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GLENDALE, Ariz. − Much of this Penn State football Fiesta Bowl locker room was a back-slapping, photo-posing, cigar-smoking celebration deep in this desert night.
The Nittany Lions, indeed, had just reserved their place in the College Football Playoff semifinals, winning for a school-record 13th time.
They earned their shot at another big-time opponent, on a grand stage next week in South Florida, to keep their chances alive at winning their first national title in 38 years.
And a few of the guys most responsible for making this happen sat quietly at their lockers in the back of the room, soaking it all in.
The Lions not only had to corral the nation’s most prolific running back — the Heisman Trophy runner-up — they had to do so without the services of their top defender.
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Amin Vanover (15) reacts with the trophy after defeating the Boise State Broncos in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
They had to keep a confident, relentless Boise State from turning a suddenly tight, tedious game into a potential upset and the end of their season.
It would be up to Penn State’s defensive line — one without injured All-American Abdul Carter — to key this eventual 31-14 victory over Boise State on New Year’s Eve in the biggest game of their longest season.
And so, in the end, they proved themselves when things began going sideways, like so many times earlier this season.
Gave themselves yet another reason why they may be able to find whatever answers needed in the moment to finaly play for a national title again.
Defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton made sure of that, to start. He wrapped up Boise superstar running back Ashton Jeanty and threw him to the ground on the game’s first play. He would do it again, soon…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/defensive-stand-why-penn-state-090204791.html
Author : York Daily Record
Publish date : 2025-01-01 09:02:00
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