Watch: Penn State offensive lineman Vega Ioane goes in motion, records viral block against UCLA
STATE COLLEGE — Penn State offensive lineman Vega Ioane recorded a viral block that will be the talk of the college football world on Saturday during the first half of the Lions’ matchup with UCLA. The redshirt sophomore has been put into pre-snap motion before by first-year offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki. So, that part of the play was not new. What was, however, was the result. After moving across the formation from right to left, Ioane crushed UCLA DE Luke Schuermann at the snap and then finished him off. It led to a gain of eight yards for Kaytron Allen. Drew Allar would later cap the 16-play, 82-yard drive with a Drew Allar sneak.
Watch Ioane’s block below. He pumped the Beaver Stadium ‘Stripe Out’ crowd up after the play, and with good reason.
Can’t see the embedded video clip? Click here.
Ioane talked last week to the Centre Daily Times about having the freedom to go in motion in Kotelnicki’s offense. That movement is typically reserved for running backs, receivers, or tight ends, of course.
“I take it to heart as a thing where he trusts me a lot to do something like that,” Ioane said about going in motion. “When I’m out there, I’m gonna lay my body down for him, for the play, for the offense. Whatever he asks me to do, I’ll do it for him.”
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Penn State capped a 16-play, 82-yard drive with a one-yard Drew Allar touchdown rush. Ryan Barker’s extra point is good. That made it 7-0 PSU with 6:40 left in the first half. Impressive drive for the Lions after a slow start. A drive later, UCLA used a busted Nittany Lion coverage to pick up 53 yards through the air. It set up Mateen Bhagani’s 25-yard field goal try, which was good, to make it 7-3 late in the first half.
Penn State is without punt returner Kaden Saunders. Running back Nicholas Singleton, who was questionable on the pregame availability report, did not play in the first half. And, the Lions lost right tackle Anthony Donkoh to an upper-body injury late in the first quarter. Backup Nolan Rucci has played in his place ever since.
The Lions did not have the start it desired. Their defense forced a turnover on downs deep in its own end and forced a punt. On offense, UCLA outgained PSU 72-28 over the first 15 minutes. It was 0-0 after one.
