The last time Penn State traveled to California for a football game, it came up on the losing end of a Rose Bowl classic when USC kicked a game-winning field goal as time expired. On Saturday, the Nittany Lions were in another classic ending against USC, but this time it was the Nittany Lions celebrating a game-winning field goal. Ryan Barker’s 36-yard field goal in overtime lift Penn State over USC, 33-30, to improve to 6-0.
Behind a record day from tight end Tyler Warren, Penn State battled all afternoon and dug out of a double-digit deficit in the first half to find a way out of the Los Angeles Coliseum with a memorable win. Warren set a FBS record for the most receptions ina. game by a tight end with 17, and he ended the day with the second-most receiving yards
Penn State trailed the Trojans 20-6 at halftime but asserted some control after halftime. Penn State scored two touchdowns in the second quarter to tie the game at 20-20 thanks in large part to the effort by Warren, but Penn State trailed by three heading into the fourth quarter after USC managed to regain the lead shortly after Allar’s second interception of the day, this one off a tipped pass. Despite great field position, USC may have left points on the board after a solid defensive stand by Penn State to limit the damage as best it could.
Penn State put together a 72-yard drive to start the fourth quarter but had to settle for a Ryan Barker field goal from the three-yard line. That was when USC came up with a potentially backbreaking drive.
USC marched right down the field on the Penn State defense with big runs from Woody Marks, and Miller Moss completed a pass over the middle to Kyron Hudson for a five-yard touchdown pass to put the Trojans up 30-23 with just under six minutes to play. But that was more than enough time for Penn State to come up with an answer.
Drew Allar led one of the best drives of his career by driving Penn State down the field without a pass completion to Warren. Instead to was Julian Fleming coming up with big catches in the clutch as Penn State converted two fourth-down plays to keep the chains moving, one for a 16-yard gain and another for a 17-yard gain. Allar capped the drive with a touchdown pass to Nicholas Singleton, who returned to the field after missing last week’s game against UCLA.
Jaylen Reed picked off a pass from USC quarterback Miller Moss in the final seconds of the fourth quarter to prevent USC from setting up for a potentially game-winning field goal attempt, and Penn State was left with a few seconds to try and manufacture a deep shot to the end zone before overtime. Allar’s deep pass was picked off on the final play of regulation for his third interception of the game, which doubled his career total for interceptions.
After winning the coin toss and electing to go on defense, Penn State’s defense forced USC to try a field goal on the opening possession. USC missed a 45-yard attempt after the defense held strong, and got away with a couple of questionable missed interference calls in pass defense. Knowing a field goal would win it, Penn State didn’t try to do too much on its possession and just focused on putting the ball in a good spot for Barker, who connected on the game-winning field goal from 36 yards out.
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Penn State will be off next week. The Nittany Lions will be back on the road in Big Ten play in two weeks when it visits Wisconsin. The Badgers routed Rutgers in New Jersey earlier on Saturday.
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