Penn State Hosted Indiana for Generations of Greatness Game
No. 4 Penn State remains unbeaten after Indiana came to Beaver Stadium for the Generations of Greatness game on Saturday. I was on hand to watch Saquon Barkley further his Heisman Trophy campaign with a 98-yard return on the opening kickoff and a touchdown pass to DaeSean Hamilton in the fourth quarter to cement a 45-14 victory. Even with a decisive win, the Nittany Lions will have to fix some things before travelling to Northwestern on Saturday.
Penn State Remains Unbeaten After Indiana
Offense Takeaways
Trace McSorley spent too much time on the ground on Saturday. The offensive line allowed five sacks and 11 tackles for loss on Saturday. Depth is no longer an issue for the o-line and they have gained the necessary experience. It is just a matter of staying consistent.
McSorley spent another game getting constant criticism from fans. The junior quarterback passed for 315 yards, had three touchdowns (one rushing), and one interception. McSorley has been consistent throughout the first five games of the season. He showed that last week at Iowa, when he perfectly constructed a game winning drive with seconds left on the clock. It is time to put your trust in McSorley he has earned it as Penn State remains unbeaten after Indiana.
Saquon Barkley again proved why he is the best player in the country. Barkley had 221 all-purpose yards on Saturday. He was responsible for two touchdowns. The first touchdown being off of a 98-yard kickoff return to start the game. The second TD was a pass to wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton in the fourth quarter. Yes, you read that right. In addition to all of his other remarkable abilities, Barkley can throw the ball. He also had an amazing one-hand grab and run in the first quarter.
Finally, DaeSean Hamilton cannot be overshadowed. The senior receiver is now the all-time pass reception leader in Penn State history. He ended Saturday with his 181st career catch. Hamilton had nine grabs for 122 yards and two touchdowns on his way to pass Deon Butler on the all-time pass receptions list.
Defense Takeaways
The defense had yet another strong showing as Penn State remains unbeaten after Indiana. The unit had one interception and caused two fumbles en route to a victory. Linebacker Jason Cabinda remained a force to be reckoned with. He had 14 tackles, one sack and 1.5 tackles for loss on Saturday. Cabinda was all over the field, putting on both Hoosier quarterbacks and helping hold Indiana to 14 points.
Cornerback Christian Campbell covered the Hoosiers number one receiver on Saturday, Simmie Cobbs. Campbell held Cobbs to five receptions on 44 yards and one touchdown. Furthermore, the defense held quarterback Richard Lagow in check on Saturday, holding him to 97 pass yards. In addition, the Nittany Lion defense had some trouble with the mobility of back up quarterback Peyton Ramsey. Ramsey was able to find a few holes and gain 131 all purpose yards. The freshman had one touchdown and one interception on Saturday. According to the NCAA, the Penn State defense is ranked third in scoring defense. The Nittany Lions are only behind Alabama and Georgia, allowing only six touchdowns and 47 points through five games.
Looking Ahead
Next Saturday, the Nittany Lions are on the road at Northwestern. It is a 12:00 pm EDT kick off on ABC. Penn State will face an improving Northwestern team that took Wisconsin down to the wire on Saturday. The Nittany Lion defense will have to continue their dominance to remain undefeated and improve to 6-0 on the season.
