Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/413187
PLAYER OF THE GAME Penn State's entire defense probably deserves the nod here. Although the Nittany Lions managed just one sack, they racked up 10 tackles for loss and a couple of key interceptions while holding standout Hoosiers tailback Tevin Coleman to only 71 yards on the ground. PLAY OF THE GAMEIndiana had the ball with a couple of minutes left to play, but Penn State linebacker Nyeem Wartman stepped in front of a Zander Diamont pass over the middle to effec- tively seal the Nittany Lion win. Five plays later, Sam Ficken's 28-yard field goal gave Penn State a 13-7 lead. BEST PASSFinally having some time to throw the ball, Penn State quarter- back Christian Hackenberg zipped one to wide open tight end Mike Gesicki across the middle for a 28-yard first down pickup early in the second quar- ter. WORST PASS Hackenberg had Gesicki open in the end zone early in the third quarter, but throwing across his body while scrambling toward the right side- line, the sophomore quarterback mis- fired, forcing a field goal attempt. BEST RUNBill Belton's breakthrough could not have come at a better time. On a delayed draw with space up the middle, the Nittany Lion senior blasted 92 yards down the left sideline and into the end zone, eluding a diving tackle at- tempt by Michael Hunter. It was the longest scoring run in Penn State his- tory. BEST CATCHTight end Jesse James pulled in a dart from Hackenberg in the fourth quarter, picking up 26 yards and dramatically changing field position for the Nittany Lions. WORST DROPIndiana had possession, was moving down the field, and had wideout Simmie Cobbs alone over the middle on third-and-5. But Cobbs sim- ply let the ball slip out of his hands, and Indiana missed its subsequent field goal attempt. BEST SACKIt took the Nittany Lions nearly all game, but defensive tackle Anthony Zettel finally caught Diamont in the backfield for an 8-yard loss late in the fourth quarter. BEST HITThe play went for a big Indi- ana gain, but Penn State defensive end Deion Barnes absolutely unloaded on Diamont a moment after a pass early in the second quarter. Jordan Lucas's stick on Dominique Booth midway through the third quarter to force a punt is a close second. BEST EFFORTHackenberg had a "whoops" moment early in the second quarter when the football slid out of his right hand. Luckily for Penn State, Akeel Lynch was there to snatch the loose ball, and he scampered 8 yards through traffic on the broken play. BEST KICKPenn State's Dan Pasquar- iello was effective throughout the game, but no attempt was more important than his 39-yarder to pin Indiana at its own 21 with less than 3 minutes left to play in the game. BEST RETURNPenn State punt re- turner Jesse Della Valley put together his best effort of the season, blasting through tacklers en route to a 24-yard return. WORST RETURNNittany Lion fresh- man Grant Haley could only produce an 8-yard carry out of his own end zone late in the second quarter, pin- ning Penn State deep. But Belton's huge touchdown run on the next play helped erase that mistake from mem- ory. BEST DECISIONLate in the second quarter, Indiana safety Mark Murphy immediately sniffed out a Penn State screen to Saeed Blacknall, stepping in front of Hackenberg's pass while racing toward the end zone for a 47-yard pick- six. WORST DECISIONIndiana punt re- turner Shane Wynn took a Pasquariello punt late in the first quarter at his 13- yard line, but he kept backtracking as he attempted to extend the play and was taken down by Cole Chiappialle at the 3. MOST TELLING MOMENTFacing first- and-goal at the Indiana 1-yard line, Penn State was unable to punch it in, and Sam Ficken's field goal attempt from the 10 was blocked, leaving the Lions without a single point for their ef- fort. Though the Nittany Lions finished with 162 yards on the ground, 92 came from Belton's one carry – another sign of how ineffective the running game has been this season. – NATE BAUER JUDGMENT CALLS The best and the rest from the Nittany Lions' win in Bloomington N o V E m B E R 8 , 2 0 1 4 B l U E w h i t E o N l i N E . c o m 4 PLAYER OF THE GAME Penn State's en- tire de- fense came up big against Coleman, holding the nation's leading rusher to a season-low 71 yards. Photo by Steve Manuel