Penn State back Nicholas Singleton, coordinator Mike Yurich explain game-changing Rose Bowl touchdown run
PASADENA, Calif. — Penn State offensive coordiantor Mike Yurcich felt good about the play call he sent into quarterback Sean Clifford early in the third quarter of Monday’s Rose Bowl matchup with Utah. But, when the Utes broke their huddle, he immediately became unsure about that feeling because the PAC-12 champions were blitzing, and he was planning to run running back Nicholas Singleton right into it on a 3rd and 2 at the Lions’ 12-yard-line.
If even one assignment was missed, Penn State would be stopped. They didn’t have enough blockers to matchup with Utah’s blitzers to begin with. However, the Lions confused Utah pre-snap, leading to a wide-open hole that Singleton busted through before outrunning everyone 87 yards to the end zone. It broke a 14-14 tie in a game head coach James Franklin’s team ultimately rolled in, 35-21.
“I felt good about when I called it,” Yurcich said. “We had talked about that play leading up to it, all bowl prep. At halftime, we revisited it, and so when it came out of my mouth I was like, ‘this is a sound call you know, 3-and-2, didn’t have great field position.’ So, we weren’t risking [a] turnover.
“But when they lined up I think they were in an out blitz. So I was like, oh s—, this sucks. We’re down two hats [to block]. This is not good. But the play is, it’s a little tricky. So we tried to fool them and then we caught them off guard and our guys executed. At the end of the day, it’s really not the plays, it’s about your execution.”
Singleton knew quickly that Penn State blocked it perfectly
Singleton took the hand off, started going left, and quickly cut back right where through the middle of battling offense and defensive lineman. Within a second, he was through the hole and running away from Utah defenders with lightning speed.
“First of all, the linemen did a great job doing the blocks,” Singleton said. “Once I passed them on the second level I just saw green grass. and, I just took off.”
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He added that he did not expect to have a gaping hole to run through as he did.
“But, once I knew I was to the second level and passed the linebackers, I knew I could be gone,” he said.
Singleton finishes his freshman season with 1,061 yards and 12 touchdowns on 157 carries. One of his last ones of the year was his biggest and helped Penn State to a signature victory in the Rose Bowl.
“It’s interesting they were in cover zero, and we actually did a fake check where we were looking to the sideline and then snapped the ball,” head coach James Franklin said. “We did something similar with Saquon Barkley in the Fiesta Bowl a few years ago. Caught them in cover zero.
“And they were in a bear front, which I wouldn’t say is the ideal front to run that play into, but once you crease them with Nick’s speed, you’re able to obviously make a huge play and swing the momentum in the game.”
