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Even though Penn State was up 31-13 at one point in this game, don't be fooled; this was a pretty terrible performance. If not for Indiana's lack of defense, this game could've been disastrous. Luckily, the Lions put it together in the second half. Onto the recap...
1st Quarter
Indiana came out hot and moved the ball to the Penn State 10 before being stopped. The running game was working for most of the drive, but they had to settle for a field goal.
0-3
Penn State's first drive was a preview of things to come in the first half, as a Clark pass was tipped and picked off on the third play of the drive.
Indiana moved the ball down to the Penn State 26, and on second and four, Ben Chappell lobbed one into the back corner of the end zone, and Damarlo Belcher made a sweet catch for six.
We can't knock this one. That's a great catch.
0-10
Not a great start for Penn State, but they came out on their next drive and started to move the ball. After a 28-yard reception from Quarless, they had the ball on the Indiana 20. But on the next play, Clark misread the coverage and he was picked off again, this time by Nick Polk. Ugh.
The Hoosiers went three-and-out on the ensuing drive, but Drew Astorino fumbled on the punt return, the first of roughly 1,700 special teams fumbles of the day from the Lions, and Indiana was back in business.
2nd Quarter
Luckily, business was crappy for the Hoosiers and they had to punt again. Penn State did basically nothing on this drive and punted, only to have the favor returned a couple minutes later. This time Penn State finally got on the board with a Wagner field goal with around 3 minutes left.
3-10
Indiana went three-and-out and punted it away, but not surprisingly, Zug fumbled and Indiana recovered at the Penn State 29. They could only move the ball two yards on the drive however, and they had to settle for a 47-yard field goal attempt, which missed wide right.
Penn State got the ball with 56 seconds left, and they went to work with something resembling an actual sense of urgency. After two incompletions, Clark hit Brett Brackett for 18 yards. One play later, Curtis Drake had a sweet 26-yard run, and a facemask penalty tacked 13 more yards onto the play. A screen to Royster was the next play, and it was good for six, tying the game before the half.
10-10
-Halftime-
Brief cornhole round-robin tournament. We're so good our game like 5 turns.
3rd Quarter
The third quarter started off eerily similar to the first half. The kickoff return was forced loose and our hearts immediately dropped, but the Lions recovered and, for the moment, all was well. The Lions started their drive near midfield and nickel and dimed their way down the field until they were at the Indiana 20.
Things stalled out after an incomplete pass and then it was time to attempt the FG. Colin Wagner trotted out and.... missed. Hit a post.
When Indiana took over they tried one run then threw 6 straight passes, quickly getting downfield to the PSU 28.
On a second and 7, Ben Chappel put the ball in the air again and it was tipped around before ending up in the hands of 11 in Blue.
Bowman took off downfield and how no one caught him we're not sure, but 73 yards later he was in the end zone.
That's 6.
17-10
When the ball got back into Indiana's hands, things were more like what he had expected at the start of the game.
Three-and-out.
PSU's next drive would be a steady dose of midrange passes and consistent runs from Royter.
Somewhere along the way, Clark managed to strike this pose:
Is he campaigning for himself?
4th Quarter
Anyway, it took 14 plays to get the ball down to the Indiana 2 yard line, at which point Royster got another run and punched the ball in.
24-10
Indiana followed up the score by coming out throwing again. 9 of 11 plays were passes in a drive that Indiana move from their own 25 to the PSU 21. The drive died out on a third and 8, forcing the field goal attempt. Attempt good.
24-13
The Lions came out in full run-out-the-clock mode, or so we thought. It was run, run, run for the first couple plays, then Clark threw a couple passes in the 10-15 range and it seemed like no time had passed before the ball was at the Indiana 1 yard line. Clark would take this one in himself, finishing off the PSU scoring for the day and putting the game out of reach.
31-13
Caption This time:
Zug: Hey coach, you think I can get some of that invisible watermelon?
Indiana got the ball back and marched 80 yard in three minutes. Touchdown. That just happened.
31-20
The teams exchanged drives that went nowhere, and that was it.
Game.
31-20
Thank, guys.
3 Big Stat Lines:
- Navorro Bowman: 12 tackles, 2 TFL, 73-yard INT return for TD
- Evan Royster: 95 yards, 1 TD rushing; 4 rec, 39 yards, 1 TD receiving
- Ben Chappell: 32-51, 298 yards, 2 TD
Our Quick Thoughts On The Game:
All we can say is this: the women's volleyball team was far and away the more impressive of the two Penn State athletic teams we witnessed Saturday (for a number of reasons).
Penn State Player of the Game: Navorro Bowman
He turned the game around with his interception return, giving Penn State its first lead of the day, and they didn't look back from there. Huge play when the team needed it.
Indiana Player of the Game: Ben Chappell
Chappell did pretty well against a defense that's been solid all season. With basically no running game, he has to put the offense on his shoulders. 298 and 2 TDs agains the Penn State D is a solid day.
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