Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1024355
out
of the way while the Panthers self-
destructed. Pitt made enough mistakes
to lose two or three games. It was flagged
for 14 penalties for 116 yards, including a
roughing-the-passer penalty that set up
a PSU touchdown and a holding call in
the end zone that yielded a safety. The
Panthers also had three turnovers,
missed a 35-yard field goal, botched the
hold on a PAT, were intercepted on the
goal line and got stuffed on fourth down
at the Penn State 4-yard line. They even
flubbed the coin toss, electing to receive
even though the coaches had wanted to
open the game on defense.
Not since Three Rivers Stadium came
down has the North Shore seen an im-
plosion like that.
Here's a look at the good and the bad:
THE GOOD
• K.J. Hamler had another electrifying
performance for the Nittany Lions, scor-
ing their first touchdown on a 32-yard jet
sweep and their second on a 14-yard
catch. He also had a leaping 28-yard
kickoff return that might have been a lot
longer if he hadn't been yanked to the
turf by his facemask.
Hamler became the first Penn State
wide receiver to have a rushing and re-
ceiving touchdown in the same game
since Derrick Williams against Indiana in
2008.
• Playing in his hometown, Sanders en-
joyed his first 100-yard game, finishing
with 118 on 16 carries for a robust average
of 7.4 yards per attempt. He could have
had an even bigger night, but two of his
best carries were wiped out by penalties.
• It's hard to believe that Amani
Oruwariye didn't make his first career
start until last week against Appalachian
State. All the guy does is make plays.
Penn State's interception leader last year
as a junior backup cornerback,
Oruwariye intercepted his second pass of
the season last night, pulling in one of
Kenny Pickett's few deep passing at-
tempts at the goal line to snuff out a first-
quarter drive.
"The ball just likes Amani," Franklin
said. "I've been around guys like that my
whole career where they just seem to be
around the ball and make plays."
• Blake Gillikin had a fantastic night
despite the lousy field conditions. He av-
eraged 42.6 yards on five attempts, and
the shortest of those kicks – a 27-yarder
early in the second quarter – was a per-
fect pooch punt that was downed at
Pitt's 4-yard line.
"Blake was a big difference in the game
this week," Franklin said. "Tough
weather conditions, and he was able to
punt the ball and swing field position
when we needed to."
• A