Instant Reaction: Penn State defeats Auburn 28-20 in a nail biter
Penn State defeated the Auburn Tigers 28-20 in a game that came down to the wire. The Nittany Lions got the ball slowly moving early, but they were stopped quickly by the Tigers’ defense.
Throughout the game, we saw several tight end packages that Penn State found their sweet spot in that lead them to their first score of the game. Guys like Brenton Strange and Theo Johnson both had their own flashes throughout the game.
If there is one group of guys to credit for their game, as quarterback Sean Clifford did after the game, it’s the Penn State offensive lineman for giving Clifford all day to throw the ball.
Despite the win, Penn State still had struggles taking down Auburn running back Tank Bigsby. He ran the ball with poise and patience at finding the open holes.
Both quarterbacks had exceptional games. Clifford continues took look more confident under a new offensive coordinator, showing his athleticism under pressure in the pocket during the game. Auburn’s Bo Nix didn’t do a ton in the passing game, but he still did what he needed to do to help Auburn move the ball efficiently down the field.
Penn State’s run game struggled to find momentum for most of the game, but Noah Cain started to find his groove late in the game. One point worth noting is that even though Baylor transfer running back John Lovett did suit up tonight, he only saw two carries, which game late in the game. Lovett also got in on some special teams assignments.
We can’t go through this recap without talking about wide receiver Jahan Dotson. He showed off his speed by creating separation and catching passes in tight windows. He can even pass the ball too!
Penn State hosts Villanova next week at home, but this win on Saturday night will be a nice one on their resume.
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