LB Koa Farmer looks to cover a play early in the 3rd QTR. Photo by: Michael Corsey @ Michael Corsey Photography

Penn State extends Big Ten win streak to six for first time in a single season since 1994

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Trailing by 10 points late in the third quarter, No. 10 Penn State outscored Indiana, 31-7, in the final 16:09, to earn a 45-31 victory in Big Ten football action Saturday afternoon in Memorial Stadium. The win extended Penn State’s winning streak to six games, marking the first time since 1994 that it has won six straight against conference opponents in the same season.

Quarterback Trace McSorley led the Penn State (8-2, 6-1 Big Ten) comeback, completing 6-of-9 pass attempts for 183 yards and a touchdown after Indiana (5-5, 3-4 Big Ten) went ahead 24-14 with 3:13 remaining in the third quarter. He finished the day with 332 yards passing and two passing touchdowns, completing 16-of-30 passing attempts. He also scored the game’s first touchdown on the ground.

Despite being limited to 58 yards rushing on a career-high 33 carries, Saquon Barkley scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, including the game-winner. Aiding McSorley were three receivers totaling 80-plus yards receiving. Chris Godwin caught five receptions for 82 yards and two touchdowns to lead the group, while tight end Mike Gesicki caught five passes for a career-high 88 yards and DaeSean Hamilton caught three passes for 83 yards, including a 54-yard catch that set up a touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

Turnovers were a factor, as the Penn State defense was able to recover all five of Indiana’s fumbles, including four in the first half. The fifth fumble was scooped up by Torrence Brown, who returned it nine yards for a touchdown to seal the win. The Lions had a pair of turnovers of their own on a pair of McSorley interceptions.

The game featured five lead changes and two ties. For a third consecutive game, Penn State raced out to an opening lead, McSorley capped a seven-play, 60-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown run, but Indiana scored two touchdowns to Penn State’s one in the second quarter to go into halftime tied at 14-14.

A field goal and a Devine Redding’s second rushing touchdown gave Indiana a 24-14 advantage with 3:13 remaining in the third quarter, but McSorley and the Nittany Lions took over from there. It was Penn State’s third double-digit comeback of the season (Minnesota, No. 2 Ohio State).

Turning Point
Penn State answered after Indiana went ahead by 10 late in the third quarter. McSorley flipped the field on the second play of the ensuing possession, finding Saeed Blacknall for 43 yards to the Indiana 31. After a 10-yard rush by the Lions and an Indiana offsides penalty, McSorley hit Godwin in the end zone for a 21-yard touchdown, slicing the deficit to three.

The Penn State defense forced a three-and-out and Penn State scored promptly, as a 54-yard toss to Hamilton on a flea-flicker highlighted the drive, putting Barkley to in position to score from just four yards out and give Penn State a 28-24 lead.

Indiana answered with a 40-yard touchdown pass from Richard Lagow to Nick Westbrook to retake the lead 31-28, but it would be the Hoosiers’ last score.

After both teams traded punts, Penn State took over from its own 43 with 6:51 remaining. McSorley and Barkley led the Lions down the field, and Barkley scored from two yards out for the game-winning score. A field goal and fumble return for a touchdown put the game out of reach.

Difference Makers
Penn State

QB Trace McSorley – McSorley posted his third 300-yard passing game of the season, throwing for 332 yards, which is tied for 14th on Penn State’s single game list, and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 13 yards and a touchdown.

RB Saquon Barkley – Barkley totaled 92 all-purpose yards, rushing a career-high 33 times for 58 yards and catching two passes for 32 yards, including a 32-yarder that ignited the game-opening touchdown drive. His two rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter proved to be decisive in the game.

WR Chris Godwin – Godwin caught five passes for 82 yards and two touchdowns. His yardage total pushed him to 2,014 for his career, as he became the eighth player in Penn State history to reach 2,000-career receiving yards.

Fumble Forcers and Recoverees – Linebacker Brandon Bell and safety Malik Golden both recovered and forced a fumble each. Bell’s forced fumble led to defensive end Torrence Brown’s scoop-and-score. Brown was joined by cornerback Christian Campbell and defensive tackle Kevin Givens in recovering fumbles.

LB Brandon Bell – In addition to factoring in on two turnovers, Bell tied for second on the team with nine tackles, including 2.5 stops behind the line and the sack-fumble that led to Brown’s touchdown.

DE Garrett Sickels – Sickels matched Bell’s 2.5 stops behind the line and factored in on 1.5 sacks. Penn State totaled nine TFLs and three sacks.

Difference Makers
Indiana

QB Richard Lagow – Lagow led a Hoosier passing attack that totaled 344 yards, as he completed 23-of-40 passes for 292 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. Zander Diamont completed a 52-yard pass on his lone attempt.

RB Devine Redding – Redding totaled 108 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries.
Receivers – Eight different Hoosiers caught a pass, with all eight catching at least two balls.

WR Mitchell Paige led in receptions with six for 43 yards, while Camion Patrick led in yardage with 91 on three catches. Nick Westbrook caught three passes for 85 yards and a 40-yard score in the fourth quarter, while Ricky Jones caught three passes for 32 yards and a touchdown.

LBs Tegray Scales and Marcus Oliver – Scales and Oliver tallied 3.5 and 3.0 tackles for loss, respectively, as Indiana totaled 16 for the game.

DB Tony Fields – Fields posted a game-high 10 tackles, including 1.5 for loss, and hauled in an interception.

Post-Game Notes – Indiana

TEAM

The Nittany Lions have won six consecutive Big Ten games in the same season for the first time since 1994. Penn State won six-straight conference outings from 1998 to 1999 by winning the last game of 1998 and the first five of 1999.

Penn State posted 40 points or more in three consecutive outings for the first time since 2008 (Oregon State, Temple, Syracuse).

For the first time in program history, the Nittany Lions have scored 40 or more points in three-straight Big Ten Conference games.

The Nittany Lions forced a season-high five turnovers, the most since forcing five against Maryland last season.

Penn State recovered five fumbles for the first time since recovering five versus Florida International in 2007.

Penn State has forced 19 turnovers this season and converted them into 69 points.

Over the past six games, the Nittany Lions have forced 13 turnovers, resulting in 49 points.

OT Chasz Wright made his first career start. He is the 17th Nittany Lion to make his first career start this season.

OFFENSE

Penn State has scored a touchdown on its first drive of the game in the last three contests and four of the last five games.

The Nittany Lions have not scored a touchdown on their first drive of the game in three consecutive games since at least 2002.

During its six-game winning streak, the Nittany Lions have scored 239 points, an average of 39.8 points per game.

QB Trace McSorley’s 10-yard touchdown rush in the first quarter gives him a rushing TD in the last two games and five of the last six contests.

Following his second quarter 6-yard touchdown pass to Chris Godwin, McSorley now has both a rushing and passing touchdown in five of the past six games.

Trace McSorley’s second quarter touchdown pass gives him a touchdown pass in 11 consecutive games.

McSorley posted his third 300-yard passing game, which ranks fourth in program history.

McSorley recorded his seventh 200-yard passing game of the season, which is tied for fifth in a season in Penn State annals. He is tied the Todd Blackledge (1982) and Michal Robinson (2005) for the spot.

McSorley’s six rushing touchdowns are the most by a Penn State quarterback since Daryll Clark had seven in 2009.

McSorley’s 304 rushing yards this season are the most by a Penn State quarterback since Michael Robinson had 806 in 2005.

RB Saquon Barkley scored his 12th and 13th rushing touchdowns of the season. His 13 rushing scores are, tied for eighth in a season in program annals.

Barkley’s 13 rushing scores are also the most by a Penn State player since Larry Johnson had 20 in 2002.

Saquon Barkley has 15 overall touchdowns this season (13 rushing, 2 reception), which are the most for a Penn State player since Johnson had 23 in 2002.

WR Chris Godwin tied his career high with two TD catches. He has seven receiving scores this season, which is 10th in program history.

Godwin has 14 career receiving touchdowns, which ranks ninth in program history.

With 82 yards on the day, Godwin became the eighth player in Penn State history to reach 2,000-career receiving yards.

Godwin ranks sixth in Penn State history with 2,014 career receiving yards. He moved up three spots today, passing O.J. McDuffie (1,988; 1988-92), Kenny Jackson (2,006; 1980-83) and Bryant Johnson (2,008; 1999-2002). He is one yard behind Jordan Norwood (2,015; 2005-08) for fifth place.

DEFENSE

S Malik Golden forced his first career fumble and LB Brandon Bell made his second fumble recovery in the first quarter.

DT Kevin Givens recovered his second fumble of the season in the second quarter.

DE Shareef Miller forced his first career fumble and Golden made his first career fumble recovery in the second quarter.

DE Torrence Brown had his third career fumble recovery and second of the season in the fourth quarter. He returned it nine yards for his first career touchdown to seal the 14-point victory.

Up Next
Penn State will play at Rutgers next Saturday. The game will kick at 8 p.m. on BTN. Penn State will then conclude the regular season the following Saturday at home against Michigan State.