Penn State 33, Indiana 28: What we saw and wondered
Follow along as Centre Daily Times writers Josh Moyer and Johnny McGonigal critique the Penn State vs. Indiana game. Can the Nittany Lions bounce back from two straight defeats? Follow along all day.
Penn State wins 33-28 on a wacky ending featuring a recovered onside kick and a desperate but futile Indiana drive. Follow CDT for more post-game coverage.
"We needed a sign of hope"
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 21, 2018
And the Nittany Lions got one Saturday night
It wasn't pretty — not by a long shot — but #PennState finished after back-to-back frustrating losses https://t.co/AgrRoysMiH
#PennState QB Trace McSorley on the Nittany Lions’ 33-28 win over Indiana pic.twitter.com/iONk5LkrRK
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 21, 2018
What was the turning point to #PSUvsIU? We think @jay_suth probably knows ...https://t.co/0HKLes6c2w
— Penn State Football (@psu_football) October 20, 2018
Penn State’s 3rd-down struggles continued — and it got wild late — but the Nittany Lions held on for a much-needed win
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 20, 2018
More coverage to come. For now, an instant recap...https://t.co/hQSRXJ0yEQ
Juwan Johnson — who did not play in the second half — struggling to jog off
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 20, 2018
Something to monitor before Iowa game pic.twitter.com/D2D6sIQZoH
Nittany Lions walk off the field after a close call
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 20, 2018
Penn State 33, Indiana 28 pic.twitter.com/xPtj25U61f
FINAL: Penn State 33, Indiana 28
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) October 20, 2018
Showed a lot of flashes, but also made quite a few mistakes. So, essentially, Penn State is a good team trying to be great.
Every Penn State fan: You've got to be kidding me.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) October 20, 2018
Indiana cuts Penn State’s lead to 33-28 with 49 seconds to go
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 20, 2018
Onside kick coming
Raucous crowd on-hand to witness pic.twitter.com/WB8im6GYQa
This is B1G country pic.twitter.com/anPojm1UAk
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 20, 2018
Penn State took all of 19 seconds off the clock with that last possession, thanks to 3 incomplete passes. Broadcaster Brian Griese is speechless.
— Centre Daily Times (@centredaily) October 20, 2018
Nick Scott with a tip-drill INT and it's back to Penn State with 4:35 left and the Nittany Lions up by 12.
— Centre Daily Times (@centredaily) October 20, 2018
Trace McSorley's 34-game passing TD streak is on the line. Enough time for one more PSU drive?
— Centre Daily Times (@centredaily) October 20, 2018
Touchdown, Trace McSorley
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 20, 2018
His second rushing touchdown of the day and up to 73 yards on the ground
Penn State 33, Indiana 21 with 10:25 to go in regulation
Penn State couldn't have asked for a better turn of events. Jonathan Sutherland knocked it loose on the IU punt return, and the ball fell right into Nick Scott's hands.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) October 20, 2018
That might've just cemented this game.
Indiana fumble on the punt, recovered by Penn State captain Nick Scott
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 20, 2018
Jonathan Sutherland forced the ball free
True freshman Jahan Dotson with his first career catch — and a first down for the Nittany Lions
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 20, 2018
Trace McSorley finishes it off with a 5-yard touchdown run...and Jake Pinegar's PAT is blocked
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 20, 2018
Penn State 26, Indiana 21
This game is weird
Well, that was unexpected.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) October 20, 2018
Right after Indiana reclaims the lead, 21-20, PSU responds with the play of Johnathan Thomas' career on a 94-yard KR.
Not sure if it's a TD yet or at the 5. But, either way, one heckuva return.
Fifth-year senior Johnathan Thomas takes it 94 yards on the kickoff
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 20, 2018
Wait what pic.twitter.com/tltg1Ki6X7
Touchdown, Indiana
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 20, 2018
Freshman RB Stevie Scott finds the end zone — then does the Saquon Barkley touchdown celebration
Indiana up 21-20 w/ 4:01 to go in the 3rd
Replay of the targeting penalty on Penn State. https://t.co/i1VQDIU0rk
— Kevin McGuire (@KevinOnCFB) October 20, 2018
Wow ... PSU safety Garrett Taylor is ejected after targeting. That means he'll also miss the first half of next week's Iowa game.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) October 20, 2018
Garrett Taylor is ejected for targeting
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 20, 2018
Huge loss for the Nittany Lions, who need Jonathan Sutherland to step up now
Jake Pinegar field goal is good
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 20, 2018
Penn State leads 20-14 with 7:16 to go in the third
Drop No. 4 for PSU today. Unbelievable.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) October 20, 2018
Cam Sullivan-Brown getting plenty of run in his place so far https://t.co/BuZWMtQ1kZ
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 20, 2018
Juwan Johnson doesn't have his helmet on and PSU has gone with Cam Sullivan-Brown on its first series of the 3rd quarter
— Bob Flounders (@BobbyFlo7) October 20, 2018
Nick Bowers with an unnecessary 3rd-down hold to negate Trace McSorley's first-down run
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 20, 2018
Woof
That's the third drop of the day by PSU's receivers.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) October 20, 2018
According to Pro Football Focus, PSU had a conference-worst 17 drops ahead of the Michigan State game.
Looked like DT PJ Mustipher stripped that ball from Indiana. Hoosiers killing themselves with mistakes and penalties, especially on offense.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) October 20, 2018
...just going to leave this here https://t.co/Ucj4EHZjaC
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 20, 2018
CB John Reid is down, and the training staff has to come over to him.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) October 20, 2018
You hate to see that. Reid suffered a season-ending injury last season.
At the half: Penn State 17, Indiana 14
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) October 20, 2018
Total Yards: IU 284; PSU 254
Rushes: IU 21-145; PSU 21-83
Passing: IU 14 of 28, 139 yards; PSU 9 of 18, 171 yards
Sacks: IU 3; PSU 1
3rd downs: IU 5-11; PSU 2-8
HALFTIME: Penn State 17, Indiana 14
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 20, 2018
This game feels a lot like Penn State's 2016 win over Purdue, which was tied at the break. Nittany Lions got a Brandon Smith INT at the start of the third quarter two years ago
PSU could really use a takeaway early in second half
Man ... Indiana really screwed the end of that first half up.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) October 20, 2018
The Hoosiers might be doing a better job of beating themselves than Penn State; each of their three holding penalties came at critical times too.
Indiana goes for it on 4th-and-1...and runs a fade
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 20, 2018
That's a woof call when you're averaging 7.1 yards per rush
Penn State has 3 trips to red zone today and scored touchdowns on 2 of them
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 20, 2018
Nittany Lions have now scored TDs on 26 of 31 red-zone trips this season (83.9 percent) pic.twitter.com/KNcVZQJjUb
Before the season, Sporting News projected him as the No. 7 overall selection in the 2019 NFL draft.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) October 20, 2018
Those types of plays are why. Just like Penn State, there's a bunch of talent there -- but next to no consistency. https://t.co/Ey6ITY0fJm
Jake Pinegar's 27-yard field goal is good, putting Penn State up 17-14 w/ 6:27 to go in the second quarter
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 20, 2018
That might be the first drag route that Trace McSorley and Juwan Johnson have connected on this year...and it's a big one
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 20, 2018
59-yard gain after McSorley puts enough touch on it and Johnson sees it in
KJ Hamler able to make something out of a bad situation — surprise, surprise — but with a line drive punt with the wind, he's probably better off letting that one go
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 20, 2018
Trace McSorley - wait, Tommy Stevens! - with the oh-so-pretty touch pass for @PennStateFball. pic.twitter.com/HP956cQzyj
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) October 20, 2018
Give Rahne some credit on that one. We've got ourselves a Tommy Stevens sighting -- and he finds Freiermuth for a 23-yard TD to tie up the game.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) October 20, 2018
Freiermuth has been one of the more pleasant surprises on the offense this season. Bright future ahead for that freshman
Touchdown, 23 yards from Tommy Stevens to freshman tight end Pat Freiermuth
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 20, 2018
McSorley and Stevens switched places in the backfield, and Freiermuth's wheel route was noice
6 carries for 42 yards now
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 20, 2018
And one of those carries was a 1-yard TD https://t.co/swlr4tiv5M
After being held on the play before, Shareef Miller gets the double-team treatment
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 20, 2018
PSU DE has played really well the last few games
Another drop by Penn State, and this one hits off the hands of Mac Hippenhammer and is intercepted by IU. Not an easy catch but ... it's been a theme.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) October 20, 2018
Lots of fans unhappy with Rahne and Pry. But, out of all the coaches, I've got to think no one's seat is hotter than Corley's.
For some reason, Miles Sanders has only 4 carries so far
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 20, 2018
On 3rd-and-long, Trace McSorley's pass goes off Mac Hippenhammer's hands and into the arms of IU's Bryant Fitzgerald
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 20, 2018
Still waiting for Penn State to wake up this game ...
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) October 20, 2018
PSU led Illinois 21-17 at halftime before beating it 63-24. But just don't know if this is going to be like the Illinois game -- or the Michigan State one.
Not the start I expected after losing back-to-back games.
Ball has hit the deck twice now in the opening quarter
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 20, 2018
James Franklin can’t be happy about that
Touchdown, Indiana
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 20, 2018
30-yard run by Ronnie Walker puts the Hoosiers up 14-7
Memorial Stadium actually has life after that failed fake punt and Walker’s run
Oh my, Penn State. Even if Shelton makes that block, Penn State isn't getting back to the line of scrimmage on that one.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) October 20, 2018
Don't hate going for it in that situation. But ... that play didn't have a chance.
Penn State dials up a fake punt...and Blake Gillikin doesn't have a chance
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 20, 2018
James Franklin surely has to sign off on something like that, but not great for first-year special teams coordinator Phil Galiano
Trace McSorley sails two consecutive passes
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 20, 2018
Wonder how much of it has to do with the wind at Penn State's backs
Three weeks ago, PSU's postgame theme was "great not elite." Last week, it was "unconditional love."
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) October 20, 2018
What is it this week? Right now, my money's on the "youth movement."
Holding negates a first-down scramble, but this Michael Penix Jr. kid is fun
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 20, 2018
Indiana freshman quarterback throws a good ball, too
By my count, that's Juwan Johnson's 6th drop of the season
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 20, 2018
Another drop by Juwan Johnson. Franklin said earlier this season he was confident, by the end of the year, we'd look back and see what a great season he had.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) October 20, 2018
That window is shrinking every week. He's got obvious potential, but this has been a hugely disappointing year for him
PSU just can't walk to an easy win this season. After the offense sets the tone with a first-drive TD, IU responds with an 8-play, 75-yard TD of its own to tie the game.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) October 20, 2018
Not a lot of good things to say on that drive for PSU. Way too many soft spots in that zone.
Indiana pulls off the reverse. Koa Farmer caught too far upfield, and no one was home
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 20, 2018
Next play, Hoosiers RB Stevie Scott barrels into the end zone to make it 7-7
Note to Indiana: When kicking into the wind, do NOT kick to Hamler.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) October 20, 2018
Miles Sanders capitalizes on Hamler's 56-yard return and punches it in to give PSU the 7-0 lead just 2 minutes into the game. Perfect opening for PSU.
Short kick, wind and KJ Hamler -- that's not a good combination if you're Indiana.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) October 20, 2018
And Hamler makes them pay on the long return. Great starting field position to open this game. #PSUvsIU
Miles Sanders caps off the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 20, 2018
Penn State leads 7-0 two minutes into this one
When I sat down with Miles Sanders over the bye week, he said really wanted to break off a wheel route
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 20, 2018
Sanders finally does for 29 yards
Short kick, wind and KJ Hamler -- that's not a good combination if you're Indiana.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) October 20, 2018
And Hamler makes them pay on the long return. Great starting field position to open this game. #PSUvsIU
Penn State defensive tackle Antonio Shelton wearing No. 53 today, presumably to honor fellow DT Fred Hansard
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 20, 2018
James Franklin announced Tuesday that Hansard is out for the year after sustaining an injury against Michigan State
Make that 14. Missed kickoff specialist Rafael Checa
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 20, 2018
My sincerest apologies, Twitter pic.twitter.com/MDEo2Rf4HY
13 true freshmen make the trip for #PennState
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 20, 2018
Offense: Ricky Slade, Justin Shorter, Jahan Dotson, Rasheed Walker, Pat Freiermuth, Daniel George
Defense: Micah Parsons, Jayson Oweh, PJ Mustipher, Jesse Luketa, Trent Gordon, Nick Tarburton
Special teams: Jake Pinegar
Tommy Stevens and Mac Hippenhammer warming up in their home state pic.twitter.com/ZM9Icyq4w5
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 20, 2018
#PennState quarterback and "Lion" Tommy Stevens has appeared in one game this season. That's it.
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) October 20, 2018
Will the Indiana native see the field in his homecoming?https://t.co/wFg381fmkH
. @jmcgonigal9 is reporting from Bloomington today, and I'm back in Happy Valley.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) October 20, 2018
Some #PSUvsIU pregame reading:
2-loss situation different this year: https://t.co/MlXpUXpvxJ
Q&A with Rahne: https://t.co/phSLB0DFfP
Miles Sanders vs. IU run D: https://t.co/W94fA52vib
This story was originally published October 20, 2018 at 2:38 PM.