Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/424631
PLAYER OF THE GAME Michigan State's Jeremy Langford didn't show much flash, but his patience paid off as he racked up 118 yards and two touch- downs on 30 carries to pace the Spar- tans' offense. PLAY OF THE GAMELate in the second quarter, Penn State wideout Chris God- win nearly made the spectacular touch- down catch to pull the Nittany Lions within a field goal of the Spartans. In- stead, Michigan State's Trae Waynes grabbed the tipped ball for an intercep- tion to end the Lions' drive and pre- serve a 13-3 lead heading into the halftime break. BEST PASSMichigan State quarter- back Connor Cook struggled to find a rhythm in the first half, but his 31-yard completion to Macgarrett Kings was perfectly placed. The pass moved the Spartans into the red zone. BEST RUNOnly three plays after Cook's beautiful ball, Langford plowed 3 yards through the Lions' defensive line into the end zone. Patient in his attack all day, Lang- ford put the Spartans ahead 20-3 midway through the third quarter. BEST CATCHPenn State pro- duced one of the game's most miraculous plays late in the first half when C.J. Olaniyan hit Cook on third-and-long, leading to an Anthony Zettel interception. Everything about this play was remarkable: that Olaniyan stuck with the play long enough to alter the throw, and that Zettel managed to make the catch. WORST DROPIt was hardly his fault, but Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg was hit from behind by Marcus Rush midway through the third quarter. The ball popped into the air, and Michigan State pounced on it to take possession at the Lions' 18-yard line. BEST SACKWith the Nittany Lions threatening early in the second quarter, Rush and teammate Riley Bullough combined to take down Hackenberg on third- and-9 from the 30-yard line. The sack, which forced a punt, was the 40th allowed by the Nittany Lions on the season, a school record. BEST HITPenn State linebacker Nyeem Wartman absolutely unloaded on a sliding Cook before the Michigan State quarterback could get to the side- line late in the first quarter. BEST EFFORTAdrian Amos was all over MSU wideout Keith Mumphery in the corner of the end zone, knocking Cook's potential TD pass away in the first quarter. BEST KICKLate in the first quarter, Michigan State's Michael Geiger capped a 10-play, 58-yard drive by drilling a 39-yard field goal straight through the uprights. Danny Pasquariello's 34-yard punt, which was downed at the 2 early in the second quarter, deserves an hon- orable mention nod here. WORST KICKSam Ficken's 50-yard field goal try in the first quarter was disastrous, rising no more than 10 yards off the ground in an attempt reminis- cent of a skulled 3-iron. BEST RETURNR.J. Shelton's 90-yard touchdown off the opening kickoff is the obvious choice here. Bouncing off tacklers en route to the end zone, he gave the Spartans a 7-0 lead before the first play from scrimmage had been run. MOST TELLING MOMENTThis one was over as soon as it began, thanks to Shel- ton's return. Bouncing off would-be tacklers all the way down the field, he gave Michigan State nearly all the points it would need to defeat Penn State. – NATE BAUER JUDGMENT CALLS The best and the rest from the Nittany Lions' loss to Michigan State N o V E m B E R 2 9 , 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 Langford pounded away at Penn State's de- fense and fin- ished with 118 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries. Photo by Patrick Mansell