AUBURN, Ala. — In the top row of Jordan-Hare Stadium, a Penn StateA fan waved a white and blue flag in the wind.
Auburn’s eagle swooping in and its Tiger Walk, complete with a smiling Bryan Harsin, were a distant memory. Students with their backs painted orange and accented with tiger stripes weren’t bopping their orange pom-poms along to much of anything by the start of the fourth quarter. In the final minutes of the game, some of Penn State’s players turned and playfully We wave goodbyeFor the home crowd.
In minutes you can be running back Devyn FordStanding on the brick barrier in front of the end zone, which separated the fans and team, Cornerback Cornerback Marquis Wilson A backflip was landed. Fans took selfies with the players. Ford led the crowd in a “We Are …” cheer and Penn State’s alma mater played.
The No. 42-12 defeat to Auburn by 22 Nittany Lions At the quarter’s end, the game was finished. At the end of the game, the quarterback was in control. Sean CliffordStanding on the Auburn logo at midfield, he took a few minutes to reflect. Penn State was able to enjoy this afternoon.
Sean Clifford looks at the 50 immediately after this one pic.twitter.com/uuGxLTQtFU
— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) September 18, 2022
Sixth-year quarterback is an expert on college football’s ebbs, flows and dynamics. His head coach, who was a three-year Vanderbilt student, also knows the difficulties of beating an SEC team on the road.
“I’m really proud for Sean Clifford right now,” James Franklin said. Clifford completed 14-of-19 passes for 178 yards. He also ran 15 yards and added an extra touchdown on the ground. “I’m proud of our team. It’s a pleasure to come down and win. Gutsy performance.”
Franklin didn’t like that Penn State had to play two of its first three games away from Beaver Stadium, and The Nittany Lions Had to overcome logistical challengesTo play in a game that ended as as physical and chippy as one against an East division foe. On Friday, the team flew to Maxwell Air Force Base at Montgomery and then left for Columbus, Ga., Saturday. Penn State is now 3-0 despite the scheduling difficulties and a young, but still developing team.
With a defense that allowed for four takeaways, and a freshman runningback whose speed was extraordinary, the Nittany Lions won convincingly. Fans who traveled to Saturday and crossed off a bucket list item were made more special by the win.
It tied Penn State’s 1996 Outback Bowl win over Auburn for the second-largest against an SEC program in program history, though don’t expect Franklin to be looking to line up a future series with SEC opponents anytime soon.
“There is a reason this is like one of the only games that’s been scheduled in the history of the Big Ten,” Franklin said. “All the data, all the analytics show you that you gotta do whatever you can to win your conference. … (Hopefully) we don’t have to play one of these games again.”
Takeaways from Penn State’s win:
This is what a highly successful run game can do at PSU
Nicholas Singleton made his first collegiate start and might’ve been the fastest man on the field. The Penn State freshman runningback has the kind of speed they have been looking for. It has given life to a running game that had struggled to make explosive runs the past two years. Singleton had 10 carries and 124 yards, with two touchdowns. Singleton now has five carries for 124 yards and two touchdowns after Penn State ran two 40-plus yard rushes last season.
True freshman Nick Singleton after this 54 yard TD:
10 rushes
124 yards
2 TD pic.twitter.com/f0x2ozmuq9— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) September 17, 2022
Yes, he’s lightning fast, but it was noticeable that he actually had room to run too. That’s a credit to the offensive line, as well as the tight ends. Brenton StrangeAgain, he had a strong showing against Auburn. He had six receptions for 80 yard and was a team-best. Additionally, he was a good blocker.
“There’s a quote that we always have: There’s no greater feeling than moving a man from Point A to Point B,” Strange said, adding that a different player is asked by Franklin to recite the quote in the team meeting room every week. “It’s a big emphasis for us. We need to keep doing that.”
Penn State has been criticised for not being physically strong enough at the front. It’s something Franklin said himself countless times the past few seasons. But it didn’t get pushed around this time. Clifford might have been drilled by Owen Pappoe — a hit the quarterback saw in the locker room afterward and said wasn’t as bad as it looked — but the quarterback wasn’t sacked and Auburn had just three tackles for loss.
“We’re getting better up front and at tight end,” Franklin said. “I think we’re doing some things scheme-wise to help them, and we’re also, the ability to be more balanced and take pressure off of the passing game I think has been really important for us. We also have some dynamic backs and that helps.”
That’s right: It’s not just one running back. Before Singleton’s big runs, fellow freshman Kaytron AllenHe showed some good skills and impressed. He ended with nine carries, 52 yards, and two touchdowns. Allen’s vision and style have helped him carve out a role around the goal line. Allen also ran an 18-yarder. Devyn Ford and Keyvone Lee were also scholarship backs that contributed to the offense’s success in the second series. This was a notable step forward against Auburn’s defensive front in a conference in where play in trenches will be the determining factor of how good the offense can do.
Takeaways available in large quantities
Safety Ji’Ayir Brown played in the box when Penn State had seven defensive backs on the field, and Manny Diaz has a plethora of blitz packages he’s continuing to unload. There’s no turnover chain here, but the Nittany Lions deserved one Saturday.
Six players combined for six tackles, and Penn State totaled 11 tackles. The Nittany Lions forced 3 fumbles and retrieved 2 of them. They also had two interceptions. Zakee WheatleyBrown. Despite some lapses, Auburn was not let down by the defense, which made huge plays when needed. It allowed just zero touchdowns in four red zone trips.
“That team had bad ball security, their running back and their quarterback,” defensive end Chop Robinson said. Robinson was able to recover the ball from the fumble by using a forearm, a forced fumble, and a bag. “Our main thing was the first person to contain and the second person to come in and punch the ball out, try to strip the ball, and it worked. … Watching film, they run with the ball very loose. Coming in, it was strip the ball, punch the ball to cause turnovers.”
A OTHER TURNOVER.
The third turnover of the day was made by Penn State’s defense force. pic.twitter.com/7ST7C1Kh00— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) September 17, 2022
Every team wants take-outs. Although Penn State had a lot of football the first two games it only managed one takeaway. It was successful this time. Franklin smiled as he thought about the reasons the picks were made and the fumbles were recovered.
“Our guys are just getting more confident and comfortable with the red zone coverages that we’re playing and some of the nuances of it,” Franklin said. “To hold that team, again, on the road in the SEC, without an offensive touchdown for the majority of the game is significant.”
The defensive ends are up for the challenge
Deion Barnes, a former defensive end and graduate assistant, was present during pregame warmups. Adisa Isaac’s face trying to hype him up. Isaac hoped that during the first two games, his first sack would come. When it didn’t, Franklin reiterated that the style of play of both Purdue Ohio with the quarterbacks getting the ball out quickly wasn’t going to allow Isaac, Robinson and Nick TarburtonTo stack sacks.
Robinson and Isaac each tallied sacks on this one. This is also noteworthy, considering Smith VilbertThe Outback Bowl’s breakout player, Virgilbert, is yet to be part of this season. Franklin hasn’t said when Vilbert will play or why he hasn’t thus far. Vilbert didn’t make this trip either.
“I’m glad I got that first one out the way,” said Isaac, who finished with three tackles for loss and was credited with two quarterback hurries. “Knowing that it’s there, there’s a lot more where that came from.”
Robinson sat on the benches with a towel draped over his head after the final whistle. He was tired.
“I definitely played more snaps that I usually did,” Robinson said. “I just had to keep fighting through all the heat and all the pain.”
Kaytron Allen got his first two TDs. (John Reed / USA Today)
This team’s future looks brighter than ever.
Linebacker Abdul Carter isn’t playing like a freshman. Singleton doesn’t run like one, and neither does Allen. Kobe Kinghe was forced to action in the middle again and continues growing week after week.
“He flashes,” Franklin said of Carter, who tied for the team-lead with six tackles and had a sack and a forced fumble. “I know you guys have it all seen it. We’ve been excited about him. He’s so mature. He’s quick to pick up things. He’s fast, he’s aggressive. That No. 11, I’m not sure, but it’s Penn State was a great place to be.. … Hopefully we’ll continue to build on this with him.”
Beyond Clifford, who also played one of his best games against Auburn last year, the game’s most-impactful plays often came from players who weren’t on the field in Beaver Stadium last September. Robinson was at Maryland. Wheatley and King were redshirting. Carter, Singleton and Allen were in high school.
The third game in succession, the rookie quarterback Drew AllarClifford gained valuable reps. That certainly wasn’t expected coming in.
Penn State was very difficult to comprehend going into this season due to the need for several young players. So far, they’ve passed with flying colors.
Definitely one of the most lively celebrations I’ve seen from PSU in my 12 or so seasons doing this pic.twitter.com/UvQnvynxgS
— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) September 17, 2022
(Top photo: Nick Singleton & Olu Fashanu – John Reed / USA Today
