Penn State’s Emotional Win
Saturday’s game against San Diego State was full of emotions, and the true bond of the team shined through. That bond could be seen through the support of senior defensive tackle, Anthony Zettel with the passing of his father due to cancer. Zettel’s father passed Friday night, yet Zettel was on the field with sheer focus on the task at hand: earning a win against the San Diego State Aztecs. Although he was not expected to play on Saturday at Beaver Stadium, he lead his team to a 37-21 victory while recording seven tackles.
Although Anthony Zettel’s presence on the field was a positive one, the same could not be as easily said about the offensive side of the ball specifically in the second quarter. After completing a 46 yard pass to sophomore receiver Saeed Blacknall and Saquon Barkley’s 21 yard rush within the same drive, quarterback Christian Hackenberg could not capitalize on the strong efforts of his teammates -— throwing two incomplete passes on first and goal as well as third and goal plays -— and ultimately having to rely on the field goal attempts by the 5’10” 259 pound freshman kicker Joey Julius (recorded three made field goals for the Nittany Lions; missing only a 55 yard attempt).
As the emotions of Nittany Lion fans were started to rise as a result of Barkley’s 21 yard rush, they were quickly brought down as Barkley was seen limping off the field after suffering an undisclosed ankle injury that would not allow him to see the field for the rest of the game. To make the blow even more devastating for the fans in and outside of Beaver Stadium after sophomore receiver Chris Godwin’s recovery of San Diego State’s punt return fumble, the second half of the “rushing duo” of Barkely and Lynch, senior running back Akeel Lynch was able to walk off of the field after what appeared to be a hit to his knee; he would not return for the rest of the game and it was not disclosed if his injury was season-ending.
Even without their stellar rushing duo, the Nittany Lions’ will to win and tenacity was evident within the last two minutes of the first quarter. After Lynch’s final play of the game, a three yard run ending at the San Diego State 13 yard line (set up by a 13 yard completion from Hackenberg to DaeSean Hamilton—maybe the number 13 isn’t so unlucky for this football team), running back Mark Allen stretched out like Michael Jordan in “Space Jam” to break the plane for a touchdown. Eight seconds later, after a fumble recovery off of a punt return, Penn State was in a prime position to extend their lead. After two incomplete passes to Godwin, Hackenberg was finally able to make that connection to extend their lead to 27-14 at the half.
After returning from such a high moment before the end of the first half, emotions took a dip in the third quarter for the Nittany Lions. Each one of Penn State’s plays ended in punts. The defense, however, limited San Diego State to just one touchdown. Within the opening drive of the fourth quarter, defensive tackle Austin Johnson scored his first touchdown…ever. After a sack by Carl Nassib and a fumble by San Diego State, Johnson scooped by ball, saw the end zone and never looked back.
By the end of the game, the Nittany Lions recorded 400 yards and only allowed San Diego State 242 (less than Penn State’s first half recorded yardage). Everyone involved and who witnessed the game understood the emotional rollercoaster that occurred Saturday afternoon. But with that rollercoaster emerged a team that remained solid in their belief in one another. It should be noted, as well, that the skies were clear Saturday afternoon and Penn State still managed to add another to the win column. If the end results in a win, it’s time to stand in line and board the ride, Happy Valley.
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