Penn State Sports Magazine
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D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 6 31 game this season," Wallace said on Nov. 7. "We're still finding little details and tactics within our run game to get better at. Coming into this next week, we're just going to get better at those things and just attack this next team." Wide Receiver Redshirt senior Chase Sowell has given Penn State a dependable downfield threat while sophomore Koby Howard has been sidelined. Howard missed his sixth consecutive game at Washington, extending an absence that began after the Buffalo game on Sept. 19. Sowell caught 4 passes for 125 yards against the Huskies, including a dazzling one-handed grab and a 45-yard touch- down. For the season, he had 38 catches for 635 yards and 4 touchdowns. He had also produced a career-best 11 catches for 151 yards at Michigan, giving him two 100-yard performances in his past two appearances. He missed the Purdue game with an injury. The value of those receptions went be- yond yardage: 29 of Sowell's 38 catches through the Washington game produced first downs. Each of his catches against the Huskies moved the chains. Others have contributed, too. Redshirt freshman Zay Robinson caught a 24-yard touchdown against Washington, and ju- nior Brett Eskildsen added 2 catches for 35 yards. Freshman Amarion Jackson had 2 receptions for 31 yards against Pur- due. Those contributions have helped supplement Sowell's production while Howard remains unavailable. "I think we're starting to build a differ- ent narrative in that room and a different narrative around the city," Sowell said after the win over the Huskies. "As far as what the receiving room brings to the table, I think there's a different standard now." Tight End Penn State primarily relies on redshirt junior Andrew Rappleyea and senior Benjamin Brahmer, with redshirt se- nior Gabe Burkle also contributing. The group provided important receiving help during the two-game winning streak, particularly when the Lions played with- out Sowell against Purdue. Brahmer caught 4 passes for 58 yards against the Boilermakers and followed with 4 for 36 at Washington. Rappleyea added 6 catches for 61 yards over those games, including a 4-yard touchdown against Purdue. Their longer gains helped set up scores. Brahmer's 33-yard reception against Purdue preceded Wallace's fourth-quar- ter touchdown, and his 24-yard catch at Washington came immediately before Wallace's 46-yard scoring run. Rapple- yea's 12-yard reception converted a third down on the Lions' opening touchdown drive against the Huskies. The tight ends have given Becht options beyond his wide receivers and helped keep the offense moving. Offensive Line Redshirt sophomore Garrett Sex- ton entered at Washington after red- shirt freshman Malachi Goodman, who started despite an injury, was unable to finish. The Lions' blocking helped pro- duce 174 rushing yards, following their 269-yard effort against Purdue. The inconsistency remained evident, however. Washington recorded 3 sacks, and Penn State's first four possessions after halftime ended in 3 punts and a turnover on downs. The line then helped the Lions control the final 14-play, 70- yard possession, giving Hansen room for his long run and Becht enough push to convert the decisive fourth down. "Malachi has been dinged up, and we knew if we could play him early, that would be really positive," Campbell said. "We just didn't know how long he could go, and really that was what went into that with Malachi. He was not at full strength, and I think we knew he would be able to give us some. How much could he give us? "Garrett really had a great week of practice. I'm so proud of Garrett, I thought he did a really good job. It'll be great to watch the videotape, but it wasn't anything Malachi did. It was just his physical health." Goodman's limited availability came with redshirt sophomore center Brock Riker returning to the starting lineup af- ter an early-season injury. Penn State still needs more consistent execution across the front, but the last two wins provided tangible progress. The chal- lenge now is to make the blocking that sustained the final drive at Washington a more regular feature of the offense. ■ Senior tight end Benjamin Brahmer totaled 8 catches for 94 yards in Penn State's victories over Purdue and Washington. PHOTO BY MARK SELDERS/PENN STATE ATHLETICS