Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/171879
P O S T G A M E R E P O R T W E E K 3 UCF 34, PENN STATE 31 THE GAME AT A GLANCE IN A RUSH Penn State's defense gave up 219 rushing yards, including a 49-yard run by Jeff Godfrey. Steve Manuel Good Knight UCF delivers Penn State its first loss of season MATT HERB | m at t @ b l u e w h i t e o n l i n e . c o m Adam Gress was thinking one thing, and one thing only, as he watched the snap sail over the head of UCF punter Caleb Houston late in the fourth quarter of Penn State's nonconference matchup with the Knights on Saturday night. "Let's go score a touchdown." Said the senior offensive tackle, "There's nothing else to think except, 'Let's do this. The time is now. Let's punch it in. Let's get some points and finish this thing with a win.'" S e P t e m b e R The Nittany Lions got those points. Three plays after taking possession at the UCF 25-yard line following the botched punt attempt, Christian Hackenberg threw to Allen Robinson in the corner of the end zone, and with just under three minutes remaining and the Beaver Stadium crowd roaring, an 18-point UCF lead had nearly disappeared entirely. But a touchdown wasn't the only thing the Nittany Lions needed. They needed a field goal, too, 1 4 , 2 0 1 3 1 b l u e w h i t e o n l i n e . c o m GOOD NEWS There was no quit in these Nittany Lions. Although they surrendered 21 first-half points, they rallied in the fourth quarter, only to fall three points short in their comeback bid. BAD NEWS 507 yards. The last defense that allowed UCF to gain more than 500 yards of total offense? Marshall. PSU can't play Conference USA defense if it wants to be successful down the road in the Big Ten. THE TAKEAWAY Penn State's offense showed promise, as Christian Hackenberg played his best game yet. But the defense took a step back. All is not lost, however. Blake Bortles is a bona fide pro prospect, and luckily for the Lions, they won't face another passer that talented for the rest of the season.