Skip to main content
Join
Team Avatar
Penn State

James Franklin on victory over Rutgers: We played complementary football

20200517_134556by:Justin Rudolph•11/19/22
On3 image
STATE COLLEGE, PA - NOVEMBER 12: Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates with head coach James Franklin during the first half of the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Beaver Stadium on November 12, 2022 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

The first quarter of Penn State’s matchup against Rutgers had the feel of an all-out brawl that would go down to the wire. But the Nittany Lions snapped out of that first quarter funk and went on to dominate the game in all three areas winning 55-10. After their dominating performance, Penn State’s head coach James Franklin gave his thoughts on his team’s performance and their complementary play on the night.

“Yeah, we played complementary football; that’s exactly what I was going to say. The one that probably I’m most proud of is the kickoff return because we really hadn’t done that. We’ve worked really hard at it. So, to see those kids have some success in that area and Stacey Collins was awesome. We really strung a bunch of weeks together now on defense and played really well. And offensively, we’re able to get a bunch of guys reps, including Drew Allar, which is important, so I’m proud.

“We’ve gotten better. And I’m not a guy that releases injuries, but we’ve had a bunch, and I couldn’t be more proud of how our coaches and how our players have handled that. It’s next man in, no excuses. Just come out and find a way to get wins.”

The two losses Penn State has on their record are to the top two teams in the Big Ten this season: Michigan and Ohio State. Still, the Nittany Lions have a chance at a 10-win season and a possible New Year’s six Bowl berth with a win new week against Michigan State. But Frankin is not worried about things he can’t control. Instead, his focus is still taking care of business one week at a time.

“Some of those things you’re talking about are outside of my control. So we’re just gonna focus on being 1-0 this week. And hopefully, they’ll tell us we’re going somewhere pretty good. But I’m proud of this team and what we’ve been able to do.

Franklin has consistently kept Penn as one of the better teams in the Big Ten and in the country. If Penn State can take down their rival Michigan State at home next Saturday; it will be the Nittany Lions’ fourth season with ten or more wins in the nine years with Franklin running the program.