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10-08-2017, 03:59 AM
Penn Stateâs sensational junior running back was unable to shake the Northwestern defense for the better part of three quarters on Saturday. On his first 12 carries, he had gained 4 yards. The Wildcats dropped him for a loss five times.
But the 13th carry gave the Ryan Field crowd of 41,061 their moneyâs worth. The Heisman Trophy front-runner raced 53 yards for a touchdown that helped secure the fourth-ranked Nittany Lionsâ 31-7 Big Ten victory over the Wildcats.
On a day when the rushing attack of the Lions (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) went nowhere (95 yards in 38 attempts), Barkley scored twice and ended up with 75 yards on 16 carries. Trace McSorley found the going easier in the air, completing a program-record 15 consecutive passes from the first to the third quarters. He finished 25 of 34 for 245 yards with a 10-yard touchdown pass to backup quarterback Tommy Stevens, and scored once on the ground, but he was sacked five times.
Barkley said there was no frustration on his part.
âI donât ever let myself get frustrated, especially when youâre winning the game,â he said. âIâm very aware that itâs a long game, a four-quarter game. You just have to take what the defense gives you. Thatâs 3 yards, 2, 3, 2, 4 ⦠When you get the opportunity to hit the big one, you have to be ready.â
That âbig oneâ came late in the third quarter. Facing second-and-10 from the Penn State 47, Barkley took a handoff up the middle, went through a hole opened by center Connor McGovern and tackle Will Fries, and scampered down the right side for his second touchdown of the day.
Penn State head coach James Franklin loves Barkleyâs demeanor.
âSaquon doesnât get frustrated,â he said. âYou never see bad body language. You never see him coming to the sideline. You never see him fussing at the O-line. I see it all the time. Thereâs a tackle for loss and the runner spikes the ball on the field and is yelling at the line or heâs yelling toward the sidelines. We donât do that, but it starts with him.
âHe knows if he stays patient and sticks with what we do, his plays are going to come and if they donât, somebody else will make plays that allow us to win. Heâs an unselfish guy that gets the big picture.â
The Penn State defense kept the Wildcats (2-3, 0-2) off the board until a touchdown with 1:46 to play. The Lions forced three turnovers, including the recovery by Ryan Buchholz (Great Valley) of a fumble that was caused on a sack by Shaka Toney (Imhotep Charter).
When Northwestern was threatening to take an early lead, a penalty and a sack by defensive tackle Curtis Cothran (Council Rock North) was followed by an interception by Amani Oruwariye.
âWeâre a team,â said defensive end Shareef Miller (George Washington), who came up with one of Penn Stateâs four sacks. âSo if our offense isnât doing what theyâre supposed to do, itâs our job to back them up, and thatâs what we did today.â
The defense allowed 265 total yards but only 19 on seven possessions in the second half before Northwesternâs late 80-yard scoring drive. The Wildcats hurt themselves with the turnovers and eight penalties, two of which resulted in the ejections of their best defensive players â linebacker Paddy Fisher and safety Godwin Igwebuike â for targeting.
The Nittany Lions go into their bye week undefeated and possibly moving up in the polls after No. 3 Oklahomaâs loss. Franklin wouldnât take any questions about his teamâs next opponent â Michigan in two weeks at Beaver Stadium â and said heâs looking for improvement.
âI think weâre in an ideal situation,â he said. âWeâre 6-0 going into the bye week. We have an opportunity to continue to get better each week. But we have to identify our problems, be honest about our problems and the areas we need to get better and attack them.â
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/coll...?mobi=true
But the 13th carry gave the Ryan Field crowd of 41,061 their moneyâs worth. The Heisman Trophy front-runner raced 53 yards for a touchdown that helped secure the fourth-ranked Nittany Lionsâ 31-7 Big Ten victory over the Wildcats.
On a day when the rushing attack of the Lions (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) went nowhere (95 yards in 38 attempts), Barkley scored twice and ended up with 75 yards on 16 carries. Trace McSorley found the going easier in the air, completing a program-record 15 consecutive passes from the first to the third quarters. He finished 25 of 34 for 245 yards with a 10-yard touchdown pass to backup quarterback Tommy Stevens, and scored once on the ground, but he was sacked five times.
Barkley said there was no frustration on his part.
âI donât ever let myself get frustrated, especially when youâre winning the game,â he said. âIâm very aware that itâs a long game, a four-quarter game. You just have to take what the defense gives you. Thatâs 3 yards, 2, 3, 2, 4 ⦠When you get the opportunity to hit the big one, you have to be ready.â
That âbig oneâ came late in the third quarter. Facing second-and-10 from the Penn State 47, Barkley took a handoff up the middle, went through a hole opened by center Connor McGovern and tackle Will Fries, and scampered down the right side for his second touchdown of the day.
Penn State head coach James Franklin loves Barkleyâs demeanor.
âSaquon doesnât get frustrated,â he said. âYou never see bad body language. You never see him coming to the sideline. You never see him fussing at the O-line. I see it all the time. Thereâs a tackle for loss and the runner spikes the ball on the field and is yelling at the line or heâs yelling toward the sidelines. We donât do that, but it starts with him.
âHe knows if he stays patient and sticks with what we do, his plays are going to come and if they donât, somebody else will make plays that allow us to win. Heâs an unselfish guy that gets the big picture.â
The Penn State defense kept the Wildcats (2-3, 0-2) off the board until a touchdown with 1:46 to play. The Lions forced three turnovers, including the recovery by Ryan Buchholz (Great Valley) of a fumble that was caused on a sack by Shaka Toney (Imhotep Charter).
When Northwestern was threatening to take an early lead, a penalty and a sack by defensive tackle Curtis Cothran (Council Rock North) was followed by an interception by Amani Oruwariye.
âWeâre a team,â said defensive end Shareef Miller (George Washington), who came up with one of Penn Stateâs four sacks. âSo if our offense isnât doing what theyâre supposed to do, itâs our job to back them up, and thatâs what we did today.â
The defense allowed 265 total yards but only 19 on seven possessions in the second half before Northwesternâs late 80-yard scoring drive. The Wildcats hurt themselves with the turnovers and eight penalties, two of which resulted in the ejections of their best defensive players â linebacker Paddy Fisher and safety Godwin Igwebuike â for targeting.
The Nittany Lions go into their bye week undefeated and possibly moving up in the polls after No. 3 Oklahomaâs loss. Franklin wouldnât take any questions about his teamâs next opponent â Michigan in two weeks at Beaver Stadium â and said heâs looking for improvement.
âI think weâre in an ideal situation,â he said. âWeâre 6-0 going into the bye week. We have an opportunity to continue to get better each week. But we have to identify our problems, be honest about our problems and the areas we need to get better and attack them.â
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/coll...?mobi=true
10-08-2017, 03:14 PM
Good win for the Lions.
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