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Penn State football won a game at Wisconsin that it would not have last year or the one before that.
Certainly, it wouldn’t have won this kind of game three years ago when it was similarly undefeated and ranked in the top five. Back then, at Iowa, it lost its starting quarterback halfway through and gradually collapsed not only for the day but for the rest of the season.
Would any of James Franklin’s previous teams have pulled out the kind of grinding, critical 28-13 victory the way it did Saturday night in Camp Randall Stadium?
Probably not.
And that’s why it may not really matter that another Penn State victory didn’t look as dominating or even as appetizing as many think it should by now. Why it owns a better chance than ever to vanquish the Ohio State Buckeyes next weekend in Beaver Stadium.
Penn State quarterback Beau Pribula (9) celebrates after earning a first down during the fourth quarter Wisconsin at Camp Randall Stadium.
Because the Nittany Lions, if anything, keep proving they can win in different ways, in varying circumstances and with different players leading them.
They won Saturday night with a backup quarterback. They won while missing one of their top defenders and a starting offensive lineman
They won without anyone gaining more than 86 yards rushing and 67 yards receiving. And they did it, on the road, against an opponent coming off three straight dominating victories of its own.
Penn State safety Jaylen Reed (1) returns an interception for a touchdown during the third quarter of their game Saturday, October 26, 2024 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. Penn State beat Wisconsin 28-13.
Penn State won with a collective effort, a gradual stranglehold from their defense and a numbing mix of short passes and runs on offense.
They won because a team leader − safety Jaylen Reed − returned an…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/analysis-beau-pribula-penn-state-080308911.html
Author : York Daily Record
Publish date : 2024-10-27 08:03:08
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