It was a rainy day in Happy Valley. We braved the storm to head down to the Sports Cafe. LaVar Arrington showed up. Penn State won. The sun came out after the game. Hot sausage sandwiches all around. It was a solid day.
Apparently Dick Vermeil was in the house.We suspect his constant crying may have caused the rain.
Onto the recap...
1st Quarter
Walking downtown a lot of our talk was about how much Royster was going to get the ball during this game because of the bad weather. On the first PSU drive, Clark came out passing, then ran for nine before Royster got his first touch and was stuffed on third and 1. Bad news.Indiana got the ball to start the game. We were looking forward to some domination after last week.
Indiana was able to move the ball just past midfield before the Lion's defense was able to put the brakes on them. We thought that might be bad because on a day like Saturday, with the sloppy weather, you knew field position would be huge.
Indiana was able to move the ball just past midfield before the Lion's defense was able to put the brakes on them. We thought that might be bad because on a day like Saturday, with the sloppy weather, you knew field position would be huge.
Indiana was quick to match the PSU 3-and-out with one of their own, and the ball was back in Clark's hands.
By now it was really raining so we thought that a heavy dose of Royster is what we should expect, but we couldn't have been more wrong. Clark threw on 8 of 10 plays as PSU marched out from their own 11 before being forced to punt inside Indiana territory.
Special teams are important on days like today when the weather plays such a big part in the game, and they were able to get the punt downed at the Indiana 2 yard line.
Indiana rushed for two then threw an incompletion.
On third down they attemped another pass but Mark Rubin stepped up and snatched it out of the air.
There were 15 people in the Sports Cafe and they all went nuts.
After the pick you knew the TD was coming. Instead, Clark ran the ball five yards before having it stripped. Indiana recovered the fumble and we were crushed. We know we're probably looking too far into things but we wonder how Clark's head is right now.
We don't think he's feeling that concussion, because he wouldn't be playing if he were, but what's his confidence level at this point in the game? After a down game against Iowa and then coming out and turning it over right away, you have to wonder. Of course, if you're reading this then you know how the game turns out and what Clark does, but right now, as the first quarter is ending, what kind of confidence does the kid have in his game?
2nd Quarter
Anyway, Indiana was pinned deep again and forced to punt after a few plays. Williams fielded the punt at around midfield and PSU was really starting to win the field position game. All they needed was one big play.
On third down, that big play came. Clark and Williams hooked up on a 39 yard pass.
On third down, that big play came. Clark and Williams hooked up on a 39 yard pass.
7-0
After seeing what PSU did to bad teams earlier in the season, we were feeling pretty confident after the score.
Indiana had other plays, however. On their second play after the kickoff, Marcus Thigpen took the ball and ran 57 yards for the touchdown.
You might have gone to the bathroom with PSU up 7-0 and came back to see the score 7-7.
Indiana had other plays, however. On their second play after the kickoff, Marcus Thigpen took the ball and ran 57 yards for the touchdown.
7-7
You might have gone to the bathroom with PSU up 7-0 and came back to see the score 7-7.
If you ate at the Cafe like we did, you might have gone to the bathroom with the score 7-0 and came back to see the score 34-7.
After the score, PSU marched down the field to the Indiana 23. The drive was going well as Clark dished out a few medium range passes, but an 11 yard loss on a sack set up a 2nd and 21. Royster got 16 of them back on the next down but they couldn't get the last 5.
Kevin Kelly trotted out to the field but he channelled January 06 and couldn't bang it through.
Despite the miss, you have to be pleased with Kevin Kelly's career. He's knocking down records and he's been about as consistent as you could ask a kicker to be at the collegiate level.
After the score, PSU marched down the field to the Indiana 23. The drive was going well as Clark dished out a few medium range passes, but an 11 yard loss on a sack set up a 2nd and 21. Royster got 16 of them back on the next down but they couldn't get the last 5.
Kevin Kelly trotted out to the field but he channelled January 06 and couldn't bang it through.
Despite the miss, you have to be pleased with Kevin Kelly's career. He's knocking down records and he's been about as consistent as you could ask a kicker to be at the collegiate level.
After that, neither team could really put anything together. Both teams had drives of seven or eight plays but couldn't get deep enough into the opposition's territory to put points up.
After one of the drives ended, Indiana found themselves pinned at their own one.
The special teams guys were playing huge.
With little time left and the whole field to go, Indiana probably wanted to just play it safe and get the punt away. The Lion's forced a fourth down and Indiana was forced to punt.
After one of the drives ended, Indiana found themselves pinned at their own one.
The special teams guys were playing huge.
With little time left and the whole field to go, Indiana probably wanted to just play it safe and get the punt away. The Lion's forced a fourth down and Indiana was forced to punt.
Nate Stupar found his way into the backfield and got a hand on the ball, blocking the punt. The ball got past the line and ended up being downed at the Indiana 20, but it was still a huge play as it put the Lion's in position to score before the half ended.
So far the special teams had accounted for a blocked punt and on several occasions, had pinned the Hoosiers deep inside their own territory.
On a day like saturday when the weather is crap, you need that.
So far the special teams had accounted for a blocked punt and on several occasions, had pinned the Hoosiers deep inside their own territory.
On a day like saturday when the weather is crap, you need that.
Unfortunately, they couldn't move the ball quickly enough and were forced to bring Kelly back out onto the field.
10-7This time he got it down, and the Lions went into the half up by a field goal.
-Halftime-
LaVar enters Sports Cafe by jumping over 5 full grown men.
No really he was there. He looks like Predator.
3rd Quarter
As close as the first half was, we never really felt like this game was in doubt. And the Lions reinforced that notion by coming out and putting together a nice drive to start the second half.
After a 4-yard run by Royster and a completion from Clark to Williams, Williams added 12 yards on a carry. After a short run and an incompletion, Clark hit Mickey Shuler for 18 and a big third down conversion.
Go Mickey!
One play later, Royster broke 100 tackles on his way to the house.
Blue Royster Cult.
17-7
After a 4-yard run by Royster and a completion from Clark to Williams, Williams added 12 yards on a carry. After a short run and an incompletion, Clark hit Mickey Shuler for 18 and a big third down conversion.
Go Mickey!One play later, Royster broke 100 tackles on his way to the house.
Blue Royster Cult.17-7
Indiana came out on their first drive determined to go three and out. And they did. The Lions took over at their own 41. The drive looked promising after a 16-yard strike to Butler and a 17-yarder to Norwood, but it stalled at the Indiana 19. This time, Kevin Kelly was money.
20-7
The Hoosiers thought that three plays weren't enough last time out, so this time they gave six a try. Josh Hull sacked Lewis on a third and five to force the punt.
However, Clark thought Indiana deserved another chance, so he tossed one up into double coverage on the first play of the ensuing drive and it was picked off by Brandon Mosley.
Not to worry, however, because a 2-yard rush by Ray Fisher was sandwiched in between two incompletions by Lewis and PSU had the ball back again. It was obvious that the defense was locked in for the second half.
After a 3-yard carry by Green and an incompletion, Clark converted a third and 7 by scrambling for 17 yards and the first. It was first and goal from the Indiana 9, and after a short run and an incompletion, Clark hit Butler on the slant for 6.
However, Clark thought Indiana deserved another chance, so he tossed one up into double coverage on the first play of the ensuing drive and it was picked off by Brandon Mosley.
Not to worry, however, because a 2-yard rush by Ray Fisher was sandwiched in between two incompletions by Lewis and PSU had the ball back again. It was obvious that the defense was locked in for the second half.
After a 3-yard carry by Green and an incompletion, Clark converted a third and 7 by scrambling for 17 yards and the first. It was first and goal from the Indiana 9, and after a short run and an incompletion, Clark hit Butler on the slant for 6.
27-7
Another three and out by Indiana, and that was the end of the 3rd. Excellent quarter on both sides of the ball.
4th Quarter
Penn State came out in the 4th looking to extend the lead. But on a third and 10, Clark fumbled for the second time, and the ball was recovered by Indiana. However, satisfied with the trend they started in the 3rd, the Hoosiers went three and out... again.
On the next PSU drive, it was the Stephfon Green show, which is cool, because he can fly.
Green carried the ball 5 times (but only for 9 yards) and had a 13-yard reception. But on a third a seven on the Indiana 36, D-Will tells Green, "It's my turn, freshman." Hand-off to Williams, and he. is. gone.
Dude on the left is pumped.
34-7
On the next PSU drive, it was the Stephfon Green show, which is cool, because he can fly.
Green carried the ball 5 times (but only for 9 yards) and had a 13-yard reception. But on a third a seven on the Indiana 36, D-Will tells Green, "It's my turn, freshman." Hand-off to Williams, and he. is. gone.
Dude on the left is pumped.34-7
And that, ladies and gentlemen, was the game. Each team had two more drives, and no one did anything. If you're counting, Indiana had exactly one (1) first down in the second half.
Game.
34-7
34-7
3 Big Stat Lines
- Derrick Williams: 4 carries, 61 yards, 1 TD (rushing); 4 rec, 62 yards, 1 TD (receiving). Now that's consistent.
- Daryll Clark: 20-36, 240 yards, 2 TD (passing); 8 carries, 43 yards (rushing)
- LaVar Arrington: 1 appearance at the Sports Cafe.
Our Quick Thoughts On The Game:
- Maybe one of the more boring games we've ever witnessed involving a 10-1 team.
- Did the walk to the bar from the RV lot suck? Yes.
- Were we glad we weren't in the stadium? Double yes.
- Not a huge day for Royster, but a solid touchdown run.
- Fumbles on the opposing team's 2 won't fly against good teams.
- Nice catch by Williams on the touchdown pass with the defender flying by; the ball wasn't thrown all that well.
- We're extremely glad this game is over.
- Overall Clark played pretty decent, but he did make some mistakes. Still needs to tighten the screws against the Spartans.
It's official: Derrick Williams is really good. We've knocked him in the past for not living up to the hype, but how much of that wasn't his fault? How many times in the last two years had he seen the ball as much as he has in the last two games? He's finally been given the reigns, so to speak, and he's stepping up big-time. It's great to watch. Another rushing/receiving touchdown day for him.
Indiana Player of the Game: Marcus Thigpen
His 57-yard touchdown scamper was the highlight of the day on offense for the Hoosiers.
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