The Sunday Afternoon Quarterback #4: Friday Night Fun

#12 Penn State Nittany Lions 59 – Maryland Terrapins 0

As the Big Ten Conference moves into the second year of Friday night games, I was hoping for a repeat of Penn State’s last season Friday night game which resulted in a 63-24 drubbing of the Fightin’ Illini. What I got was a more impressive drubbing of a Maryland team that considers this game much more of a rivalry than Nittany Lion fans do. 

Now I will say I have a personal rivalry vested in this game as my best friend is a Terrapin faithful. And although Penn State owns a career record of 40-2-1 against the Turtle, one of those losses came in 2014 with my best friend sitting on the couch next to me. I am not admitting that I got up off the couch, stomped upstairs, threw my jersey off, had a bit of an allergy attack in my eyes, and waited about ten minutes before returning to the living room to congratulate him. There are a few household members, however, who will confirm that this is exactly what happened. Much to my pleasure, the Nittany Lions have owned the Terrapins since that 2014 game, outscoring them 232-50 in the last five contests, including a 38-14 win in 2016 that my best friend and I attended together in State College.  

A rare sold out Maryland Stadium was the setting for this year’s game and the “blacked out” crowd cheered as the Terrapins received the opening kickoff. Speaking of Maryland, if you ever plan on attending a game there, do check out RV Rental Maryland for great weekend tailgating options.

The cheering wouldn’t last long as Virginia Tech transfer Josh Jackson’s second pass would be picked off by Jan Johnson and returned 17 yards to the Maryland 44. Two penalties on the return would set up Penn State with a 1st and goal at the 8 yard line. Sean Clifford needed one play taking it in himself and giving Penn State the only score it would truly need in the game. Penn State 7-0. 

The Penn State defense forced the first three and out by the Maryland offense which would have eight for the game. Starting at their own 41 yard line, Clifford would hit KJ Hamler on a slant route after breaking a tackle and would be gone down the sideline for a 58 yard touchdown. Penn State 14-0. 

Hamler finished with 108 yards on six receptions and one touchdown. The Terrapins had their best drive of the game on the next series moving the ball 64 yards on 14 plays, aided by a targeting call against Micah Parsons. On 2nd and 10 from the Penn State 11 yard line, Jackson was intercepted again, this time by Tariq Castro-Fields, ending Maryland’s best chance at scoring. Penn State would take over at their own 5 yard line and need 11 plays to go 95 yards. A 40 yard completion to Dan Chisena along with a 15 yard face mask penalty on a 3rd down stop by Maryland helped the Lions move down the field. Ricky Slade would finish the drive going in from 3 yards out. Penn State 21-0.

Josh Jackson was replaced on the next series by Tyrell Pigrome but nothing could provide a spark in the offense against the smothering Nittany Lion defense. Pigrome would go 3 and out on his first drive of the game. Penn State would move 73 yards on 6 plays helped by 20 yards of Maryland penalties. On 2nd down, Clifford hit Nick Bowers for a 15 yard score. Penn State 28-0. 

Tyrell Pigrome’s second drive lasted one more play than his first before Maryland punted again. Nick Cross made an outstanding leaping interception over Daniel George to give Maryland the ball back and Clifford his first interception of the season. Josh Jackson reentered the game as quarterback but with no different result as the Terrapin offense recorded another three and out. Following the punt and a Penn State penalty, the Lions started on their own 12 yard line. It took less than 3 minutes for the Lions to find the end zone again. A 25 yard run by Clifford and a 37 yard catch and run for the score by Journey Brown being the big plays. Penn State 35-0. Following another Maryland punt, Jake Pinegar would close out the first half scoring by kicking a 21 yard field goal. Penn State 38-0.

Penn State received the second half kickoff but Jordan Stout would miss a 52 yard field goal. Another three and out and punt by Maryland (the apparent theme of the game) gave Penn State the ball at their own 6 yard line. Clifford and the offense needed just six plays to find paydirt again. Nick Bowers picked up the majority with a 55 yard reception. Journey Brown capped the drive off with his 1 yard touchdown run. Penn State 45-0. 

With Clifford and the first string done for the day, the next six drives resulted in punts or turnover on downs as Penn State’s second stringers found their rhythm. A 30 yard punt return by Jahan Dotson set up Penn State’s next score. Starting at the Maryland 33, Will Levis needed five plays running the last 5 yards on his own for the score. Penn State 52-0. 

Keaton Ellis would force and recover a fumble on Maryland’s next drive giving the ball back to the Lions at the Terrapin 44. Will Levis again closed out the drive this time going in from 8 yards out to close out the scoring for the game. Penn State 59-0.

The Nittany Lions seemed to work out a lot of questions regarding the offense and defense after their last game against Pitt. Penn State is back in action at home next Saturday against Purdue before playing three top 25 ranked teams the following weeks.  

Until next week, WE ARE…

Keeping it on the edge, 

Shelbee and Jeff

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