Instant Analysis: Penn State's Dynamic Duo powers win over Boise State
The Penn State Nittany Lions Football team defeated the Boise State Broncos 31-14 in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Eve. Reporters Greg Pickel and Nate Bauer discuss the win after the game live from field level in Arizona after the victory.
Amin Vanover steps in to fill the void
Bauer highlighted defensive end Amin Vanover’s performance on the night, who stepped in for an injured Abdul Carter and secured big plays, pressures, and a sack in the fourth quarter. Vanover downplayed the moment after the game.
“I wouldn’t necessarily say a dream come true but it was defintley exciting and fun. You never know when your number is going to be called and when it’s your time. So you always gotta prepare like a starter. And that’s what I’ve been doing my whole time here, no matter what,” Vanover said.
Vanover’s time to ascend into the starting defense was supposed to be this year but Carter’s move from defensive end to linebacker upended that. Vanover says he was unfazed by the adversity he’s faced as a role player in his time with Penn State.
“You just got to stay the course, trust in the process, trust your coaches, trust everybody in the building that you chose to trust to come to this school which you committed to.”
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Penn State running game fuels the victory
While the defense did it’s job stopping Ashton Jeanty, it was Penn State’s running game that fueled the win for the program. Kaytron Allen led the offensive performance with 15 carries for 134 yards in the win, bruising the Boise State defense in the process. Nick Singleton capped the night off with a 58-yard touchdown that sealed the game in the fourth quarter.
Pickel and Bauer discussed the team’s strengths on the ground, but also its problems with passing, penalties and uneven play in the second and third quarters.
Lions headed South
Penn State will face the winner of Notre Dame and Georgia, who play at 8:45 on New Year’s Day to conclude the quarterfinals of the College Football playoff. If Notre Dame wins, the Lions will be the home team as the higher seed in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 9. Penn State will have ten days to get rested and recover. There’s no word on the status of Carter, who left early in the second quarter with an upper-body injury and didn’t return.
