Although the lead was very surmountable for the entirety of this afternoon’s home opener in Happy Valley, the competition was more lopsided than a 34-27 final makes it seem.
The second we took the lead, Beaver Stadium came alive. Bowling Green cried and did a little pee-pee dance because Hollywood lied to them; they were not the Rudy, the Little Giants, or the Bad News Bears of this story.
The Falcons seemed to be playing uphill from that point on while the Nittany Lions were playing loose, thanks primarily to those deep hookups (and the clutch 4D conversion) between Drew and Omari.
Here are the big winners from today’s win over Bowling Green – in no particular order.
Julian Fleming
1 rec, 3 yds
Fleming’s had a statistically quiet couple of games since transferring from Ohio State but he’s doing the little things to help the Boys in Blue win.
He played crucial roles in three consecutive completions early in the 2nd half.
- Fleming was blocking out in front of a TE screen, helped spring it for 10 yards
- Fleming running up the seam drew the safety’s ire, opened the honey hole for the TE
- Brief [sack] interruption
- Deep out/corner played bait for Coach K, drew the coverage out wide for the TE to run wild up the seam.
They were forcing him the ball at times. They’re trying to make things happen for him. But even when he’s not putting up numbers, he’s helping his team.
Tyler Warren
8 rec, 146 yds
It’s been such an endless stream of NFL-calibur TE talent coming through Happy Valley. Every year there’s a new guy proving “oh I’m actually even better than the last guy.”
Warren seems to be one of Coach K’s favorite new toys. He was on the receiving end of each of three consecutive completions early in the second half…oh wait, I think I already told you about those.
Although Nick Singleton’s 14-yard rec TD is the play that will circulate on social media, Warren put the team on his back for that drive. He deserves a ton of credit for steering the Nittany Lions out of their early skid and giving Penn State their first lead of the day.
Drew Allar
Passing: 13/20, 204 yards, 2 TD/1 INT
Rushing: 7 att/7 yds – 1 TD
Those last two throws I spoke about will live in Penn State’s QB development room for generations. Drew appeared to be bending his bullets out there today.
Triangulated in between three defenders. Nice touch; blooped between the under and over layers of the defense. Still enough zip to get there on time and on schedule.
The TD throw. Another dime – as Matt Millen described a lot of throws today – just over the clawing fingers of a defender.
I didn’t even mention the moon-shot to Omari, or the fade-away on 4d5 to Omari to convert, or the other moon-shot to Omari that was negated by OPI. That second one, by the way: c’mon, man.
Abdul Carter
7 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 PBU
Abdul Carter’s shift to the trenches frustrated the box score scouts, and to bed fair there is too much – tape. He’s on the ground too much, he’s getting over-powered by power, but defenses have been doing everything possible to neutralize him. Quick passes, trap blocks, blocking schemes creasing in his direction with double- and triple-teams. They’ve been showing him a lot of respect.
Here’s what happens when you treat a monster like Carter – or Christopher – like he’s nothing to worry about:
Carter’s unblocked on this play by design; they’re inviting him to get deep into the backfield, so he takes himself out of the play in pursuit of the screen. But they don’t practice that slip screen against freaks like Abdul Carter.
Carter speeds up the clock on the play with an unnaturally ferocious crash. He’s got the instincts to get big and fill the passing lane when he knows he can’t get home.
Speaking of speeding up the clock, he slammed the door on Bowling Green’s 1st drive of the 2nd half with a 3d pressure (maybe a QBH) that forced the ball out prematurely, off-platform and off-target. That second emphatic defensive stop might be the turning point when we go back and pick through this minefield wish fresh eyes.
Carter still needs to add some beef or he’ll continue to get bullied by strength in the trenches. But what he can do with his speed and burst is almost impossible to account for from that position. He’s surely follow in those Micah footsteps.
Kobe King
7 tackles
We always assumed Kobe was the lesser of the King brothers from Detroit. Kalen’s fall from his immaculate true-freshman performance was a true – strong language incoming, parents cover small children’s ears – bummer.
Quietly, steadily, Kobe has been the Lynch-pin in the middle of one of the best defenses in college football. This afternoon he had the snag of the year (so far) on the onside kick attempt recovery that sealed the game.
CamBlackburnWrites 