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O c T O B E R 2 3 , 2 0 1 6 B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . c O M 12 T I M O W E N | O W E N . T I M . B W I @ g M A I L . c O M Had there been any concern whether Jason Cabinda and Brandon Bell would need to shake some rust off a=er missing a month or more of football, their first- quarter stat line alleviated it. Although the game was scoreless a=er the first 15 minutes, Cabinda and Bell had already combined for 11 total tackles. By game's end, Cabinda had tallied 12 tackles, while Bell had a gaudy 19. They both tallied a sack as well. Perhaps more than any statistical com- parison, however, having the leadership of a junior and senior, respectively, re- turn to the field filled a void for a defense that's been severely hampered by injuries throughout the first half of the season. By the time the clock ticked to zero Saturday night in front of 107,000-plus fans, it was part of what helped Penn State pull of a 24-21 upset over No. 2 Ohio State. Head coach James Franklin said "getting Cabinda and Bell back was huge," adding that their "leadership, poise and play- making ability" helped set an example for a defense that held the Buckeyes more than 28 points below their season average. Cabinda, who was sidelined a=er the first game of the season, had seen the close win over Minnesota a couple weeks ago from the sideline. He watched the Maryland game from the same vantage point, so finally being a part this time was a rewarding experience. "Overcoming adversity against Min- nesota, winning in overtime, and then in the Maryland game beating an unde- feated Maryland – I mean, being on the sidelines seeing those [backups] get their opportunity and seeing them make all those plays and that just makes you so happy," Cabinda said, adding how he was even happier to be included this time. Bell as well. "I was losing my mind sit- ting out for all those weeks," he said. "Just being out there my teammates, it's all you can ask for." As one of the team's senior leaders, Bell took it upon himself in the postgame locker room to deliver a message to his teammates. While this is definitely one to celebrate – "It was just great," he said – he also believes it is evidence of what the team is capable of. "I told the team, this is who we are," Bell said. "It's not a shock. I know a lot of guys are feeling emotional that we just beat this team, but I said, this is who we are. This is who we can be every week. This is who we should be every week. It's definitely a huge step, beating a top team, a team that we've come close to beating before and just never could really get past that step. A top team, and we did that today." WELCOME BACK LBs Brandon Bell and Jason Cabinda make a smashing return to Lions' lineup PSUtixman@gmail.com www.PSUtixman.com Get your PSU Football Tickets at go t ti cke t s? k c i t t t e k man@g .PSUtixm www.PSUtixman.com at ootba Get yo k c i t t o gm .PSUtixman.com all ur s t s e k Bell (11) and Cabinda (40) re- turned to action against Ohio State after long injury layoffs. They combined to make 31 tackles against the Buckeyes. Photo by Steve Manuel

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