Instant Analysis: Penn State starts slow, blows past Minnesota
Penn State’s defense dominated Minnesota on Saturday, keeping the Golden Gophers one-dimensional without starting quarterback Tanner Morgan. After a slow start to the game, Penn State’s offense matches the defense and blows past Minnesota 45-17. Get Blue White Illustrated’s reaction to the win from ground level at Beaver Stadium.
Penn State gets the win it needed in big game
Offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich finally got his tight ends involved in a big way on Saturday, generating seven catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns to fuel the Nittany Lions to the victory. Starting quarterback Sean Clifford threw big throw after big throw, totaling 294 yards and four touchdowns on the night.
The running game followed soon after. Freshmen Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton ran for 156 combined yards and two touchdowns to blow the game open in the second half.
Penn State head coach James Franklin was impressed with them on Saturday night, but that’s nothing new, he said,
“I’ve been impressed with those guys all year long to true freshmen that I think are playing at a high level. You know, we were able to stick with the game plan and stick with the run. I thought we had a lot of diversity in our play calling tonight whether it was play action pass shots, whether it was getting the tight ends involved getting Parker Washington involved and those two running backs,” Frankin said after the game.
Will Penn State get credit for the prime-time win against a wounded opponent? That is one of the topics that the trio discusses postgame. The conversation quickly turns to the Nittany Lion’s showdown with Ohio State at Beaver Stadium next weekend.
Next up, Penn State will face the undefeated Ohio State Buckeyes, who hung 54 points on Iowa Saturday afternoon. Ohio State has scored 40 or more points in every game this season since a 21-10 win over Notre Dame in week one. Kick time is noon on Fox.
