Old and New Come Through As The Nittany Lions Win The Grand Daddy of Them All
It was the final bow on a season that saw the Nittany Lions exceed expectations to the highest degree.
The blue and white capped off their season with an 11-2 record and a Rose Bowl win over Utah, 35-21.
After three and outs from both sides, and stalled momentum from Penn State on the second drive of the first half, Utah found itself in blue and white territory and began to show indications of having their way with the defense.
Then, the man entrusted with filling in for NFL draft entry Joey Porter Jr., Kalen King, snagged his third interception of the season to flip things back in favor of the Nittany Lions.
Sean Clifford, in his final game as a Nittany Lion started dealing like a true vet, moving the ball downfield, coupled with a strong drive from Kaytron Allen on the ground. The drive was capped off with an old school wing-T formation touchdown from the young school running back Nick Singleton to draw first blood.
Cameron Rising followed up the interception with a masterful drive, giving his best Rose Parade impression, marching the Utes down field and finishing the drive with a touchdown to tie the game back up early in the second quarter.
Clifford answered back, navigating the Utah front seven’s pressure and continued his string of firing precise strikes and found two guys being tasked with stepping up in the absence of Parker Washington, Harrison Wallace and KeAndre Lambert-Smith. The departing Mitchell Tinsley reeled in the score and Penn State vaulted itself back in front.
Shades of the 2017 Rose Bowl began to take shape as Utah answered back, knotting the game back up at 14. Penn State’s drive was stifled, and Utah had a last chance push to get home before the end of the half, but Curtis Jacobs and company locked in, and kept it tied at the half in what could have been the former’s final game donning the Blue and White.
Then, glimpses of 2017 Saquon Barkley were dancing in the heads of another PAC-12 foe as Singleton broke free for an 87 yard rushing score to pilot Penn State back in front.
From there, things continued to break Penn State’s way in Pasadena, after an injury to Rising, Utah turned to its backup and Ji’Ayir Brown quickly capitalized with an interception. Both offenses went stale to wrap the third quarter, setting up a conclusive fourth with the Nittany Lions remaining in the lead.
Then, another big play backed up in their own territory, an 88-yard bomb from Clifford to Lambert-Smith right in the bread basket, in what became the longest pass in Rose Bowl history, that gave the Happy Valley natives a 14-point lead.
From there, Bryson Barnes couldn’t answer back to the fire breathing blue and white defense that began to smell blood in the water. Clifford, the closer, found Wallace and Tinsley en route to a drive that capped off with an Allen rushing touchdown to bring the lead to three scores.
From there, the Nittany Lions were in cruise control, the defense held steadfast, despite a late game score and Penn State captured their first Rose Bowl win since 1995.
At the end of the day, Penn State saw a fitting end to a fantastic season and a passing of the torch as freshman Drew Allar received the ball from Sean Clifford on one of the final drives to take over as the signal caller for the next era of Penn State football.
An era that will be punctuated by a Rose Bowl victory that vaulted Penn State into the national conversation moving into next season.
