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Penn State Avoids Early Scare, Advances to BIG 10 Title

Tagged under: Gameday Hub, News, Penn State, Pennsylvania Colleges

| November 30, 2024

ALL PHOTO CREDIT TO PAUL BURDICK SPORTS IMAGES

Senior Day, the last home game, and a chance to book their ticket to the BIG 10 title game. Penn State had it all out before them entering their final regular season game against 4-7 Maryland.

  After a result that sent shockwaves throughout both State College and the nation with Michigan beating Ohio State, Penn State’s game against Maryland got a lot more important. With a win, the Nittany Lions would book a ticket to Indianapolis to take on the Oregon Ducks in the BIG 10 title game. As 25-point favorites, it should’ve been a breeze but in the beginning, it was anything but.

  On the opening play of the game, Nick Singleton fumbled the ball and gave it to Maryland in great field position. It took the Terrapins just 1 play to get a Touchdown as QB MJ Morris found WR Kaden Prather for a 7-0 lead just 14 seconds into the game. That TD was about the only meaningful success Maryland would develop in this game.

 

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  After a Penn State field goal, they dominated the Maryland offensive line time and again. Penn State sacked Maryland twice in three plays and got the ball right back to their offense. With the ball, RB Nick Singleton scored from 2 yards out to give PSU their first lead. Then the avalanche fell on Maryland.

  Including the Singleton TD, Penn State would score 21 points in six minutes. 

 

  After another PSU TD, the Nittany Lions led 31-7 at the half. In what has been a Rollercoaster of a season for PSU, an unexpected trip to compete for a BIG 10 title against the top-ranked Oregon Ducks is only fitting. All Penn State did in the 2nd half was continue what had transpired in the first half, and they did.

  Up by a ton, Penn State took care of the Business the rest of the way and left the regular season with a pretty stress-free win. 

  For the first time in his tenure, James Franklin wins 11 regular season games. This was a defining year for Franklin and he delivered the best win total he’s ever had. Although they still fell short to Ohio State, Penn State fans and players should be pleased by the job James Franklin did this year. 

  Believe it or not, with a win next week against Oregon, Penn State would most likely finish the season as the #1 overall team (unless Texas wins the SEC dominantly). That is relatively uncharted territory for Penn State in 2024.

  For TE Tyler Warren, it was another recording-breaking night. He set two records in this game. The first to become the BIG 10’s all-time leader in single-season receptions for a Tight End. The 2nd, for becoming Penn State’s all-time leader in TDs for a career. The ladder award is even more impressive when you realize how many rushing TDs Warren has gotten over his time at Penn State. Earlier in the season, Warren earned the most Total TDs as a TE in PSU history, now he’s got the most TD receptions.

  Speaking on the win, James Franklin said, “ Overall the game did not start the way we wanted, but after that, I was very pleased. We won the explosive play battle, the sack battle, and the field position battle. Overall we found a way to get another win. If you study College Football, it’s tough to win.” Penn State will play Oregon in the BIG 10 Championship Game next Saturday at 8 PM.

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews

 
 
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