QUARTER FOUR
Penn State 30 and Oregon 45
5:52: On a fourth-and-two, Penn State had an opportunity to change the tide, but Gabriel moved the chains with a hit to tight end Terrance Ferguson, and Jordan James scored to increase the advantage.
Penn State 30, Oregon 38
At 14:04, Allen’s hard work paid off as he charged in from a yard out to end the game in a tie. Tyler Warren attempted a dubious double reverse on the two-point with Penn State. But in such case, the analysts usually like to go for it.
The third quarter
Penn State 24, Oregon 38
0:00-At the end of the quarter, Kaytron Allen has Penn State within striking distance. Penn State has averaged 8.4 yards per rush today, including a 36-yard run and a 26-yarder. There’s no excuse for not attempting to remain active for the remainder of the evening.
At 1:40, the defense of Penn State recovered by forcing Oregon to punt. The Lions need some offensive production, but the game is still close. Cam Miller and Abdul Carter made a nice play by tackling running back Noah Wittington in space on third down.
7:36—And if you were Penn State, you might have tried to score on fourth down for that reason. After a scramble that drew the defense in, Dillon Gabriel found Tez Johnson, and Oregon marched 70 yards in just five plays and less than two minutes. Johnson went 48 yards into the end zone with his current total of seven catches and 153 yards.
Penn State has given up a third-quarter score for the first time this season.
8:56: Just after a nice 11-play drive, Ryan Barker missed a 40-yard try wide. Instead of going for a fourth-and-about-five, Penn State chose to kick and miss. After the drive, Kaytron Allen was hobbling a little, so it was something to watch.
The second quarter
Penn State 24, Oregon 31
0:00 Despite the Ducks having the ball on the 19-yard line with 40 seconds remaining, Atticus Sappington of Oregon finished the half with a 33-yarder. Abdul Carter forced the field goal on third down with an outstanding open-field tackle, and Dan Lanning chose not to signal a timeout after rushing the ball.
Given some of the errors made in the first half, the Lions are perhaps fortunate to be within seven, but both the offense and defense have performed admirably without them. After halftime, PSU ball has a huge opportunity.
Notably, the 55 points scored by the team set a new record for the Big Ten Championship game, surpassing Wisconsin’s victory over Nebraska in 2012.
Penn State 24; Oregon 28
1:53: Following a good read on the triple option, Drew Allar thundered into the end zone for a 7-yard score. Following a quick review, the call was upheld. Despite a poor interception on their end and 63 yards of penalties, the Nittany Lions remain right in the thick of things.
Penn State 17, Oregon 28,
2:00: At the two-minute timeout, Penn State is driving and has possession of the ball. The defense forced another three-and-out from the Oregon attack, and Singleton has been a major spark out of the backfield. Penn State has 57 yards and nine plays thus far.
6:49: Penn State is still alive. With some assistance from an Oregon pass interference, Nick Singleton had another spectacular 17-yard run. Drew Allar found Omari Evans wide open for a 22-yard touchdown after making Duck safeties bit with play action.
Penn State 10; Oregon 28
At 10:05, Dontae Manning returned an ugly interception that Drew Allar had thrown deep within his own territory, 24 yards to the 1-yard line. To increase the lead, Jordan James knocked it in on the very next play. Things appear to be going poorly.
In between Oregon scoring drives, both teams had three-and-outs, but Allar’s interception stopped the defensive Lions’ momentum.
Penn State 10; Oregon 21
13:04—Dude, the Ducks keep going. To score again and increase the lead, they covered 60 yards in under three minutes and twenty seconds and seven plays. Tight end Terrance Ferguson boxed out defender Jaylen Reed in the end zone to score the touchdown after wide receiver Tez Johnson ducked a group of Penn Staters on a 31-yard play.
Our total offense is at 328 yards. Complete track meet.
The first quarter
Penn State 10; Oregon 14
1:24: Prior to Allar’s game-saving play, Penn State appeared to be in complete disarray. At least thirty yards downfield, Tyler Warren even dropped a wide-open throw in his chest. However, Allar kept the drive going by scurrying up in the pocket on third-and-15 and finding Harrison Wallace III at the first down marker. On the next play, he hit Warren for 28 yards before finding Singleton on a 22-yard seam from the backfield to score.
Penn State 3, Oregon 14,
3:21: This time, Oregon marched 75 yards on 10 plays, further destroying Penn State. Saqid used a skillfully executed play-action fake on the goal line to score his second touchdown of the game (and the season).
With an Oregon fourth-and-one just beyond midfield, Penn State had a shot, but they were unable to tackle Jordan James after he was stopped beyond the line of scrimmage. In order to move the sticks, he pushed forward, and Penn State committed its second facemask in as many drives.
Penn State 3, Oregon 7.
7:30: Nicholas Singleton went 41 yards on a well-blocked outside zone to set up a score, but Penn State wasn’t completely sustained on its opening drive. However, Penn State settled for three points after Drew Allar failed to locate Tyler Warren on third-and-four. The 33-yarder was blasted by Ryan Barker.
Penn State 0; Oregon 7
10.40: That was quick. In its opening offensive drive, Oregon went 84 yards on nine plays and dominated Penn State on the ground for the most of the drive. After PSU defensive tackle Coziah Izzard’s facemask put the Ducks within striking distance, Gabriel hit TE Kenyon Sadiq for a 28-yard touchdown. Sadiq’s hurdle on his way to the end zone made Lions corner Jalen Kimber look foolish.
15:00: After winning the coin toss, Penn State advanced to the second half. First up was the Oregon offense, led by Dillon Gabriel.
The city of IndianapolisThe Nittany Lions are participating in the Big Ten Championship game for the second time in James Franklin Penn State history.
This time, No. 3 Penn State will need to upset the nation’s final undefeated team, No. 1 Oregon. Since the winner will receive a first-round bye and the loser will likely host a first-round game, the game will also have important College Football Playoff ramifications.
With quarterback Dillon Gabriel, a Heisman Trophy candidate and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, leading the way, Dan Lanning’s Ducks have excelled on both sides of the ball this season. They have three outstanding wide receivers with at least 500 receiving yards this season: Evan Stewart, Traeshon Holden, and Tez Johnson. Jordan James, a running back, has 13 touchdowns and more than 1,100 yards.
Oregon may even be superior defensively, particularly up front. Jordan Burch (8.5 sacks) and Matayo Uiagalelei (10.5 sacks) are both dangerous defensive ends. All night long, Penn State will be busy.
It will be Franklin’s 100th game at Penn State if the Lions win.
UPDATES FOR PREGAME
The majority of Penn State’s availability report was positive. Harrison Wallace III, the star wide receiver who missed last week’s game, has been cleared to play. Rotational cornerback Elliot Washington II was also not on the list after missing two consecutive games. DaKaari Nelson, the reserve linebacker and special teams star, was dubious.
But before the game, Nelson was getting dressed and warming up.
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