If one play described the entirety of Penn State’s thumping of Illinois it could be found early in the fourth quarter.
A 7-yard touchdown run by Saquon Barkley in the books, but for all who saw it unfold, a cut and a leaping score over two Illinois’ defenders. It was the game in minutia. Penn State jumping over, around and through the Illini in nearly every facet of a beautiful October afternoon.
By the time Barkley added his six points to the total to make it 32-0 the game was already well in hand, essentially decided hours earlier. But for an offense that has struggled, a second straight week of 30+ points was a sign welcomed with open arms.
In fact, it only took eight passes for Christian Hackenberg to take care of the Illini. The standout junior rocketing 8-of-9 first quarter passes into receiver’s arms for 92-yards and two scores. After an opening drive punt, Penn State went 80 yards in just 8-plays with Hackenberg finding Chris Godwin in the back of the endzone for an 5-yard strike. For the 10th straight game, the Nittany Lions scoring first.
From there it was Penn State’s defense, Troy Reeder intercepting a Wes Lunt pass and returning it just 18 feet shy of a score. A play later Geno Lewis leaped into the air and snatched a pass for the game’s second touchdown.
And that was that.
Illinois never managed a drive longer than 35 yards the entire game as Penn State’s defense relied on pressure and man-to-man defense to keep a pass happy attack in check. By the clock struck zero in the second quarter, Lunt had attempted 30 passes, completing just 14 and none for more than 15 yards.
And unlike weeks prior, Penn State never took its foot off the accelerator. Koa Farmer returned the opening kick of the second half 57-yards, seven plays later Nick Scott found a wide open Christian Hackenberg on a halfback pass for a 14-yard score that blew the game wide open at 22-0.
Tyler Davis added a 28-yard field goal make two drives later to extend the lead even farther after three quarters of play. Davis replacing usual starter Joey Julius who had two extra point attempts blocked and a kickoff sent out of bounds.
So up by 25, Saquon Barkley’s highlight reel run and score was hardly a game defining moment, even if it did in its own was describe how the game had gone up to that moment. Barkley ended the day with 84-yards on 20 carries and 58-yards receiving to further his claim as multi-threat running back.
With garbage time ticking off the clock Penn State inserted Trace McSorely into the game at quarterback and he helped lead the Nittany Lions on an 8-play 42 yard drive that ended with a 20-yard score by Mark Allen that only further extended Penn State’s lead.
In total the Nittany Lions would score on four of its first four drives of the second half while Penn State’s defense gave up no drive of more than 20-yards in the final 30 minutes of play. In total, six of Illinois’ 15 drives went for negative yards.
The Nittany Lion defense was led by a pass rush that managed three sacks despite an Illinois’ offense that had given up just eight all year heading into Saturday. Carl Nassib extended his own personal streak to nine straight games with a sack with Anthony Zettel and Austin Johnson each adding one to their season total as well.
Perhaps most impressively, Penn State held the Illini to just 29 yards of offense in the second half, smothering Illinois on all fronts. The win marked the program’s first shutout since facing Kent State in 2013, the first in conference shutout since beating Minnesota in 2009. Penn State’s defense holding teams scoreless for the last 19 drives.
And so that was that. An unexpectedly simple afternoon for a team that so rarely makes things straightforward. The Nittany Lions will travel to Chicago to take on Northwestern next week before returning to Beaver Stadium to face Michigan.
With a real shot at going 8-2 heading into the final three games of the season, Penn State has been finding ways to win all season.
On Saturday they found a way to do it in impressive fashion.
