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and occasionally at guard. After the Michigan State game, Franklin said he thought the Lions weren't as physically tough as they needed to be on the offensive and de- fensive lines. "We're too finesse [ori- ented]," he said, and he reiterated that point in the days leading up to the Rut- gers game. "I don't think this is something that's been [emerging] the last two weeks. We were this way last year when we won the Big Ten championship," Franklin said. "We have been saying internally and ex- ternally that we want to be a more physi- cal team up front. And when I say that, I'm not just talking about the offensive line; I'm talking about tight ends, I'm talking about all of it. I think it's some- thing that we can do a better job of and need to do a better job of to take that next step as a program, especially when you get into games like [the Michigan State game] where the weather can make it maybe a little bit more challenging to throw the ball the way you want to throw the ball." The Lions didn't get those problems entirely resolved in time for Rutgers' visit to Beaver Stadium. The proof was in Barkley's stat line against the Scarlet Knights: 14 carries, 35 yards, two touch- downs. But as he showed on a spectacular hook-and-ladder play on which he nearly vaulted into the end zone from the 6-yard line, there are a few workarounds that the coaching staff can use. Through 10 games, Barkley had two touchdowns and a 30.2-yard aver- age on kickoff returns and was the team's second-leading receiver with 40 catches for 524 yards. And despite Penn DaeSean Hamilton almost had to double-check to ensure that the cor- rect play had been signaled in. The call from the sideline was for a hook-and- ladder, a play that the team had in- stalled in late September and one that Hamilton never expected to use in a game. "I just thought it was a play we were going to keep in our back pocket for the end-of-the-world situation," he said. "So yeah, it was pretty cool to see. Saquon, he basically did all of the work. He made a good play out of it." The Nittany Lions were facing third- and-9 at the Rutgers 15-yard line. At the time, midway through the third quarter, they were leading by only eight points, and players and coaches alike knew they needed to strike while in the red zone. A field goal would be helpful but hardly insurmountable. A touchdown would create some separation against a Rutgers team whose offense was not built for big comebacks. So after back-to-back rushes that to- taled just 1 yard, offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead dialed in the trick play on third down. At the snap, quarterback Trace McSor- ley zipped the ball out to his right, where Hamilton was lined up in the slot. The senior receiver cleanly hauled in the pass, then looked to running back Saquon Barkley, who at first faked a pass block then circled out of the backfield to accept a pitch. The play worked – almost to perfec- tion. Barkley hit the line of scrimmage at nearly full speed before hurdling a Scar- let Knight defender at the 6-yard line. It was another one of those highlight-reel plays for Barkley, during which he was airborne for almost 5 yards. But on this one, he was dropped just short of the goal line. "It was clear that they were bringing a blitz and it was going to work in that look," Barkley said. "They were in man, and Hammy did exactly what he was supposed to do: sell the man and be able to pitch. One thing you really focus on [as the running back] is getting the depth and getting width so you can catch the ball and find a way into the end zone – get one-on-one with a guy, square him up. I went overtop and got tackled at the 1-yard line." On the official stat sheet, Hamilton earned a 0-yard reception. It was not considered a catch for Barkley, but he was credited with 11 receiving yards. "I'll take the reception," Hamilton said. "I like catching. He can have all the different accolades like he always gets. That's fine with me." A stat Barkley didn't get on that one, however, was a touchdown. That came two plays later. He was stuffed for no gain on first down before punching it in for a score on the next play. It was one of two touchdowns for Barkley on the day. The score gave the Nittany Lions a 21- 6 lead, and they went on to add two more touchdowns en route to a 35-6 victory Nov. 11 at Beaver Stadium. The hook-and-ladder was one of the more influential plays of the game, pro- viding Penn State with a surge of mo- mentum. It's one that will likely be replayed on highlight reels for the rest of the season, too, if not longer. And since it happened in front of photographer's row, there is plenty of documentation of Barkley's hang time. It was one of those moments that had it all, but for the junior running back, who finished with only 48 yards of total offense, it was incomplete. "When those plays happen, you've just got to make your play when it comes," he said. "Obviously, those are designed plays that we see are going to work against that specific look and that spe- cific defense. You've got to make that play. We were able to score on that drive, but you've got to find a way to get into the end zone." ■ Trick play vs. Rutgers adds to Barkley's highlight reel |

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