Narrator: First of all I want to make one point very clear. Auburn fans are still talking smack to PSU despite our win in Week 3. Their fans were even copying the WE ARE chant but instead of using Penn State they said it for their 3 best offensive players. War Eagle I have one thing to say to you, Students: WE ARE! PENN STATE! WE ARE!! PENN STATE!! WE ARE!!! PENN STATE!!! THANK YOU! YOU'RE WELCOME!!!
Narrator: Today on the Pride of Penn State Football. A victory over an SEC Powerhouse has the university thinking big in the process. James Franklin has officially tuned out all of the chirping about his future with the Football program. He states that my job is to make this team a better team. We still have plenty of tough games on our schedule and nothing will be taken for granted. Sean Clifford was on the same page. He told his teammates that we played well against the Tigers last week but we need to finish drives especially on the ground. He was looking right at Noah Cain when he said that. Cain in response claimed that even if my rushing yards are down compared to Weeks 1 and 2, I am doing everything I can to help this team win.
The biggest news of the week coming out of University Park was that for the 1st time in almost 4 years they are now ranked ahead of the Ohio State Buckeyes. The insufferability coming out of Happy Valley is up there with Alabama and Georgia. (I should say the entire SEC) ESPN's Trevor Matich had Penn State #1 in the country after what he saw out of them in the 1st 3 weeks. 2 wins against ranked teams and another over the defending MAC Conference champion is exactly why. This week the Nittany Lions are looking for Pennsylvania bragging rights, the reason that I'm saying this is because they are playing their Philadelphia neighbors known as Villanova. They may be weaker than Auburn but they through the 1st 3 weeks are perhaps the best team in the FCS. However they have played only D1AA schools and Penn State is far from one of those teams. The game itself started crazy, the Wildcats looked like they would go on a strong drive and take the early lead BEEP! They didn't! "Personal Foul, roughing the facemask, Offense." I mean that's a huge mistake and one that clearly flips the momentum. The Next Play: And going up top looking for the home run and he floats it right in the hands of Jahan Dotson. How's that for starting a game for Penn State!?" Just like last week, Coach Franklin went for the early gamble and it paid off for 6 points. (Dotson has now scored in 4 straight games to open the season, 1st PSU player since Saquan in 2017 to do that) Following a quick defensive stand, the Lions marched into field goal range, but Jordan Stout couldn't hit a 53 yarder to extend the lead to 10. (It was a good kick, too bad it didn't make it) Nova took advantage of the excellent field position and marched into field goal range only for the PSU defense to stop them again. BEEP! But the interception by Ja'Ayir Brown was called back thanks to a roughing the passer call. It's all good because Villanova had to settle for a field goal instead of tying the game. This was when Sean Clifford went into take over mode as he and Parker Washington teamed up to rip the Wildcats secondary into pieces on a 52 yard touchdown pass. Man, Clifford looks good over the last few weeks, I smell a dark horse Heisman candidate. (He has plenty of talent out wide, that too) On their next possession Clifford hit Parker Washington for another huge gain, it was originally a TD but Washington stepped out at the 9. (They shot off the in-game bottle rockets for no reason) The only issue is that this big play only led to a field goal and a 17-3 lead at halftime.
When the 2nd Half began, the offense went right to work just like they did to open the 1st Half. "A quick pass no, Clifford faked it, and now he is going to change direction. And now he will throw it, and it's caught by KeAndre Lambert Smith. And Smith runs down the sideline, and he cuts into the open field. He is going to go all the way across the field, and all the way down the field for a touchdown for Penn State!" What a play that was! Clifford buys time, looking for an open man, fires a ball to the sideline, and KLS does the rest. Villanova responded to that huge play with one of their own even if it wasn't for a touchdown. The Cats looked to get back in the game but Ja'Ayir Brown was able to snag an interception that DID count. This looked to be the dagger, but Sean Clifford led his mates the same result except this was a bad bounce on a 3rd Down. (His only bad throw of the day) The moans from the 105,000 in attendance was short lived since DE Arnold Ebiketie was all over Daniel Smith on the next Villanova drive. (Another solid player on a defense loaded with talent) All that was left to do in this game was for Penn State to have a long sustained touchdown drive. And they got that. At the end of the 3rd Quarter they went on an 8 play 75 yard drive resulting in Parker Washington's 2nd TD catch of the game. From that point on it was cruise control, and all of the students were enjoying another beautiful Saturday Afternoon at Beaver Stadium the way they should. With another statement victory.
This game said more about the PSU offense than the Auburn game did. I know they struggled running the ball in this game but if the passing game can keep this up there aren't many that can stop them. Sean Clifford became the 1st Nittany Lions QB to have 400 yards passing and 4 TDs since Christian Hackenberg in 2015. The guy is only getting better by the week. With the win, plus near losses by Oklahoma and Iowa, Penn State controls their own destiny in the College Football Playoff Rankings. They are now the #4 ranked team in the country thanks to a 4-0 and the return of the identity they lacked last year during COVID. Next week they get to play a familiar face in the Indiana Hoosiers next Saturday Night in the Stripe Out game. (I'm kinda shocked this isn't a 3:30 game. It's probably because Indiana nearly beat #7 Cincinnati) If the Nittany Lions win this upcoming game they would sweep the 4 game homestand. All this and more coming up on the Pride of PSU Football. P! S!! U!!! LETS! GO!! PSU!!!
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