Penn State pushes through lull, routs Michigan State, 35-16: Highs and Lows

Penn State capped its season with a rollercoaster win over Michigan State, 35-16, at Beaver Stadium. On senior night, the Nittany Lions built a comfortable advantage, saw their lead dwindle, and ultimately needed to make big plays to secure a final decision in its favor to close the regular season.

What stood out from the game?

Here, a look at the high and low moments from Penn State’s 10-2 clinching win:

Penn State, Michigan State highs and lows

PLAYER OF THE GAME Abdul Carter is a true freshman. Not that Penn State is lacking in impressive pieces from the Class of 2022, but Carter’s undeniable light shone brightly once again Saturday at Beaver Stadium. Finishing atop the team tackle chart with seven, three went for a loss and twice he notched sacks. Oh, and he also nearly made one of the more spectacular pick-sixes in recent memory. A foundation upon which Carter is certain to build, his Michigan State performance was once again undeniably eye-catching.

PLAY OF THE GAME Penn State head coach James Franklin had a decision to make. Facing a fourth-and-2 at the Michigan State 12-yard line, owning a 5-point advantage, he could look to his kicker or go for it. 

He went for it.

Returning to the T formation Penn State has used as a calling card this season, with the play clock dwindling, the Nittany Lions burst wide, leaving Sean Clifford to fire a bullet to Nick Singleton. With a perfect screen with blockers in front, the running back handled the rest to get into the end zone and give the Nittany Lions a 28-16 lead with under five minutes to play. 

BEST PASS KeAndre Lambert-Smith signaled what was coming with his gradual drift farther from the line of scrimmage as he motioned toward Penn State’s sideline early in the second quarter. Receiving the screen from Clifford on the first-and-10 at the Michigan State 48, Lambert-Smith collected the ball, immediately cocked his arm to throw, and delivered a beautiful rainbow pass downfield to a wide-open Theo Johnson. The completion went for an unencumbered touchdown to give the Nittany Lions a 14-0 advantage.

BEST RUN Singleton needed only three carries to generate the head of steam Penn State’s offense needed late in the first quarter. Because, on the fourth carry, he broke free. Bursting through the middle of the Michigan State defense, Singleton found a crack and galloped 31 yards to the Spartan 38 for a first down and prime field position.

BEST CATCH There were so many on Saturday it’d be hard to choose just one. So, we won’t.

Trailing Penn State 21-3 late in the third quarter, Maliq Carr followed a great Keon Coleman sideline reception with a spectacular grab of his own. Bracketed by Penn State corner Johnny Dixon and linebacker Kobe King, Carr used only his left arm to bread basket the floater from Payton Thorne on the left sideline of the end zone. The score pulled the Spartans to within two scores. Later in the fourth quarter, a prayer from Thorne to Tre Mosley on third-and-long also resulted in a highlight-reel reception and a first down. Lambert-Smith’s first down grab midway through the fourth quarter makes the cut, too.

WORST DROP Payton Thorne’s pass to the feet of Jaylen Reed wasn’t just a missed connection for Michigan State deep in its territory in the first quarter. Rather, dropping to the turf, the backward pass was scooped up by the Nittany Lion defense and deemed a fumble. 

BEST SACK Penn State’s seven-DB package wasn’t enough to help Michigan State keep Adisa Isaac out of the backfield on a key third down early in the game. Rounding the left edge in a flash, the Nittany Lions’ defensive end blindsided Thorne for a 9-yard loss. Carter’s second sack of the night, this time with Michigan State in desperation mode, also deserves recognition. Good luck to all future quarterbacks trying to get away from this guy.

BEST HIT Thorne’s pass to Jalen Berger on a Penn State jailbreak was a successful connection, but corner Kalen King prevented the play from being anything more than that. Shutting down the third-and-long try in the backfield, the completion went for a 4-yard loss.

BEST EFFORT Ji’Ayir Brown flew upfield to meet Michigan State return man Jaylen Reed midway through the third quarter. That meeting proved pivotal. Knocking the ball loose and into the hands of Tyler Warren, the punt return fumble resulted in Penn State’s possession at the Spartan 18-yard line. It also set up a touchdown connection to Warren just two plays later to give the Nittany Lions a 21-3 advantage.

BEST KICK Michigan State made the most of a late opportunity at points in the first half. Forcing Penn State into failed field goal try with just 87 seconds left in the second quarter, the Spartans reached the Penn State 34, lined up for a 51-yard field goal try with just a second remaining, and connected when Jack Stone easily sent the attempt through the north end zone uprights.

WORST KICK Jake Pinegar had a worthy excuse for his first field goal miss of the afternoon, a 37-yarder that sailed right. That wasn’t the case on the second, though. Lining up from the left hash at the 11-yard line, the 28-yard attempt in the final minutes of the first half wasn’t close. 

BEST INTERCEPTION Penn State had been so close to picking off Thorne all game, be it Carter’s near pick-six, or a handful of prayers put up by the Michigan State signal-caller throughout the second half. Finally, with his back against a wall, Thorne threw one ripe for Kalen King. Stepping in front of a floater at the Michigan State 35, the Nittany Lion corner finished off the game, setting up the touchdown from Clifford to KLS the next play. 

BEST DECISION It’s great if it converts. It’s boneheaded if it doesn’t. On this night, Franklin’s choice to put the screws to Michigan State, with momentum and a potentially devastating letdown on the line, opting to go for fourth-and-2 instead of a field goal with an unreliable kicker, proved great.

WORST DECISION A gifted change in possession from Michigan State’s opening series set up an easy field goal for Penn State. But, the 37-yard attempt from the right hash sailed wide right off the foot of Pinegar to keep the score at 0-0. The issue? Michigan State illegally leaped over Penn State’s line, impacting the kick’s trajectory, but not drawing the requisite yellow flag from the officiating crew.

MOST TELLING MOMENT Emerging with a 35-16 win over Michigan State to close out a 10-2 regular season, one in which the Nittany Lions exceeded nearly all external expectations, the post-game scene was unlike most on the Beaver Stadium turf. Hugs abound, and pictures and congratulations were everywhere as players and staff simply milled about enjoying themselves and soaking in the team’s final home game for the 2022 season. 

In a sport now marked by its transitive state, this was one for Penn State to enjoy. And, in so many ways afterward, with a celebration soon to follow in the locker room, the Nittany Lions did.