Blue White Illustrated

BRING THE 'A GAME' These guys have no quit! Never. Never. Never. Burb Freshman gunslinger rifles home the winner in overtime LORI  SHONTZ | blue white contRibutoR Offensive guard Miles Dieffenbach wasn't worried. Yeah, it was overtime. Yeah, it was third-and-15. And yeah, Penn State had just had a touchdown called back on a holding penalty. But quarterback Christian Hackenberg had already told the team he didn't want this game to last four overtimes, as the previous overtime game in Beaver Stadium had. And having spent so much time running two-minute drills in practice and seeing Hackenberg's poise keep improving, Dieffenbach figured the next play was no problem. Besides, O'Brien had called one of the team's favorite plays, one on which they'd scored several times this season. So the offensive line surrounded Hackenberg. Patted him on the helmet a few times. And, said Dieffenbach, told the quarterback, "You're putting this in the end zone." Hackenberg did. He threw the ball exactly where tight end Kyle Carter needed it – "if that ball was six inches one way or the other, it's batted down or maybe intercepted, coach Bill O'Brien said – and " the freshman quarterback capped the fifth overtime drive of his career with a score, this one a 15-yard touchdown pass. The window available to position the ball, that looked just about perfect – Tom Brady perfect, no less – to Hackenberg. "Watching that play on film from the Patriots, it looked pretty similar to the type of window Brady's was," Hackenberg said. "It looked pretty good and I felt confident, so I thought, 'What the heck?' and Kyle made a great catch." Hackenberg has struggled in the red zone at times this season, but on twominute drills and overtime, he's been poised and consistent. Dieffenbach said the freshman quarterback began "bringing his A game" about midway through training camp, and the continued focus on two-minute drills in practice, plus success in games, has given Hackenberg n o V e m b e R No bad wins during sanction years. None. This was ugly, but it's a win and that's all that matters. We also only have 50-plus scholarship guys, and I have to remember that when I get frustrated. PSUPride1 I think the officiating is bad enough in this conference that something has to be done about it. It's affecting the integrity of the game right now. Bill Anderson CHEESIN' Hackenberg scored on a 9-yard FROM THE WEB online Reaction to Psu's latest Game gemrich At least we wiped that smirky smile off Tim Beckman's face. Kasandro rush to give PSU a 14-0 lead in the first half. even more confidence in those situations. "In a two-minute situation, you've got to have it, running back Bill Belton said. " "I think that's part of the mentality he has, and that propels us to be a better team." Hackenberg completed 20 of 32 passes against the Illini for 240 yards and a touchdown, and he ran for an additional touchdown, a wrinkle to his game that the coaching staff has been working to add. When Hackenberg couldn't find an open receiver in the second quarter, he scored himself on a 9-yard run. "He's a passer first, so he's trying to drive the ball down the field with a pass, " O'Brien said. "We have shown him on tape and worked with him in practice with some scramble drills. He can run. He is a good athlete, and he took advantage on that play. I think we have to teach him to get his pads down now. " The play proved that Hackenberg's shoulder, which was injured against Ohio State, was fine. "I wasn't thinking about my shoulder," he said. "I was thinking about the end zone. Whatever happened after that, happened. " 2 , 2 0 1 3 11 Belton's fumble may have saved this win. If we would have been stopped on third down, we would have kicked the tying FG. Then they get the ball with four minutes to go. Anybody think we would have stopped them from driving the field to win? Things turned out pretty good instead! GregPSU This staff cares little about stars, past performances and stature. If you deserve it, it doesn't matter who you are. Adam Gress for Donovan Smith; Anthony Zettel for Deion Barnes; Ben Kline for Nyeem Wartman. Left your starting slot receiver (Richy Anderson) home from the biggest game to send him a message about school. They are looking at the whole picture with each player and you have the opportunity to earn playing time if you deserve it. PennStateTurf2002 b l u e w h i t e o n l i n e . c o m

• Cover