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This one looked like a game until the fourth quarter, when Penn State decided to blow Northwestern right out of the water. Why they waited until the fourth is anyone's guess, but we'll take a road win no matter what the margin of victory. Onto the recap...
1st Quarter
Northwestern took the opening kickoff to start the game. Mike Kafka started things off the right way, by completing a pass for 12 yards, then promptly fumbling on his own 23. Jack Crawford recovered, and the Lions were in business.
Penn State couldn't completely capitalize on the great field position however, as they made it to the NW 9 before taking a delay of game. Clark threw an incompletion under pressure on third down, and Colin Wagner came out for the field goal.
3-0
The Wildcats wasted no time in knotting the score, as they embarked on a 17-play, 65-yard drive, led by Kafka completing passes over the middle roughly 85 times. NW got down to the Penn State 17 before stalling and adding a field goal.
3-3
The Lions couldn't do too much on the next drive, moving just into NW territory before Boone punted one into the end zone.
2nd Quarter
NW's ensuing drive was a little disheartening to watch, as Kafka led the hurry up to perfection, starting the drive 4 of 4 for 57 yards. The defense might as well have left the field. Then when it looked like the Lions might stop the drive short of the end zone on third and eight from the 21, Kafka scrambled 14 yards for a first down and then scrambled into the end zone on the next play. Yuck.
3-10
Pat Fitzgerald was understandably excited.
Apparently Penn State felt no sense of urgency in being down by seven on the road, because the offense came out and went three-and-out. Northwestern seemed poised to put together another good drive, but on a short scramble, Kafka went down awkwardly and headed to the sidelines. He'd spend the rest of the game there.
Dan Persa came in to take over, and initially it looked like he might wreak some havoc because he is fast as balls. But a killer holding penatly stalled NW around midfield, and they were forced to punt.
At this point, Daryll Clark went into "let me handle this" mode as put the team on his back. He opened the drive with four straight completions to Moye, Moye, Powell and Zug, then scrambled for a 12-yard pickup. After a pass interference call, Clark hit Curtis Drake for 13 yards and then took it in for six from two yards out on the next play. Nice drive.
10-10
The Wildcats didn't do much on their next drive, and Penn State did even less after they got the ball back, moving a whopping three yards. Boone punted with 28 seconds left, and we were just going to be happy to be tied after the first half.
But NW had good field position after the punt, and Persa hit Andrew Brewer with an 18-yard strike to get into field goal range. Stefan Demos came out to attempt one from 45 to end the half and he nailed it.
10-13
-Halftime-
3rd Quarter
The third quarter started with equal parts boredom and concern. How have there only been 23 total points in a game against Northwestern?
PSU got the ball first and quickly drove down the field and got into field goal range. Things kind of died out around the NU 6 and it was time for the kicking squad.
Colin Wagner was good from close range, and things were tied.
13-13
The rest of the third was boring. We'd elaborate on it but we already wrote this once and lost it on a bad save.
4th Quarter
As the fourth started, PSU was in the middle of a drive. The biggest play was to Derek Moye for 25 yards that set things up inside the 5.
The big heavies came out onto the field to punch the ball into the end zone, and on 2nd down, Brandon Beachum got it done.
20-13
Northwestern went 3-and-out on their next drive and a punt set PSU up at their own 47.
One play, over the top. Clark to Moye.
Six.
27-13
Northwestern's next drive didn't do much better than their last, and another punt gave PSU the ball -- this time at their own 31.
One play, on the ground, Royster for 69.
Six.
34-13
The Wildcat's offense moved the ball well on their next drive, getting as close to the endzone as the PSU 25.
Eventually they came to a fourth down situation and went for it, only to come up a yard short.
PSU got the ball back and... came out passing?
That didn't work, and it was punt time.
The Wildcats started moving the ball again and got to the PSU 6. On first and goal, Mike Kafka's backup Dan Persa was sacked, lost the ball and Drew Astorino scooped it up.
For all intents and purposes...
Game.
34-13
3 Big Stat Lines:
- Daryll Clark: 22-31, 274 yds, 1 TD
- Evan Royster: 18 carries, 118 yds, 1 TD, 7.9 ypc
- Derek Moye: 6 rec, 123 yds, 1 TD
Our Quick Thoughts On The Game:
This one started out rough, as Penn State road games often do. But even being down three at halftime and tied going into the fourth, we never really felt too concerned about this one. That is due in part to Mike Kafka's exit from the game in the second quarter, because he was moving the ball relatively easy against the normally stout Penn State D. But after that, the D started to step up a bit more. And when the fourth quarter hit, Penn State was up 21 before we even knew what happened. Huge plays by Clark, Moye and Royster. It's nice to know those guys can pickup big-time yardage when the team needs it. All in all, not a super-impressive win, but of course, a win nonetheless. Bring on the Buckeyes.
Penn State Player of the Game: QB Daryll Clark
When the coaches open up the offense a bit and let Clark throw, good things usually happen, and that was the case here. Just look at what he did on the second quarter TD drive. He pretty much willed a touchdown for the team. Clark is having a really nice season, and we feel he's still pretty underrated on a national level.
Northwestern Player of the Game: QB Dan Persa
Don't get us wrong, Persa didn't light the world on fire or anything, but he played relatively well in Kafka's absence, and he made a few plays on the ground. He is extremely quick. He could give some defenses in the league a lot of problems.
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