Blue White Illustrated

The best and the rest from the Lions' JUDGMENT formance was nothing short of gutsy. He led the Lions with nine tackles, forcing a fumble, recovering another, and breaking up a critical third-down pass along the way. PLAY OF THE GAME Late in the fourth quarter, P a flailing Virginia team found life. Quar- terback Michael Rocco tossed up a des- peration pass to tight end Jake McGee, who came down with the 44-yard recep- tion despite apparent pass interference. It set up the go-ahead touchdown just six plays later. BEST RUN Penn State linebacker Glenn Carson actually had the best carry of the day for the Nittany Lions, scampering 19 yards upfield on a fake punt in the sec- ond quarter. BEST CATCH With the game on the line early in the fourth quarter, Penn State receiver Allen Robinson went full exten- sion to pull in a 30-yard touchdown toss, giving the Nittany Lions a 14-10 lead. WORST DROP In the second quarter, Vir- ginia receiver Dominique Terrell was hit in stride by his quarterback, only to let the pass slip through his hands. BEST TACKLE Mauti tried setting the tone early, knocking a first-down reception out of the hands of Virginia tight end Paul Freedman on the Cavs' first play from scrimmage. The turnover gave the Nittany Lions possession in the red zone. BEST HIT Defensive end Deion Barnes stripped Virginia quarterback Phillip COACHSPEAK Steve Manuel Sims and gave the Nittany Lions posses- sion at the Cavs' 17-yard line in the fourth quarter. BEST EFFORT Penn State defensive tackle Jordan Hill showed why he's destined for a future in the NFL, alertly snatching a third-and-long dump pass by Rocco with one hand, then turning and rumbling down the field in the second quarter. BEST KICK In a game that featured some of the worst kicking a college football game has ever seen, Virginia kicker Drew Jar- rett did manage to send home a 46-yard field goal late in the second quarter. WORST KICK Sam Ficken couldn't split the STATING HIS CASE O'Brien said after the game that his team struggled to capitalize on its four turnovers. "That was the differ- ence in the ball game," he said. Steve Manuel S E P T E M B E R 8 , 2 0 1 2 4 B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . c O M uprights on his first three attempts and an extra point attempt. Finally, he nailed a 30-yarder in the fourth quarter to give the Nittany Lions' a 16-10 lead, only to miss the potential game-winner with a second remaining. KEY STATISTIC Penn State tried to convert on fourth down four times in the first half alone, and now seven for the season. Last year, the Nittany Lions went for it only 18 times total. Understatement alert: This team is desperately missing Anthony Fera. – NATE BAUER PLAYER OF THE GAME Mauti starred for Penn State, forcing a fumble, recover- ing another, and amassing a team-high nine tackles in the Nittany Lions' 17-16 loss. LAYER OF THE GAME The best player on the field Saturday was Penn State line- backer Michael Mauti, and his per- heartbreaking loss to Virginia CALLS

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