Reviewing PSU’s Fiesta Bowl win
GLENDALE, Ariz. 鈥� Penn State concluded its 2017 season with the program蘑菇视频 seventh Fiesta Bowl victory, a 35-28 win over Washington Saturday.
Here are some of my first-person thoughts on the game as well as a few opinions from others who are local or have local ties.
McSorley has ice water in his veins
Penn State has gone 22-5 over the last two seasons with four of the five losses by a combined 10 points, and often times, Saquon Barkley has received most of the praise.
However, it is time that quarterback Trace McSorley gets recognized for what he has done these two seasons.
Saturday, McSorley completed 32-of-41 pass attempts for 342 yards, while completing his first 12 passes on third down to help jump-start the Nittany Lions to a 28-7 lead in the second quarter.
The Nittany Lions converted 13-of-17 third downs in the game and McSorley threw both of his touchdowns on third downs.
McSorley will enter his senior season as the face of the program and one of the top quarterbacks in the country.
Offensive line finally dominated
When the NCAA tried to decimate the Penn State football program with sanctions in 2012 by reducing the number of scholarships, the position hit hardest due to the lack of numbers was the offensive line.
The program has been trying to rebuild up front offensively, but has struggled. However, the offensive line dominated Washington and helped the Nittany Lions rack up a Fiesta Bowl record 545 yards offensively.
Just how impressive was the offensive line?
Washington entered the game ranked fifth nationally in yards allowed per game and led the nation in rushing yards allowed. Penn State finished with 203 rushing yards along with 25 first downs and had the Nittany Lions not turned the ball over three times, they may have easily eclipsed 600 yards of offense.
Not bad for the debut of new offensive coordinator Ricky Rahne, who replaced Joe Moorhead after he left to take over the Mississippi State program.
PSU fans outnumbered Washington
The announced crowd for the Fiesta Bowl was 61,842 and there is no doubt that there were more Penn State fans than Washington fans.
The unique aspect about bowl games is that there are always neutral fans who go to the games to see a good game and have no loyalty to either team.
Jim Grosik, a native of Johnstown and a graduate of California University of Pennsylvania who now resides with Phoenix with his wife Suzie and their daughters Brylinn and Nyah, attended the game.
鈥淚t was a surreal experience and the crowd was deafening at times,鈥� said the diehard Michigan fan. 鈥淚t is a great stadium, a great game and something that I would do again.鈥�
Rob and Veronica Kuchar, of Belle Vernon, attended the game and their seats happened to be right behind mine.
鈥淚 am glad I had my stress test before the game,鈥� Rob said of Penn State being up 28-7 but having to hold on for the win. 鈥淚t was an exciting game, but a little too exciting, although it is nice to go out with a win.鈥�
Veronica蘑菇视频 sentiments mirrored her husbands.
鈥淚t was an exciting game and I have no voice left,鈥� she said while smiling. 鈥淚t was a great trip and a great win.鈥�
PSU will miss Barkley, seniors
Barkley set a Fiesta Bowl record with a 92-yard touchdown run and on Sunday, Barkley declared for the NFL Draft as expected. The team will also have to replace all-time receptions leader DaeSean Hamilton, tight end Mike Gesicki, safety Marcus Allen and a total of eight defensive starters.
The group will be missed, but the fruits of their labor has set a solid foundation for the future.
Moorhead pulling for Penn State
Speaking of Moorhead, he and I texted while he watched Mississippi State defeat Louisville at the TaxSlayer Bowl with his family from a suite in Jacksonville.
Ironically, Moorhead was at the same EverBank Field two years prior as he had just been hired by Penn State as its offensive coordinator.
In a post-game text to Joe, I congratulated him on the team蘑菇视频 win and asked if he would watch the Fiesta Bowl.
There is no doubt that he will continue to pull for his former players and in one text, he combined the slogan of Penn State fans and Mississippi State when he said, 鈥淲e Are 鈥� Hail State!鈥�
Without a doubt he shared congratulatory texts with Penn State players after the Fiesta Bowl win.
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