For all of spring practice Penn State prepared for this moment.
Scrimmages meant to mimic late game situations that did not go the Nittany Lions’ way. Instead of simply practicing football, learning how to win games where the first attempt had gone wrong.
And as Penn State’s defense took the field up just a point with 1:21 to go they faced one of those situations. A year earlier, Penn State took the field only to see a lead slip away in the final two minutes.
Lesson learned.
It took just six seconds, Malik Golden jumping in the air and intercepting a deflected pass effectively ending the game. Maryland’s comeback drive was cut short, there would be no need to practice this game again come next spring. With 1:15 to play it was time to just kneel the ball, pack the buses and head home bowl eligible.
The outcome was far less obvious hours earlier. Penn State opened the afternoon with a 2-of-8 passing performance from Christian Hackenberg that totaled just 78-yards on two long throws down the field. A 38-yard strike to DaeSean Hamilton followed up just two plays later with an over the shoulder grab by Chris Godwin.
Maryland’s own 3-play, 67 yard response to Penn State’s first scoring drive of the day a clear indication that the Terps would not go gently into the night.
With just over three minutes remaining in the half there was little reason to think Penn State was headed for a 30+ point outing. The Nittany Lions with just 20-yards of offense aside from the two long passes by Hackenberg. If anything, it felt as though it was Maryland’s game to win up 10-7 and moving the ball well despite two drives ending in turnovers inside the Penn State redzone. The scores hadn’t come, but seemed like only a matter of time before they finally appeared on the scoreboard.
But then Hackenberg and his offense woke up. A 5-of-8 span that saw Penn State’s junior gunslinger toss for a score and 118 yards. Penn State putting up 10 points in the final 3:09 of the half and looking far more competent in the process. Suddenly the Nittany Lions were leading 17-13 at the break. A 37-yard circus catch by Chris Godwin the highlight of Penn State’s unexpected resurgence.
After Joey Julius missed a 40-yard field goal early in the second half Maryland responded with its own 9-play 68 yard drive and score that put the Terps up 20-17. Hackenberg answering with a 20-yard strike to DeaSean Hamtilton to retake the lead only to see Maryland respond just five minutes later to make it 27-24 Terps. Two boxers swinging for the fences.
From there it was Penn State’s defense that helped seal the deal. Despite an afternoon of struggles, the Nittany Lion defense held Maryland to a fumble, an interception, a turnover on downs and a game clinching interception on the Terps’ final four drives. Brad Craddock’s 29-yard field goal the answer to Penn State’s 8-play 77 yard drive to take a 31-27 lead just two minutes into the game’s final frame.
There is a lot the Nittany Lions won’t like when they watch the film on Sunday, but being bowl eligible and sitting 6-2 on the year is hard to feel bad about on the drive back across the state.
If nothing else, it’s one less thing they have to practice next spring.
