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Inside the game-winning play that lifted Penn State to victory over Purdue

Greg Pickelby: Greg Pickel09/02/22GregPickel
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Keyvone of the Penn State Nittany Lions makes the game winning reception during the second half against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium on September 1, 2022 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

West Lafayette, Ind. — Sean Clifford called it a broken play. Keyvone Lee called it the top moment of his career. Regardless of how you describe it, all that matters for Penn State is that the pair’s connection with 1:25 to go was a winning one for the Nittany Lions in a 35-31 triumph over Purdue here at Ross-Ade Stadium.

Football can be a funny game. You may not be the best team for all four quarters or even most of the 60 minutes. But, if you can make something happened when it matters most, you can leave a sold-out road venue victorious. And, that’s exactly what the Lions did.

Penn State trailed 31-28 when Clifford led the Lions’ offense onto the field with 2:22 to play with the ball at his own 20-yard-line. Five straight positive plays, starting with a third and short conversion at the Penn State 28, setup first and goal for the visitors at the Boilermakers 10. Clifford lined up in shotgun with Lee to his right. Purdue offers its familiar cover zero look. It was one head coach James Franklin said the Lions would have to be prepared to beat earlier in the week. And, they did.

Purdue seemed to have everything covered. Clifford rolled to his right and faced immediate pressure. But, just as quickly, he saw Lee waving his hand: He had beat Purdue linebacker Clyde Washington at the 12-yard-line. The Penn State quarterback lofted a pass that seemed to hang in the air forever. It eventually found Lee’s hands at the three-yard-line, and he waltzed in for a touchdown. Fifty-three seconds later, Penn State players and staff were storming onto the field to celebrate a win.

Clifford, Lee, breakdown the Penn State winning play

Clifford knew that he had to make something out of nothing. And, the Penn State quarterback did exactly that.

“That last play was cover zero, so they blocked everybody they’re supposed,” Clifford said. “That was a broken play. We had to make a play. So it was great.”

Lee said it was a play he and the Lions had to have.

“I saw cover zero man, and I knew that the [linebacker has me, and I just had to execute and beat him,” Lee said. “I beat him, then I looked up and the ball was just right there.

“I saw cover zero man, and I knew that the [line]backer has me, and I just had to execute and beat him,” Lee said. “I beat him, then I looked up, and the ball was just right there.”

“I needed that. I was kind of losing faith and losing hope at the beginning of the game, because things weren’t really going the way I wanted to go. But, I just got an opportunity and made the best of it. I needed that. It helped me change my perspective.”

Penn State needed it, too. And, since they got it, the Lions can now say they’re 1-0 despite not putting their best effort on display opposite the Boilermakers.

“We got to be more consistent,” Penn State head coach James Franklin said. “We’ve got to make more plays. We dropped some big-time balls on offense, not only for Sean, but when Drew [Allar] went in there, we had a chance to make some plays for him. And, really at the same side on defense. We had a chance for some interceptions and some big plays.

“This is the character win for our program.”

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