Shelbee’s Sunday Morning Quarterback #3: A Memorable Day

#11 Penn State Nittany Lions 63 – Kent State Golden Flashes 10

Welcome to the third episode of Shelbee’s Sunday Morning Quarterback! If you recall from last week’s episode, my husband was taking my older son Archie to his very first Penn State game this weekend. Both were so excited when they headed out of town on Friday afternoon. I stayed home and enjoyed some one on one time with my younger son Ralphie. But I did manage to get some photos of a blue and white outfit for today’s post before my husband/photographer left town for the weekend. Let me turn it over now to my husband, Jeff, the Sunday Morning Quarterback!

A Memorable Day

Yesterday was a day filled with memories that I’ll never forget. Last week, I wrote about how I was taking my 7 year old to his first Penn State game and it couldn’t have been a better day. The idea of taking him to a game started in the spring while talking with my older brother about what game we would go to as a family this year. What started out as myself, my brother, our kids, and our parents turned into a three car, thirteen person strong tailgate. The day started pretty early with a 5:15 a.m. wake up so we could pack the truck and meet up with everybody else and convoy to the game. Once we stopped at the gas station to grab breakfast and meet up with the other cars, the journey to Beaver Stadium began. On the two hour drive, Archie could not contain his excitement, smiling from ear to ear and talking and talking and talking about anything Penn State related that he could.

After we reached our parking spot and set up the tailgate, Archie began playing football with a group of other young Penn State fans, corn hole with his cousin, and then proceeded to stuff his face with all the tailgate food.

His uncles (my two brothers) and I also taught him how to play beer pong (he got water, not beer, of course).

After a morning of fun, it was time to walk to the stadium and find our seats (25 rows off the field and right in the end zone).  Surprisingly, he made the walk with no complaints about how he was too tired to walk, a very rare thing for him.

As the game started, it didn’t take Penn State long to get on the board with McSorley hitting a diving DeAndre Tompkins for a 40 yard touchdown directly in front of us. After Kent State scored on the following drive to tie the game, we were able to watch as Trace McSorley ran in two more scores right in front of us to close out the first quarter with Penn State leading 21-7.

The second quarter was not nearly as exciting with Kent State kicking a field goal and Trace McSorley scoring his third rushing touchdown from 13 yards out with 4 seconds remaining in the half to give the Nittany Lions a 28-10 halftime lead. McSorley now owns the PSU record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback and there is no doubt that he will break most records for a quarterback at PSU before the season ends.

Archie had done extremely well up until this point but it was as far as he would go. We left the game at halftime and went back to the tailgate waiting for the rest of our friends and family to join us after the game. The Nittany Lions continued to roll in the second half, scoring five more touchdowns while the defense pitched a shutout.

The one record that McSorley will have trouble breaking was set by his back up in the 4th quarter. From their own 5 yard line, Sean Clifford would take the snap, use a shoulder fake and find a wide open Daniel George for a 95 yard touchdown pass and the longest play ever from scrimmage for Penn State. Jonathan Thomas would close out the scoring for the Nittany Lions on a 15 yard run with 1:09 remaining on the clock.

As great as the Lions looked at times, there is still room for improvement before Ohio State comes to town for the white out in two weeks. They had three long touchdown plays called back on penalties and a total of nine for the game. As for Archie and his first Penn State game, well, it was certainly a memorable day for all of us and I can’t wait to take him again next year!

Be sure to check back next Sunday for the highlights from Friday night’s game against the Illinois Fighting Illini.

We Are…

Keeping it on the edge,

Shelbee

Linking up with these Fabulous Link Ups.