With 6:48 to play in the game both Penn State and Army had totaled some 261 yards of offense each. The tie symbolic of the kind of football game it had been on a wet Saturday afternoon. A game where both teams struggled in their own unique ways. For Penn State it was a disconnected offense, for Army it was turnover issues.
And so as Army huddled up on its own 15-yardline late in the fourth quarter, all that really mattered was what would happen in the next 75 yards. A score and Army would almost certainly win the game. A stop and Penn State would win. After three quarters of play it came down to one drive.
Predictably, because nothing comes easy for Penn State, the Black Knights made things interesting, driving 32-yards giving the Nittany Lion faithful something to worry about as the triple option attack took over five minutes off the clock and chipped its way down the field. But facing a long fourth-and-five, linebacker Jason Cabinda ended the upset hopes with a sack and turnover on downs. Anthony Zettel’s forceful stop for no gain the play prior set up the deciding snap.
Truthfully it was a game that never should have been so close. Penn State forced three turnovers and started on average at its own 39, but failed to truly convert on either of those stats. The Nittany Lions came away with just 13 points on the early turnovers. And in turn, a long third quarter drive by Army cut Penn State’s efforts to just six points.
While Penn State may not quite be a squad that has learned the value of a killer instinct, Christian Hackenberg’s 33-yard touchdown pass to Mike Gesicki seemingly put Penn State up for good to the tune of a 20-7 margin on the final play of the third quarter. Penn State had momentum in its corner and a defense to back it up.
AJ Schurr silenced the celebration quickly though, a 56-yard scamper down the sideline yet again cutting Penn State’s lead to just six points. Army only needing to hold Penn State’s already struggling offense off the board long enough to try and finish the comeback bid.
The Black Knights did just that. Penn State gained a meager 23-yards on a drive that could have finished the game off for good. But instead, the Nittany Lions gave the ball back to a team ready to finish the upset.
But like so many times before, Penn State’s defense stood tall and saved the day. Cabinda’s 14 tackle, 2 sack effort leading the way followed not far behind by Christian Hackenberg tossing his fourth touchdown in a two game span and a fairly efficient 156 yards on 10-of-19 passing.
Penn State now focuses its energy on its second Big Ten game of the season, this time against Indiana.
