Zakee Wheatley and Tyler Warren take home MVP honors in Fiesta Bowl following Penn State's win over Boise State
Penn State took care of business in Phoenix Tuesday night, defeating Boise State 31-14 in the Fiesta Bowl. Running back Kaytron Allen and others played key roles in the win, but it was tight end Tyler Warren and safety Zakee Wheatley who earned offensive and defensive MVP honors following the game.
The recognition is nothing new for Warren, who took home the Mackey Award this season for the nation’s best tight end. The 6-foot-6, 260-pound All-American made two excellent catches that led to touchdowns, beginning with an 11-yard reception in the back corner of the end zone on Penn State’s first offensive drive. However, his second score may have been even better, as Warren leaped over safety Ty Benefield in the back of the end zone to give Penn State a two-score lead midway through the third quarter. He finished the game with six receptions for 63 yards and two scores.
Wheatley also had two massive moments in the game, the first of which came with about two minutes to play in the first quarter when he managed to secure a fumble from running back Ashton Jeanty that was popped loose by linebacker Kobe King. Although Penn State’s offense would turn the ball over themselves two plays later, Wheatley then had an interception to open the fourth quarter. The Nittany Lions were up 24-14 at the time. He also finished with three tackles.
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“The guy is a turnover machine,” head coach James Franklin said of Wheatley after the game. “He’s very confident in covering people. He’s very confident in attacking the ball. He’s just a talented, talented guy. He’s gotten significantly better every single year, every single year. I don’t think he’s talked about enough on a national scale.
“This guy [Tyler Warren], everybody is talking about him and deservedly so. But we need to get more people talking about this gentleman [Wheatley] right here.”
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Wheatley and Penn State’s defense also bottled up Jeanty for his lowest rushing total of the season, limiting him to 104 yards on 30 carries. Jeanty had the opportunity to break Barry Sanders’ all-time single-season rushing record if he reached 132 yards rushing in the game.
“In terms of the record and 130 yards, that was a big motivation,” Wheatley said. “We knew what we were going against today.”
Added Franklin, “Everybody wants to talk about their running backs, but one of the things we talk about all the time is the game of football starts up front. Always has, always will. I thought our D-line was disruptive today and was a major factor in the game.”
