McSorley has thrown a touchdown pass in 22 consecutive games, dating to the 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl, extending his Penn State record.

By Tim Blasco
PSU Lions loses to Georgia in comeback fashion

Penn State is (28-16-2) all-time in bowl games, tied for No. 4 in the nation in post-season wins. The Nittany Lions, Georgia and Oklahoma entered the 2015-16 bowl season tied for third at 28. It was however not meant to be that Penn State would put another trophy in their case. In a game that saw their starting QB go down with a likely shoulder injury and a sputtering offense show up just in time to watch the final seconds tick off the clock. The sun may have set on the Lions this season but they showed heart until the final minute.

Freshman quarterback Trace McSorley threw his first career TD pass, 17 yards to Geno Lewis. Wide receiver Geno Lewis made his third TD catch of the season and the eighth of his career. McSorley at times looked flustered but played through a tough situation. Adding threat to the already predictable running game and workload of RB Saquon Barkley. McSorley ran the ball a few times and kept the Georgia defense on their toes.

The credit for the season goes mostly to the scheduling. Penn State had a very easy schedule except for a few conference games they were able to win when expected and played tough —usually — against tough opponents. They did not once this season put up a win against a tough team. Penn State Football looks to break the mold of a mediocre club in the coming years. They have however fought through some very tough sanctions and the shadow of post Sandusky still loomed on this team for one last game. Next year all sanctions will be lifted. Giving Coach Franklin all 85 scholarships to try and make something more relevant happen. He hasn’t done terrible with what he was handed by former Penn State Coach Bill O’Brien.

Kicker Tyler Davis finished the season perfect, making all eight of his field goal attempts and all 11 of his extra points this season. The Lions Special Teams play hasn’t been exciting but at least its been consistent which is not something you can say for the offense or the defensive sides of the ball.

Picture this, you’re eating a sandwich and halfway through it you notice that the label says best by a date way past the day you’re eating it. That’s sort of how this season started out and finally puttered out. There were all sorts of hopes and even after the telling Temple loss Penn State looked to really make some gains, only to make the predictable possible. Although in terms of the Big Ten Conference Penn State didn’t do terrible, every other non ranked Big Ten team looked dismal in their bowl games as well, unless you consider Minnesota’s explosive win over Central Michigan an improvement. The Quick Lane Bowl and Tax Slayer Bowl aren’t great but any team will take the win.

Football Stories Radio contributor and writer Rock Hoffman pointed out that half the NCAA Football teams get a bowl game. A bowl game gives much needed practice time to the coaches for next year and a good send off for the seniors. Its easy to be cynical when some team does poorly in the bowl season. As the fan base for Penn State grows impatient Coach Franklin will really have to make some magic happen next year as the lackluster proficiencies and right of excuse peter out. Next year had better not be more of the same, for everyone’s sake.