Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/755526
BEST HITOn a designed run, Michigan State quarterback Damion Terry was met violently behind the line of scrim- mage by Penn State defensive end Gar- rett Sickels. The play helped force the Spartans to settle for a field goal to open the scoring. BEST EFFORTFacing third-and-goal at the 1-yard line, Barkley took his of- fensive line – and Michigan State's de- fensive line – completely out of the equation. Flying over the line, Saquon Barkley punched in Penn State's first touchdown of the afternoon to give the home team a 10-9 lead. BEST KICKOn a day of contrasts from a year ago, Blake Gillikin might have presented the most dramatic one Satur- day afternoon. On his first attempt of the afternoon, Gillikin blasted a 49- yarder, completely flipping field posi- tion for the Nittany Lions early. BEST DECISIONIf being a second-half team could be considered a decision, it would have to land in this spot. Coming out of a first half in which the defense was pushed around and the offense was lifeless, the Nittany Lions excelled in the third quarter on both sides of the ball. Unleashing a 21-0 knockout punch, Penn State booked its ticket to Indianapolis. MOST TELLING MOMENTWith 7 min- utes, 20 seconds remaining in the first quarter, barely 25 actual minutes into Penn State's game against the Spartans, the crowd erupted for its biggest cheer of the day. Moments earlier, No. 2 Ohio State knocked off No. 3 Michigan in double-overtime, opening the door for Penn State to earn a berth in the Big Ten Championship Game with a win. N O V E M 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 5 McSorley enjoyed one of the best days of his college career in Penn State's 45-12 vic- tory over Michigan State. The sopho- more quarterback completed 17 of 23 passes for 376 yards and four touchdowns. Photo by Steve Manuel