Penn State football 39, Michigan State 24: Here’s what happened and what we thought
CDT staff reports
Follow along as Centre Daily Times writers Parth Upadhyaya and Jon Sauber critique the Penn State vs. Michigan State college football game, and visual journalist Abby Drey captures scenes from on the field.
Penn State football completed a second-half comeback for the first time this season to beat Michigan State 39-24 on Senior Day for the Nittany Lions’ third consecutive team.
Here’s what happened:
Penn State beats Michigan State 39-24 on senior day. pic.twitter.com/9w0bsix9UO
— Abby Drey (@ADreyPhotos) December 12, 2020
When you have the boys over to help you move the bookshelf. pic.twitter.com/HjDEZNVamb
— Ben Jones (@Ben_Jones88) December 12, 2020
#PennState football completes 2nd-half comeback to beat Michigan State 39-24 on Senior Day https://t.co/BNwxC0icD7
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) December 12, 2020
Penn State improves to 3-5 with a 39-24 victory over Michigan State. The Nittany Lions have won three games in a row.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) December 12, 2020
That's a pretty awesome call by special teams coordinator Joe Lorig. I've seen a lot of special teams shifts, but never anything like that.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) December 12, 2020
JAHAN DOTSON 81-YARD PUNT RETURN @H55ZY#WeAre pic.twitter.com/npMlFMdpNg
— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) December 12, 2020
Dotson is the first Penn State player with a receiving TD and punt return for a TD in the same game since Bryant Johnson in 2002 (vs. Michigan State).
— Greg Kincaid (@grk5016) December 12, 2020
Jahan Dotson's in his bag.
— Elton Hayes (@EHDC12) December 12, 2020
He returns a punt 81 yards for a touchdown. Oh yeah, he also has 108 yards receiving.
Penn State's up on Michigan State, 39-24, with 11:24 left in the fourth.
Dotson returns a punt 81 yards to the crib for a huge TD.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) December 12, 2020
PSU 39, MSU 24 w/ 11:24 left in the game
Great fake screen by Penn State there got both Michigan State defenders to bite and left Parker Washington wide open for the touchdown.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) December 12, 2020
Levis follows up a six-yard run by punching a one-yard run in for a TD.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) December 12, 2020
PSU 25, MSU 24 w/ two seconds left in 3Q
Jahan Dotson is very good. That is all.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) December 12, 2020
MSU makes a 23-yard FG after CB Marquis Wilson had a nice pass breakup in the end zone.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) December 12, 2020
MSU 24, PSU 18 w/ 1:59 left in 3Q
It seemed like PSU had some momentum after its first drive of the second half ended in a TD, but the Nittany Lions go three-and-out there after Lee runs for a loss of a yard and Clifford throws two incompletions.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) December 12, 2020
Parker Washington (@cpw_3) takes a hit and still hangs on to this TD. @PennStateFball is right back in it. pic.twitter.com/2XKHrxxzL0
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) December 12, 2020
Great grab by Parker Washington to go up and snag that one. Penn State trails by three, 21-18.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) December 12, 2020
Levis *finally* threw the ball. It's tipped up and grabbed by WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith for an 11-yard gain.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) December 12, 2020
Penn State is trailing Michigan State 10-21 at the half. pic.twitter.com/WGdPSQpYXA
— Abby Drey (@ADreyPhotos) December 12, 2020
As rough as PSU's D looked that half, the offense was almost just as bad.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) December 12, 2020
Clifford is 9-14 for 92 yards and isn't getting the help on the ground that he got the last two games. PSU has 81 rushing yards (Clifford w/ 44, RB Keyvone Lee w/ 20, Levis w/ 9 and RB Caziah Holmes w/ 8).
Penn State's last winless home season?
— Mike Poorman (@PSUPoorman) December 12, 2020
The 1918 Pandemic, 0-1-1 at New Beaver Field pic.twitter.com/GrqlAWtp99
Thorne didn't throw an incompletion for the entire second quarter. Completed 10 out of 10 of his passes for 190 yards and three TDs. https://t.co/GahWaeZz33
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) December 12, 2020
HALF: MSU 21, PSU 10
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) December 12, 2020
Spartans have 242 yards of total offense, compared to 173 for the Nittany Lions.
Penn State called TO on 4th-and-4 w/ 37 secs left in the first half. Nittany Lions chose to punt it away after all.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) December 12, 2020
Thorne put that ball right where it needed to be — in the corner of the end zone to where only Nailor could grab it for a TD.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) December 12, 2020
MSU 21, PSU 10 w/ 1:26 to go until halftime
The Spartans just walked the Penn State defense down the field. That's the worst the unit has looked in a few weeks.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) December 12, 2020
As signing day approaches, one can only wonder what the sales pitch is to recruits regarding this Penn State offense. Most weeks, it is boring, struggles to do anything creative, and isn't explosive. Personnel can be blamed for some problems, but certainly not all of them.
— Greg Pickel (@GregPickel) December 12, 2020
Levis starts this series at QB for PSU, and of course he runs
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) December 12, 2020
Thorne, a redshirt freshman making his first start, looks impressive so far today.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) December 12, 2020
He's 7-9 passing for 128 yards, two TDs and an interception. https://t.co/gtY1q3ftLj
That was a beautiful ball by Payton Thorne to hit Tre'Von Morgan for a touchdown. Perfect placement.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) December 12, 2020
Sean Clifford takes the draw and nobody is there to meet him once he gets past the line of scrimmage. The 31-yard touchdown run gives Penn State a 10-7 lead.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) December 12, 2020
Play-action deep shots are the way that Penn State gets beat. Max protection and a really bad job by Hardy on the route.
— Thomas Frank Carr (@ThomasFrankCarr) December 12, 2020
MSU QB Payton Thorne has all day to throw and airs it out 45 yards to WR Jalen Nailor for a TD.
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) December 12, 2020
MSU 7, PSU 3 w/ 13:50 left in 2Q
DE Jayson Oweh is in street clothes now and Tariq Castro-Fields is too. Second rotation of DEs in now with Adisa Isaac working alongside starter Shaka Toney. Shane Simmons started.
— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) December 12, 2020
Penn State settles for a field goal a few plays after Keyvone Lee has a touchdown called back by holding. 3-0, Nittany Lions.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) December 12, 2020
Hello Keyvon Lee. Runs over three or four Spartans for a TD. ..Holding on Fries negates the play and backs it up to the 19.
— State College's ESPN (@ESPNRadio1450) December 12, 2020
Jaquan Brisker gets the pick and fumbles to give Michigan State a first down. Some bad luck there, but Brisker has taken a clear step forward in recent weeks.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) December 12, 2020
Getting ready for kickoff, the 2020 seniors were recognized and the music is being played as if there is a stadium full of people so I'm sure you can hear it from all of State College. pic.twitter.com/eBO1QSY4Gy
— Abby Drey (@ADreyPhotos) December 12, 2020
— Onward State (@OnwardState) December 12, 2020
Believe this is the third time this season Penn State will be facing a quarterback making his first career start. Freshman Payton Thorne on the field for Michigan State.
— Donnie Collins (@PennStateTT) December 12, 2020
It appears that #PennState CB Tariq Castro-Fields will miss his 5th straight game after being injured vs. Maryland.
— Richard Scarcella (@nittanyrich) December 12, 2020
OH YEAH pic.twitter.com/0HnKrf4JbD
— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) December 12, 2020
PSU's senior parents getting ushered in to watch pre-game/take photos from the stands. But, they can't stay for the game. pic.twitter.com/xKn6kxkabt
— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) December 12, 2020
It’s a gorgeous day here at Beaver Stadium for Penn State hosting Michigan State at noon. Due to Pa. Covid-19 mitigations no fans will be here, not even player families. pic.twitter.com/Zl74me00Y7
— Abby Drey (@ADreyPhotos) December 12, 2020
Family Cam is all set up on Senior Day! #WeAre pic.twitter.com/oPiDAhNvJK
— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) December 12, 2020
We are honoring student-athletes today for Senior Day!
— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) December 12, 2020
[SENIOR DAY THREAD] ️
We're about an hour from kickoff for #PennState-Michigan State, in what could be the Nittany Lions' last game of the season in Beaver Stadium. Here are some pre-game reads to get you to kickoff ...
— Parth Upadhyaya (@pupadhyaya_) December 12, 2020
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This story was originally published December 12, 2020 at 11:47 AM.