The Sunday Afternoon Quarterback #11: Getting Back on the Horse

#9 Penn State Nittany Lions 34 – Indiana Hoosiers 27

We have all heard the saying before: “You gotta get up and back on the horse.” Meaning you must resume an activity at which you have previously failed. In this case, Penn State needed to get back to their winning ways this week. The last two seasons have seen the Nittany Lions lose their first game of the year to Ohio State both times, followed by a consecutive loss to Michigan State, effectively ending their shot at a Big Ten Championship game appearance.

Following the loss last week at Minnesota, a win was needed to get them back on track and still remain in contention for the Big Ten Championship game. Boasting a career 21-1 record against the Hoosiers, this game would seem to break the trend of the last two years. Although Indiana has given Penn State some closer than expected games in their past, including a 1994 game that saw Penn State win 35-29 but was enough to drop Penn State in the rankings from #1 to #2 where they would remain the rest of the season. 

The opening drive saw Penn State punting after a three and out, but Indiana wide receiver Whop Philyor fumbled the punt and it would be recovered by Jan Johnson at the Indiana 27 yard line. Sean Clifford connected with his favorite target KJ Hamler for an 11 yard gain to the Hoosier 13 yard line before finding Nick Bowers two plays later for a 12 yard touchdown. Penn State 7-0.

Starting at his own 25 yard line, Peyton Ramsey showed exactly why Indiana is a dangerous team, engineering a 6 play 75 yard drive. Ramsey completed two passes to his favorite target of the day, Ty Fryfogle, for a 24 yard gain on third down and 38 yards for the tying touchdown. Ramsey had a career day throwing for 371 yards. The Nittany Lion secondary needs to figure some things out this week before the showdown with #2 Ohio State next week. Tied 7-7.

A pass interference penalty by Indiana on third down kept the next Nittany Lion drive alive. And on the next play, Clifford lofted one up for Hamler, resulting in a 41 yard completion to the Indiana 36 yard line. The Hoosier defense dug in though and held the Lions to a 47 yard Jake Pinegar field goal. Penn State 10-7.

Indiana took over at their own 37 yard line following a 28 yard return. Ramsey again shredded the Nittany Lion secondary on third down finding Whop Philyor for 42 yards to the Penn State 18 yard line. Stevie Scott III took the handoff on the next play and broke free for 14 yards, setting up first and goal at the 4 yard line. Ramsey took it in himself on third down for the score and Indiana’s only lead of the game. Indiana 14-10.

Hamler’s return set up Penn State at the 28 yard line. Clifford completed a 9 yard pass to Jahan Dotson on third down to keep the drive moving. The next play saw two fumbles on it as the handoff between Clifford and Journey Brown would hit the turf but bounced directly back up into Clifford’s hands. As the Indiana defense bore down on him, he was able to hit Pat Freiermuth on the outlet pass. Freiermuth was then able to break a couple tackles enroute to a 17 yard gain, fumbling it himself on the way to the ground before recovering it. As the pocket began to collapse around Clifford on the next play, he would escape and find a seam in the defense taking off for a 38 yard touchdown run and giving the Nittany Lions the lead for good. Penn State 17-14. 

As exciting as the first quarter was, the second quarter was filled with punts and turnovers. Following the Penn State touchdown, Indiana went three and out on their next possession. Beginning at their 24 yard line, Penn State moved the ball down field including moving the chains on two third downs as Clifford found Mac Hippenhammer for a 15 yard completion and taking it himself for 12 yards on another. Devyn Ford would spit the ball up on the next play, giving possession back to Indiana. Two plays later saw Whop Philyor take a vicious double hit and fumble the ball back to Penn State. Philyor would not return for the rest of the game.

Clifford would be sacked twice on the next series, including one resulting in an intentional grounding penalty to push Penn State out of field goal range. Indiana would not move the ball though and punted back to Penn State, setting up their last points of the half. Penn State moved to the Indiana 8 yard line before the Hoosier defense stiffened up, holding Penn State to another Jake Pinegar field goal before the half. Penn State 20-14.

Indiana started the half with the ball, but on a fourth and one lined up to punt looking like it was going to be a fake. It appeared that Peyton Hendershot was waving off the direct snap to himself but the center ended up snapping it to him anyway, resulting in a 4 yard loss and turnover on downs. Journey Brown needed only two plays to go 40 yards for the score on a 35 yard scamper into the end zone. Penn State 27-14.

The Hoosiers weren’t done though mounting an impressive 14 play 68 yard drive on their next possession. Ramsey mixed the pass with the run, moving Indiana down field setting up first and goal from the Nittany Lion 10 yard line. Two straight runs and an incomplete pass brought out Logan Justus for a 25 yard field goal. Penn State 27-17.

Penn State was forced to punt on their next possession pinning Indiana at their own 9 yard line. The Hoosiers would not quit though as Ramsey again drove Indiana down the field, moving 91 yards in 11 plays. Connecting on 5 passes for 73 yards, Ramsey found himself with first and goal at the 1 yard line. Calling his own number, he punched it in from 1 yard line to draw Indiana back with a field goal. Penn State 27-24.

Penn State’s next possession showed what might be the most impressive drive of the season going 75 yards on 18 plays and chewing 9:01 off the clock. Both of Penn State quarterbacks converted on fourth downs, with Will Levis gaining 3 yards to keep the drive alive at the Indiana 24 and Clifford taking it in the final yard for the score. Penn State 34-24.

Logan Justus pulled the Hoosiers to within a touchdown with his 27 yard field goal but Penn State recovered the onside kick and needed to take one knee to run out the clock. Final Score Penn State 34-27.

Next week sees Penn State matching up against #2 Ohio State for what will decide the winner of the Big Ten East Division along with some good natured betting between myself and an Ohio State friend. Will I wear the Scarlet and Gray for a picture or will the Blue and White adorn him? Find out next week. 

Until then, we are…

Keeping it on the edge,

Jeff and Shelbee

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