Blue White Illustrated

Nebraska Postgame

Penn State Sports Magazine

Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/904027

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 5 of 12

GAME GRADES QUARTERBACK Trace McSorley fin- ished the day 24 for 36 with 325 yards passing, three touchdowns and no in- terceptions. He also had 46 yards rushing on nine carries, scoring one touchdown. When you factor in the weather conditions, you can make an argument that his performance against Nebraska was his best game of the season. GRADEA RUNNING BACKSaquon Barkley put together one of the best halves of his career, rushing for 142 yards and three touchdowns before halftime. He fin- ished the day with 158 yards rushing of 17 carries (9.3 yards per carry) and 66 yards receiving on six receptions (11 yards per catch). That's the Barkley we've all come to know in recent years. GRADEA RECEIVERTight end Mike Gesicki had a Senior Day to remember, pulling in two touchdowns, while Juwan Johnson put together a solid performance for the second consecutive week, totaling five receptions for 105 yards. Nebraska's sec- ondary had no answers for Penn State's receiving corps. GRADEA OFFENSIVE LINEAfter a few tough weeks, the offensive live paved the way for more than 400 yards of total of- fense in just the first half. The Lions finished with 609 yards of total of- fense, the most they've put up all sea- son. GRADEA DEFENSIVE LINENebraska had only 5 yards rushing at halftime, when Penn State was up 42-10. The defensive front let up a bit too much in the second half, but the majority of Nebraska's points came late in the game, when the sec- ond- and third-string units were play- ing. GRADEB LINEBACKERBrandon Smith had an excellent Senior Day, totaling 13 tack- les, while Jason Cabinda also had a solid day, recording seven stops. The pass coverage wasn't the best late in the game, so that knocks them down a bit. GRADEB DEFENSIVE BACKPenn State's sec- ondary held Nebraska QB Tanner Lee to just 72 yards passing in the first half. However, they played very con- servative in the second half and that was magnified when the second- and third-string defensive backs came into the game. GRADEC SPECIAL TEAMSPunter Blake Gillikin wasn't quite on his A game, but the conditions didn't help. Also, the punt- return unit cost the team points in the first quarter. GRADEC COACHESBrent Pry was probably a bit too conservative in the second half, but find us a coach that wouldn't have done the same up 32 points at halftime. Moor- head's offense was able to pick apart Ne- braska's defense all night. GRADEB CROWDEveryone who sat through those conditions for even a quarter or two deserves an A. GRADEA N O V E M B E R 1 8 , 2 0 1 7 B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . c O M 6 R Y A N   S N Y D E R | S N Y D E R 4 2 0 8 8 @ G M A I L . c O M Sizing up the Nittany Lions' performance in their win against Nebraska Johnson en- joyed another strong game, finishing with a career-high 105 yards on five catches. Photo by Steve Manuel

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of Blue White Illustrated - Nebraska Postgame