Watch Penn State head coach James Franklin's postgame press conference following win against Maryland
Penn State is headed to the Big Ten Championship game following a dominant 44-7 win over Maryland Saturday to close out the regular season. The Nittany Lions couldn’t have asked for a worse start, as running back Nick Singleton fumbled the ball on the first play which resulted in Maryland throwing a 25-yard touchdown pass just one play later. They then went three-and-out on three consecutive drives in the first quarter.
However, quarterback Drew Allar and the offense looked like a totally different team in the second quarter, scoring four consecutive touchdowns. The defense also forced two interceptions and a turnover on downs in that quarter to take a 31-7 lead at the half.
Highs & Lows: Penn State blasts Maryland, reaches B1G title game
“Overall, the game did not start the way we would like it to start,” Penn State head coach James Franklin said after the game. “Very, very sloppy on offense and defense. But after that, from that point on, [I was] very pleased. We won the takeaway battle with three turnovers and to be honest with you, it was really five turnovers because we had two fourth down stops as well.”
Penn State’s offense stalled a bit in the second half, but the defense was excellent from start to finish, holding Maryland to just 194 yards. The Terps drove the ball past midfield just twice in the game. They also had two turnovers on downs and three interceptions.
Tight end Tyler Warren was also once again in the spotlight, totaling six receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed the ball three for 32 yards, including a 29-yard run that featured an impressive hurdle on what looked like a broken play. He remains a favorite to win the Mackey Award this season, which goes to the best tight end in college football.
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“They ought to bring the Mackey Award tonight,” Franklin said after the game. “Put it on a private jet, fly it to Tyler Warren and give it to him on Sunday. And then, he should get an invitation to New York. He’s done it week in and week out. He’s a big-time player and he’s doing it when all eyes are on him and he’s the focus of the gameplan to stop him. He’s a special guy.”
At the end of the game, Franklin and Maryland head coach Mike Locksley had a heated exchange at midfield after Penn State scored a touchdown on the very last play of the game.
“I get it, but a couple things I will say,” Franklin said when asked about the exchange. “It’s my job to put the threes and fours into the game. But when the threes and fours get to go into the game, they get to play football. Those guys deserve to play football. Your ones are in the game. You were trying to score, we’re trying to score. On top of that, you’re playing Cover 0. If you don’t want [that], play Cover 2. So, I’m good with it.
“On top of that, there’s also a change in college football. We’re trying to play as long as we can, make the playoffs, and be seeded as high as possible and scoring as many points and a point differential matters. All that matters. If you don’t get that, it’s really not my problem.”
