It wasn’t always pretty but it wasn’t always bad. At the end of the day Penn State won the game in overtime after once again coming from behind to tie the game in the waning minutes of regulation.
Overall it was a solid and balanced performance by the Nittany Lions but far from a perfect one. Either way, strong work by running back Bill Belton, quarterback Christian Hackenberg, receiver Allen Robinson, and just enough plays by the Penn State defense gave Penn State a much needed victory.
Here are this week’s grades following Penn State’s win.
Offense: B
Penn State’s offense wasn’t consistent, but the notion that every drive must end in a score kind of defeats the purpose of playing the game. Hackenberg was an effective game manager in the first half and ended the day going 20-32 for 240 yards and a touchdown as well as a touchdown rushing. Bill Belton was fantastic all day, grinding out 201 yards on 36 carries and had plenty of help from his offensive line. Allen Robinson was his usual self as well, catching 11 passes for 165 yards. The Nittany Lions converted 2-of-3 fourth down attempts and 8-of-18 third downs. With 490 yards of offense it was an effective day for Penn State but a day that probably wouldn’t have been as stressful if the Nittany Lion offense had been able to string together a few more effective drives — especially after going up 14-0 early in the game.
Defense: C
The Nittany Lion defense had a few bad moments on Saturday but was able to slow down an otherwise talented Illinois offense capable of scoring points. Between two timely interceptions and a fourth down stop that could have swung the game, Penn State’s defensive unit didn’t play great, but played well enough to win. The Illini were 8-of-13 on third down but only averaged 3.8 yards per rushing attempt. Illinois also had four drives of 50 or more yards, two of which ended with touchdowns.
Overall it was a mixed bag, which is where the C average comes in. Mike Hull continued his strong play, leading the team with 13 tackles while Jordan Lucas hauled in an interception and broke up two more passes.
Special Teams: B
Special teams have been a side note for most Penn State’s season, which is usually a good sign. On Saturday a missed field goal by Sam Ficken was a mistake that almost cost the Nittany Lions the game. Ficken redeemed himself though by hitting the game tying field goal with under a minute to go from 35-yards out. Alex Buttersworth also had a solid game with three punts, two of which were downed inside the Illini 20. The Ficken miss could have been costly, but overall Penn State’s special teams did its job when it mattered most.
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