Blue White Illustrated

PLAYER OF THE GAMEThis one is tough to decide. Frankly, Minnesota running backs Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks might have had the most consistent afternoons, but to the victors go the spoils, and quarterback Trace McSorley has to get the nod here. Overcoming a miserable start to the game, McSorley completed 10 of 22 passes for 240 yards and a touchdown in the second half to go along with his crucial, game-saving third-down scramble on the Nittany Lions' final possession in regulation. A gutsy effort for the redshirt sophomore quarter- back. PLAY OF THE GAMEThe play was vir- tually dead. All momentum for the game on the side of Minnesota, a third- and-11 play was broken as McSorley stepped up into a collapsing pocket for more time. He fired a laser to Irvin Charles 30 yards downfield, and the redshirt freshman receiver broke a tackle and raced to the end zone to complete a stunning 80-yard touch- down reception. The play would com- pletely upend a game in which the Nittany Lions looked entirely lifeless until that point. BEST PASSMcSorley struggled with his deep passes in the first half but found a way to connect with his re- ceivers in the second. Among his biggest completions was a 53-yarder to wide open tight end Mike Gesicki to- ward the end of the third quarter. The catch set up a touchdown that gave PSU a 20-13 lead. BEST RUNSaquon Barkley, bottled up through the majority of the game and limited to just 63 yards on the ground, hit a homer when it counted most. Ac- cepting McSorley's handoff on the first touch of Penn State's overtime posses- sion, the sophomore running back weaved through traffic and into the end zone. BEST CATCHComing off a major swing in momentum early in the second half, Penn State wideout Chris Godwin came down with a crucial 36-yard pass completion into the Minnesota red zone. Godwin made a similar play at the end of the fourth quarter to prolong the tying drive. WORST DROPHe didn't necessarily need to make the play, but Penn State linebacker Brandon Smith let a tipped interception - and about 20 yards of field position - slip away on Mitch Leidner's errant pass in the first quarter. A small blip on another inspired afternoon for the redshirt junior walk-on linebacker. BEST SACKPenn State's first of the game was a crucial one. Facing a driving Minnesota offense late in the game, Robert Windsor finally got to Leidner for a 5-yard loss. JUDGMENT CALLS O c T O B E R 1 , 2 0 1 6 B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . c O M 4 N A T E B A U E R | N B A U E R @ B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . c O M

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