The Sunday Afternoon Quarterback #8: Sparta Has Fallen Along with My 26 Year Drought

#6 Penn State Nittany Lions 28 – Michigan State Spartans 7

On Saturday, Penn State hoped to end a two game losing streak against the Spartans of Michigan State and I hoped to end a 26 year deer hunting drought. The Nittany Lions have lost two straight and five of the last six games against the Spartans and I haven’t shot a deer since the first day of the first year I was eligible to hunt at the very young age of twelve, twenty-six years ago.

As Saturday would wind to a close, both streaks would end. Penn State came out victorious and I finally brought down another deer, ending what may possibly be the longest dry spell in my family’s history of hunting. The game was going to be recorded at my brother’s house and all of my family vowed to not check ESPN during the day. We knew how important the game could be and we wanted to watch it together when we came out of the woods. My dry spell ended at 10:38 in the morning as I watched a deer move in front of me around one hundred yards out. Not having a good shot at her, I moved my position to intercept. Once I found a shooting lane, I raised my rifle and fired and the deer bounded away as my shot was off the mark. I silently hoped that Penn State would find its mark before I did.

Continuing to follow the deer, I was able to get a second shot so I fired and again thought I had missed. As I followed the direction in which the deer ran, I was hoping to push it into range of one of my hunting partners, but instead I stumbled upon 26 years of personal disappointment lying dead in the forest. The dry spell had been broken, we would have food for the winter, and now I just needed Penn State to break their losing streak later in the afternoon.

Feeling satisfied with my hunting success, we went back to my brothers to view the game. Penn State received the opening kickoff but only mustered seven yards of offense before punting the ball away. Brian Lewerke and the Spartan offense met a similar fate on their first possession, gaining only nine yards before punting away. Noah Cain and Pat Freiermuth were the work horses on the next series as Sean Clifford pushed forth moving the Lions 62 yards in 8 plays. Cain pounded away on the ground as Freiermuth was the favorite target through the air during the drive, culminating in Clifford’s 16 yard touchdown pass to Freiermuth. Penn State 7-0.

Michigan State was forced to punt the ball away on their next possession. Sean Clifford engineered another long drive on Penn State’s next series, going 86 yards in 13 plays. Journey Brown and Clifford worked the ball on the ground as Clifford found three different receivers during the drive, including Pat Freiermuth’s second touchdown of the game which was a 19 yard pass from Clifford. Jake Pinegar missed the extra point. Penn State 13-0.

The teams traded punts over the next two series before Brian Lewereke began to move the Spartan offense down the field. Lewerke, who resembled a Heisman quarterback the last two seasons against Penn State, drove Michigan State down the field to the Penn State 28 yard line. Matt Coghlin came on to attempt a 45 yard field goal but had it blocked by defensive end Shaka Toney’s facemask as he broke through the line. Penn State held the lead 13-0.

The missed field goal would be detrimental to the Spartans as Penn State transformed it into another touchdown. Starting at their own 46 yard line, Penn State moved to the Spartan 45 yard line. Facing a 4th and 1, Journey Brown converted to keep the drive alive. Three plays later, Clifford found KJ Hamler behind the linebackers on a crossing route for a 27 yard touchdown pass. Clifford would take it in himself on the two point conversion. Penn State 21-0.

Michigan State took the opening kickoff and after gaining one first down, they were forced to punt the ball away. The Spartans compelled Penn State to punt the ball back to them, but returner Brandon Sowards fumbled the punt that Penn State recovered. On the very next play, Sean Clifford called his own number and found pay dirt from 6 yards out. Penn State 28-0.

Michigan State finally reached the end zone on an 8 play 75 yard drive. Lewerke hit wide receiver Cody White for a 49 yard gain, setting up the Spartans with a 1st and goal at the 4 yard line. Anthony Williams Jr. would take it in two plays later from 4 yards out to give Michigan State their only score of the game. Penn State 28-7. At this point, my brother and I were too tired to continue watching as the clock was now reading near midnight and we had checked the final score to confirm that we weren’t missing much if we turned it off and went to bed.

Penn State has a bye next week before heading to the unbeaten and #13 ranked Golden Gophers of Minnesota. That is looking to be an exciting game to watch and if you have the opportunity to tailgate live at that game, do check into Minnesota RV rentals and do it right.

Following Oklahoma’s loss to unranked Kansas State, Penn State has moved up to #5 in the college football rankings. I don’t want to overlook Minnesota or Indiana but the Penn State/Ohio State game coming up on November 23 has some serious Big Ten and College Football Playoff implications.

Until then, my fingers will be crossed…

And we are…

Keeping it on the edge,

Jeff and Shelbee

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