Rose Bowl against USC a year ago. In 3 games at home to open the season against Akron, Pitt, and Georgia State the Nittany Lions had outscored their opponents 141-14. Most of their success wasn’t due to Saquan Barkley and his abilities as a runner. It was because of the passing game. Trace McSorley put up multiple 270+ passing yard games and both Mike Gesicki and Juwan Johnson were beginning to round into form. At 3-0 and #4 in the nation, PSU was regarded as one of the favorites for the College Football playoff.
Their first game on the road during the 2017 season was a Saturday Evening clash against BIG10 rival Iowa. The Hawkeyes were also 3-0 but they, unlike Penn State, had a statement win. The statement win was on the road against Iowa State in overtime. Even if the Nittany Lions were favored by 9 if you asked Iowa fans they would tell you that “we are going to beat up Penn State.” (Thats an example of one of the most annoying fanbases in the nation according to the PSU student body) This game would start out as a battle for momentum. McSorley, after being criticized by Penn State students that he wasn’t using his best weapon, got Saquan involved early and often. Even if they didn’t score thanks to a 3rd Down stop by the Iowa defense it at least gave the Penn State O-Line some confidence to open up holes later on. The defense would go right after Nate Stanley as soon as the Hawkeyes gained possession. Forcing a 3 and out and giving PSU outstanding field position should be a way to convert it into a touchdown right? Wrong. McSorley could do nothing and it forced the Nittany Lions to give the ball back to Iowa. Luckily the defense would take him off the hook as they forced a 2nd 3 and out. Then Barkley would finally get the touches he deserved. In a span of 4 minutes Saquan near single handedly drove Penn State to the 2 yard line. But the Iowa defense rose up and stopped them on 3 straight plays. As Tyler Davis proceeded to make it 3-0, the defense continued to make quick work of the Iowa offense. Wouldn’t you know it, Penn State marched into field goal range again but this time Davis missed the kick wide left. In some cases it was a lost opportunity to open things up. (Great Balls of Fire playing) But with the Nittany Lions defense continuing to limit the Hawkeyes offense, James Franklin had no need to worry. Iowa’s potent run game had no answers for the opposing Front 7. After another punt, Penn State got even better field position thanks to a kick catch interference penalty against the home team. The bad news was that they gained -2 yards thanks to a loss of 2 on the first play followed by 2 incompletions. There was a silver lining about this missed chance, it led to a safety considering that Akrum Wadley couldn’t escape the claws of Sharif Miller. 5-0 PSU! Now we can safely say that Penn State will begin their scoring barrage. What do you mean they didn’t? They got stopped on 4th Down again! Come on! But hey all things pointed towards a 1st Half shut out by the Nittany Lions as (Heavy Metal music) OH JUST CUT ME A BREAK TRACE! CAN YOU AND YOUR WEAPONS PLAY UP TO YOUR POTENTIAL FOR ONE MINUTE!? I mean 3 points in 1 Half of play. Where was the dominant game against Georgia State last week? (Possibly it’s due to having to play a real team, but who knows) PAUSE.
Just as McSorley threw that end of the half interception, Iowa finally got their offense going and took the lead with a touchdown. Even worse, the Hawkeyes were getting the ball to start the 2nd Half so things could get out of hand on the other side now. Except like much of the game, Wadley had nowhere to run against the Penn State defense. The offense then realized that the Hawkeyes had taken everything away, the passing lanes, Saquan, and Trace began running wild. Barkley almost scored a touchdown, but the officials ruled him out at the 3 after another large chunk of rushing yards. Please just give us a touchdown for once! BUZZER! WOMAN YOU HAVE LIED TO ME! My Kingdom for a coach that can execute goal line play calling better than cooking meals! At least they got a field goal and the lead back I guess. But things changed quickly. Iowa finally was able to move the ball after what seemed like an eternity without a 1st Down. Just when you think that Wadley would break off a big run “IT’S A FUMBLE!” Penn State recovers! Grant Haley and Marcus Allen Jr did it again. That turnover combo has returned in a big way. You know who else is contributing in a big way? Saquan. He was starting to run through big holes on the regular now. It’s not just him, Miles Sanders now has gotten some nice yards. Then they ended the drive with Barkley scoring from 8 yards out. HALLELUJAH! Someone finally scored a touchdown after 3 stalled drives deep in Iowa territory. This game should be on cruise control thanks to the defense getting another clutch stop. All McSorley has to do is not put the ball in harm’s way. (DRAMATIC MUSIC!) Oh My Goodness! What did I just say? DON’T TURN THE BALL OVER! Why did Trace have to take off and run, he should have tried to keep his eyes downfield. Now Iowa has a chance to get back in it. “And it’s blocked.” Thank goodness the special teams and defense have shown up because this has been a sloppy game for the offense. And that would continue with yet another fumble, yet this time it wasn’t a lost fumble like the first one was.
With the score 15-7 early in the 4th Quarter it seemed as if the Hawkeyes would need a miracle to win the game considering how potent PSU was on defense. “Stanley looks the other direction, it’s Wadley out the backfield. Wadley is in the clear, Akrum Wadley cuts back. Running to the endzone, Touchdown Iowa! OH DEAR GOD! Not this again, do we have to have another heart attack considering what happened to JoePa and the 2008 team when they came there? Please no. Well at least Iowa failed the 2 point conversion and Penn State still leads by 2. It appeared as if there was no hope for the Nittany Lions but then. HERE I COME TO SAVE THE DAY! Saquan Barkley, jumping over 2 men and getting a key 1st Down. That was the spark the offense needed. Led by two 4th Down conversions Penn State has a chance to put this carnsong game out of reach. However they like most times in this game stalled out inside the 20 yard line. At least they can extend their lead to 5. “And it’s blocked! Iowa comes up with its own field goal block!” MOM ITS HAPPENING AGAIN! Just as Penn State fans worried about, Wadley would pull off another big play touchdown in no time. The Hawkeyes have taken the lead with just under 2 minutes left. All I can say is we better score here unless we aren’t getting out of here without security supervision thanks to the fans storming the field. (Ironman’s Can you get it playing) But long and behold. McSorley, who had struggled throwing the ball all night long, decided that now was the time to put the team on his back. Whether throwing or running, Trace was on a mission. That mission was to maintain the hopes of Penn State making the College Football playoff. This was the time where Juwan Johnson kept getting open, and Trace would find him twice to get the Nittany Lions down to the Iowa 25. Wouldn’t you know Penn State had 1st and Goal with 15 seconds left. The 1st play was a 2 yard completion to Gesicki which stopped the clock with 11 seconds left. On the 2nd play, McSorley overthrew DeAndre Thompkins which resulted in an incompletion. 7 seconds left. With time for 2 plays, Franklin decided to not run the 5 wide set. Instead he kept his normal 3WR, 1TE, 1RB package out there. What happens on 3rd Down? “Batted down for the 6th time tonight!” Oh no, please don’t tell me this is it. Iowa is one play away from winning this game and pulling off the upset. The fans and students are about ready to storm the field in celebration. It appears as if Penn State has no hope. Trace, I need to tell you something. END THEIR HOPES NOW! “(Crowd Screaming) McSorley across the middle. TOUCHDOWN! (Trace McSorley TikTok Song playing) Juwan Johnson! Penn State, a Walk Off Touchdown!” Throw it on a dime like I ain’t even trying! Just another epic win for the boys in Blue and White! (Like my MattyFresh reference) What a play by the freshman Juwan Johnson. With all the odds stacked against him, with everything on the line, and with an entire crowd set to rush the field. He makes the play of the game to send the fans home in silence. That’s what I call a baller!
(Zombie Nation playing) There is no better feeling to win a game like that in College Football, but it feels extra special when you go into the other team’s building and stun the crowd like that. James Franklin over the past couple of years has referred to this game as one of the defining moments of his coaching career. To go on the road, against a very good team, in primetime, and with the atmosphere that they had to face, it just made that group of Nittany Lions that much stronger. Looking back at this game, it would have been nice if Penn State did this exact same thing to Iowa during 2021 if they put in the right backup QB when Clifford went down, but hey you can’t change the past. You can only focus on the present and the future whenever that comes. Franklin after the game told ESPN Reporter Maria Taylor that Saquan is a special athlete. I agree with James on this one. If Barkley doesn’t play as well as he did, Penn State would have lost badly. Considering that much of their yardage came from #26, it was an amazing site to behold. Saquan had the kind of game that KiJana Carter had in the 1995 Rose Bowl. Although this game didn’t have the defense overwhelming the opposing offense, and Phil Yeboah-Kodie RKO’ing the QB you can safely say that this game and the game against Michigan a few weeks later led to Saquan being the #2 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. If you think one epic road win was nuts, next week’s episode will be just as crazy. Fans you wanted an Ohio State Penn State game to be showcased, well you’re getting it. Until then, Adios mis Amigos! WE ARE! PENN STATE! WE ARE!! PENN STATE!! WE ARE!!! PENN STATE!!! THANK YOU! YOU’RE WELCOME!!!
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