Game 5 Recap: Penn State 38, Illinois 24

The stage was set. 8 pm. Full stadium white-out. The first conference game. The first real test.

There was a solid amount of hype surrounding this game during the week, but the contest lived up to all of it. It was great to watch. And on a day where it seemed like every ranked team lost, the team stepped up in big moments to hold off a very game Illinois squad. Onto the recap...

1st Quarter

The Lions received the opening kick-off and after standing around for a couple seconds, AJ Wallace was tackled at the PSU 11. What a return.

As the offense trotted onto the field, everyone was reminded that PSU has something called the Spread HD offense. Tonight would probably be the first night we'd see it really opened up since every game up to this point was a blow out. So on the big stage against a conference foe, the anticipation was pretty high as we waited to see what they would do.

Five plays. Twelve yards. Punt. D'oh.

The punt was short so the Illini started at their own 40 and quickly took advantage. A fourteen yard pass to Michal Hoomanawanu got the drive moving. Then Daniel Dufrene took the ball 30 yards down to the Lions 15 yard line. After that, it was a 13 yard strike to Arrelious Benn that got the ball to the 2 yard line. Two plays later and Jason Ford punched it in.

0-7

And for the first time this season, PSU trailed.

Now, if you questioned the offense after the first drive, you would get your answers from the second.

After a short run by Royster and a four yard gain by Williams on a swing pass, Clark completed an 8 yard pass to Graham Zug to get the chains moving. First down, and Graham Zug gets the coolest name award.

Cue the music, ooooh, oh oh oh ooooooo-oooo

We don't even like the White Stripes, but listen to it as you read on.

After that, it was an option to Royster who took it for 12 yard.

White Stripes.

Clark held on to the ball this time and took it for 15.

ooooh, oh-oh-oh ooooooh oooooh

After running an option hand-off and then the option keeper, Clark faked the hand-off, acted like it was another keeper, then found a wide-open Deon Butler. 19 more yards.

GOTO: White Stripes.

The next play, Royster broke one off for 11 yards. He was tripped up and barely taken down, or he would have just taken it in himself.

MORE WHITE STRIPES

Feeling the heat, the Illini jumped offsides while standing at their own 1 yard line. Half the distance closer, Clark took it on on the QB sneak.

And for the first time tonight, the band plays something other than the White Stripes.

7-7

The ensuing kick-off would be out of bounds. Thanks Kevin Wagner..

Starting at their own forty, the Illini got things moving right away. Dufrene took one up the middle for 7 yards and you thought "oh no, not again," but then Jared Odrick stuffed Juice on a QB keeper.

Unfortunately, Juice could not be contained as he ran for 10 yards on the play after that, and then passed for another 8 on the play after that.

There were two short gains after that, one of them the result of a nice play by Navorro Bowman when he came from the outside and chased down Juice in the backfield.

After gaining a first down on the second of those short runs, Zook told the boys to go for blood. Juice laid one up for Arrelious Benn and he made a ridiculous play to catch the ball about 5 feet out of bounds. You hate to see it against you, but you have to admit it was a hell of a play.

7-14

Two drives for the Illini and they have 2 touchdowns. Not the kind of thing you want to see, but keep in mind that they started with excellent field position both times. We don't want to make excuses for the defense but it's always tougher on you when the other team has the field cut in half. It also hurts when Arrelious keeps making ridiculous plays.

After the kick-off, Clark opened things up with another QB keeper. You knew the play was screwed up as soon as they ran it, but it got even worse when you saw the ball pop out. You never want to see that when the ball is inside your own red zone.

Kirk Herbstreit was all over it though and called for the review. The refs go upstairs, call over-turned. It hurt to watch that play over a couple times because you hate to see Clark get jacked up like that.

The next play, a pass to Andrew Quarless, was a thing of beauty. He catches the ball in traffic, then breaks two tackles and gains an extra 7 or 8 yards, for a total of 14.

Clark found Williams in space on the next play, and he turned it into a 19 yard play. Cue the White Stripes.

Knowing they have a good thing going, Galen Hall calls for the end-around to Williams. 6 more yards.

Evan Royster got a small gain on a run then Clark ran one and got horse-collared. +15 yards.

The next play would be what everyone was hoping for when we started hearing all about this Spread HD business. Clark, Williams and Royster set up in the shotgun. Clark fakes the hand-off to Williams who takes off on a wheel-route. Clark takes off like it's another one of those keepers that had been killing the Illini. Everyone commits.

Over the top to Williams, that's 6.

14-14

Kevin Kelly kicked off, the Illini ran one play and the FIRST QUARTER ended.
That's nuts.

A ton of action for one quarter and you knew you were in for a wild one.

When was the last time you had this much fun watching a Penn State offense? Every play it seemed like a dozen different things could happen. Clark had options on every play and at different times, each option worked. A couple keepers turned out well, Williams and Royster broke off some big runs on option plays and Butler was the recipient of a long pass made possible because of an option play. They even got the tight ends involved. There's always going to be skeptics, but you have to think a lot of them will shut up after that quarter.

2nd Quarter

The Illini started their third drive of the game at their own 20 after a touchback.

Juice and company got a quick first down on back to back running plays, but then shot themselves in the foot with huge holding penalties. Before you knew it, it was third and 24.

Juice threw an incompletion, and the drive was over. Punt.

The Lions started at their own drive and Clark quickly converted a 24 yard pass play to Deon Butler. A short run by Green, followed by a 9 yard pass to Williams, got the Lions to the 22.

A Clark got four more yards, then a 16 yard pass to Royster got them to the Illini 5.

Inside the red zone, who you gonna put your money on?
Derrick Williams.

End-around, touchdown.

Odd celebration.

21-14

The Lions lead, and order is restored.

The Illini drive started off with a 1 yard run by Juice.

It ended with an interception by Scirrotto.

The receiver was thankful he didn't catch it.

The action of the first quarter could not be duplicated, as both teams finished the half with short drives that never got beyond 5 or 6 plays. If you were looking for something good, the Lions defense was finally shutting down the Illini. If you were looking to be more negative, you're probably wondering why the Lions couldn't move the ball anymore. They seemed to try and commit to the run a bit more in the second, but it just wasn't working out for them.

One play of note was that Maurice Evans, fresh off suspension, got a sack on a play that effectively ended any chance of Illinois scoring late in the half.

We think he's an idiot, but if he's going to be out there taking time away from someone who is capable of keeping himself straight and dedicating themself to to the team, then he better make a play.

-Halftime-

Halftime is sandwich time.

3rd Quarter

The first half was one helluva half of football, but Penn State was only up 7. It was Illinois’ ball to start the 2nd half, and the Lions would be in good shape if they could get a stop on defense.

It was the Juice show on offense, as Williams ran twice for 5 and 14 yards, and then completed a short pass on first down. Benn was stuffed on a run and Juice took off for a 7-yard rush on 3rd down. He came up two yards shy of the first down, and Illinois inexplicably calls a QB sneak on 4th and 2. Not surprisingly, they got stuffed and it was Penn State ball.

After a short run on first down, Royster got things rolling by breaking off a 37 yard run on the next play. On first and goal from the 8, Galen Hall evokes the Penn State playbook of old and calls 3 run plays that go nowhere and we settled for a field goal.

24-14

After the field goal, we had flashbacks to the Morelli era when we could never put up 6 from within the red zone.

We're trying to forget moments like these.

After hyperventilating for a couple minutes after those thoughts, we woke up and remembered we have a good offense.

Illinois came out on their next possession determined to ram the ball down the collective throat of the Lions D. And they succeeded. They ran the ball 11 straight times to set up a 3rd and 6 at the Penn State 16, as Lions fans everywhere banged their heads against a wall. But when the Illini needed a big pass play, they could not get one, as A.J. Wallace made a nice play to deflect a pass in the end zone.

We were pumped.

And then Matt Eller steps up and promptly pushes a 33-yard field goal attempt wide right.

We were euphoric.

One play later, Stephfon Green fumbles and Illinois recovers.

We were stunned.

Luckily Juice and the Illini couldn’t pick up a first down. Eller comes out for another field goal try, this time from 43. And this time it was good.

24-17

The field goal ended the 3rd quarter, and Illinois was still down only 7.

4th Quarter

Illinois had just gotten to within a touchdown. It was the start of the 4th Quarter. Everyone was feeling nervous. The kickoff is short and takes a little roll. Derrick Williams picks it up. Past the first wave. Gets some room. Kicker gets put on his ass.

He's gone.

Bedlam.

31-17

Whether you were in your house, at a bar, or at the stadium, you and those around you were going fucking nuts after that return. D-Will puts a huge exclamation point on his stellar night and the Lions were up by 2 scores. But almost just as quickly, things turned for the worse again.

Illinois got the ball back, and after a couple runs and a first down, Williams found a wiiiiide open Arrelious Benn for a 54-yard touchdown strike.

31-24

What was even worse is that it seemed like Benn just dragged a couple guys for the last 15 yards into the end zone. D-Will's return was erased just like that.

The Lions could've said, "Shit, they just keep coming," and let bad things get worse. But they responded exactly how they needed to. Clark orchestrated a brilliant drive, hitting Williams twice for completions, ripping off a huge 22-yard run, and finding Quarless in the end zone for a 17-yard touchdown.

38-24

As many big plays as there were Saturday evening, that drive as a whole was the biggest. You could feel the collective air going out of the Illinois sideline, and you knew the game was as good as over. And it was. Finally.

The teams traded three-and-outs, and Illinois made one last push. But after 8 plays and 34 yards, Juice's 4th and 8 pass attempt was no good and Penn State got the ball back for the final time. Royster salted it away.

Game.

38-24

3 Big Stat Lines

• Derrick Williams: 6 rec, 75 yds, 1 TD (receiving); 6 carries, 33 yds, 1 TD (rushing); 94-yard kickoff return for TD
  
• Daryl Clark: 14-20, 181 yds, 2 TD (passing); 11 carries, 62 yds, 1 TD (rushing)
  
• Evan Royster: 19 carries, 139 yds (rushing); 2 rec, 23 yds (receiving)
  

Our Quick Thoughts On The Game:

• The Beav was rockin' all night. Good job by the night-game fans as always.
• We counted throughout the game, and Illinois ran the option 723 times.
  
• The defense gave up a lot of yardage and some big plays, but they also got stops when they needed to.
• Outstanding pick by Scirrotto.
• Maurice Evans and Abe Koroma combined for 7 tackles and 5 bowls smoked during the game.
• Arrelious Benn is pretty freaking good.
• Williams' kickoff return was undoubtedly the moment of the season so far.
• A good win, but things really need to tighten up, especially on D.
• How Michigan ever scored 27 points is completely beyond us, but hey, thanks for knocking off Wisconsin.
  

Penn State Player(s) of the Game: Wide Receiver Derrick Williams
This was the game we've all been waiting for from Williams since he was a freshman phenom and we thought he'd change the makeup of the team. With Norwood out with a hamstring injury, Williams did exactly what a team leader needs to do: he stepped up and destroyed the other team. As if a receiving and rushing touchdown weren't good enough, he made every Penn State fan across the nation jump for joy (not to mention absolutely setting the Beav on fire) when he brought back a kickoff for 94 yards and a touchdown to start the 4th. Awesome moment. We'll see how he performs the rest of the year, but for now, that was an amazing performance.

Any time you're the first person to do anything in the Joe Paterno era (a rushing, receiving and returning TD), you've done something special.

Illinois Player of the Game: Quarterback Juice Williams
The Juice was as good as advertised early, as he led the offensive unit down the field for touchdowns on the first two Illini possessions. He was running the team well and making it look relatively easy. However, he couldn't make plays with his arm in the big moments of the game, and he threw a huge pick in the 2nd Quarter with his team down 7. Still, he had a great game, with 183 passing yards to go with 76 yards on the ground. He put the team on his shoulders as much as he could, but it wasn't enough. A solid effort nonetheless.