Penn State Limits Jeanty, Advances to Semi Finals

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

Mason Eddinger | January 1, 2025

As year’s end loomed, Penn State and Boise State squared off under the Arizona night.

  One of the biggest question marks entering this game was if Boise State could compete with a more athletic squad, they could not. Penn State, like against SMU, took an early lead and minimized the big plays. Drew Allar played phenomenally and the defense did their job, this is how they did it.

  After a regular season that saw him win the Mackey Award for the nation’s best Tight End,  Tyler Warren was relatively quiet in the first-round game against SMU. Although he did not necessarily need to dominate as they were ahead early, he made sure to make an impact early in this one. On a beautiful ball from Drew Allar, Warren came down with it (shocker). 

  That trend of great throws by Allar would continue as he delivered a beauty to Omari Evans to give Penn State an early 14-point lead. Allar was completely locked in to start the game.

  In the 2nd quarter, Boise State needed to score, and they did with a Tyler Crowe rush to make it 14-7. Ryan Barker made a field goal and Penn State led 17-7 at the half.

  In the 2nd half, Penn State’s defense would have to continue to stop Ashton Jeanty, and they did. Although Matt Lauter caught a 53-yard to make it a 3-point game, Penn State and Allar responded well. Tyler Warren a tough catch to give the Nittany Lions a two-score lead again.

  Then up 10, Nick Singleton ran right through the heart of the Boise State defense and sealed the win.

  By that time, Penn State had built a big enough lead to pull away with a Fiesta Bowl victory.

  They became the first of four to advance to the College Football Playoff semi-finals. Penn State held Ashton Jeanty to a season-low rushing total of just 104 yards on 30 carries. Their defense line, per usual, made it tough on opposing rushing offenses. Along with the poor production on the ground, Penn State forced two fumbles on Jeanty. 

  This is James Franklin’s biggest win as the Penn State coach. Although they were almost two Touchdown favorites, advancing to the semi-finals is no achievement to take lightly. Naysayers will say that he must win this next one to silence all doubters. From a season that saw Franklin getting booed during his name being announced in the starting lineups, to a win away from the National Championship, it’s been quite a year for Franklin. They will wait on the status of Andul Carter as he had his arm heavily wrapped on the sideline as he sustained an injury. If Carter can’t go next week, which it doesn’t appear he will be able to, the entire Penn State defense takes a major hit.

  Now it’s on to the winner of Georgia and Notre Dame to meet Penn State in the semi-finals.

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