Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/743031
O C T O B E R 2 6 , 2 0 1 6 B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M 15 and experience at linebacker. Led by their remarkable perform- ances, Penn State did what might not have seemed possible prior to last weekend. The Nittany Lions produced a total team effort on defense. Despite missing the first 30 minutes of action, Sickels enjoyed his best game as a Nit- tany Lion, finishing with nine total tackles including 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. As a unit, Penn State totaled 11 tackles for loss and six sacks. For a bit of perspective, note that Ohio State had given up only five sacks all season be- fore facing the Lions. It was a masterpiece, led by an injury riddled defense that had given no indi- cation whatsoever it could put together that type of effort. "There were times I looked out there on the field and we had had four red- shirt freshmen on the field on the D- line at the same time. I'm so proud of the growth and the development," Franklin said at his postgame news con- ference. "Getting Cabinda and Bell back was huge. Their leadership, their poise, their playmaking ability was huge for us. I'm happy for our whole defense." Bowen echoed Franklin's words aAer the game. "We had more leaders on the field. Jason was aggressive. He really took control of the defense. We missed that. Having him back was big energy. B-Bell, his wisdom, his maturity, he's a great guy," Bowen said. "It was great to play with them back out there again. You're confident with that guy to the right and to the leA of you. When there's that confidence, you play fast, and it's hard to make mistakes." But it was Sickels who best summed up the play of the defense against Ohio State. "Everyone played to the echo of the whistle, and everyone put in the work we needed to put in," he said. "You just go out there and handle your re- sponsibilities, be one-eleventh of the defense, stay calm when things don't go well and enjoy things when they go right." Add in two huge special teams plays in the fourth quarter and a few critical chunk plays on offense, and you have the formula for an upset. It's a performance that gives Penn State the opportunity for both a bright future and a much brighter present. It sets up the possibility of a New Year's Day bowl and perhaps even a 10-2 sea- son. A lot of things would have to go right for that to happen, but it's a possi- bility. Even an eternal optimist like me wouldn't have predicted that. Franklin is mobbed after Penn State fin- ished off its 24-21 upset over the Buckeyes. It was the Lions' first win over a top- five opponent since 1999. Photo by Curtis Chan