The James Franklin era got off to a blast on Saturday afternoon (Ireland Standard Time). The Penn State Nittany Lions completed the upset over the University of Central Florida as time expired thanks to a 36-year old field goal from Sam Ficken, who went 4-4 on the day.
A crowd of 55,000-strong showed up at Croke Park Stadium, approximately 15,000 of whom were Penn State fans. For the first half of the game, it looked as though Penn State would eventually be able to run away with it. But a second-half substitution of Justin Holman in for Pete DiNovo propelled the Knights from a 10-3 deficit to a 24-23 lead late in the fourth quarter.
The star of the game however was Penn State star sophomore quarterback Christian Hackenberg, who threw for a career high and Penn State single game record of 454-yards on 32 completions out of 47 attempts. Hackenberg looked composed all day despite the UCF defensive line and linebackers pressuring him. Hackenberg made two bad plays arguably throughout the game, both resulting in interceptions. Despite those two miscues, Hackenberg had a tremendous performance.
Penn State’s dramatic last drive that saw Hackenberg and company drive 55 yards ruined a great comeback performance by Holman. Hackenberg was praised by both Franklin and UCF head coach George O’Leary following the game as O’Leary called him the the quarterback that “everybody in the country would like to have.”
At the end of the first half, it looked as Penn State should be up by more than seven as they had over 250 yards of total offense compared to just the 36 yards of offense that Pete DiNovo and the UCF offense was able to generate in the first half.
For Penn State there were some big questions coming into the game, one of the which was “who would replace Allen Robinson?”. Christian Hackenberg quickly answered that question as he hooked up with redshirt freshman DaeSean Hamilton 11 times for 165 yards and senior wideout Geno Lewis nine times for 173 yards and one touchdown.
Lewis also had the top two plays of the game for Penn State, the first coming when Hackenberg threw a bomb to Lewis who faked out the UCF defense and caught Hackenberg’s pass in stride, going untouched on a 79-yard TD. The second play on a late fourth quarter pass in which Hackenberg threw into coverage, Lewis was able to tip the ball and then catch it as he fell to the ground.
After winning the opening coin toss, Penn State chose to kick the ball. The first series on defense for the Nittany Lions was exceptional quickly creating a three and out for the Pete DiNovo lead UCF offense. Following the UCF three and out, Hackenberg took the field for the first time in 2014. From the Nittany Lion’s first play, it was clear who Hackenberg’s new favorite target is going to be, redshirt sophomore, DaeSean Hamilton.
Penn State’s first drive stalled after six plays but a UCF roughing the kicker penalty along with a holding call on UCF gave Penn State an automatic first down. Hackenberg and company would immediately follow the penalty with a 45-yard pass from Hackenberg to Hamilton to put Penn State at UCF’s two-yard line. After two consecutive unsuccessful runs, Zach Zwinak got the ball for the third straight play and was able to get in the endzone to give the Nittany Lions an early 7-0 lead.
UCF looked to be ready to tie up the game following a Jordan Akins 68-yard kickoff return that started UCF at Penn State’s 23. A Dontravious Wilson run up 16-yard that put UCF at Penn State’s four yard line. Penn State’s goal line defense would than make an impressive stand on thee straight Wilson runs that resulted in just three yards before a DiNovo incomplete pass on fourth down that would give Penn State the football at their one yard line.
Penn State’s second drive would not be successful as their first as after moving the play 29 yards, Hackenberg would be picked off by UCF corner Jacoby Glenn who had the inside edge on WR Geno Lewis throughout the play and easily read the telegraphed pass by Hackenberg. UCF would only pick up 18 yards on seven plays before kicker Shawn Moffit made a 36-yard field goal to give UCF their only points of the first half.
Penn State would only get on the board one more time in the first half thanks to a Sam Ficken 22-yard field goal after Hackenberg drove the Nittany Lions down field from their own 23-yard line thanks to 66 passing yards and five yard keeper from Hackenberg. Penn State’s defense would only allow nine yards in UCF’s next two drives thanks to a C.J Olanyian sack of 11-yards to end the first half.
At half time, it was all Penn State as the offense had picked up 221 total yards and 10 points, and the defense only allowed 35 yards for a mere three points. The biggest issue for Penn State in the first half was penalties, committing five for 56 yards, however a few of those calls were questionable.
In the second half, Penn State looked to get off to a great start on a Grant Haley kick return of over 50 yards before a holding penalty on DaQuan Davis would bring back Penn State to their own 30 yard line. The drive would stall however after Zwinak would get 19 yards on a pair of carries and a Jesse James first down reception.
Penn State’s defense would collapse in the second half as UCF brought in back up sophomore quarterback Justin Holman, who would drive the Knights down the field, partially thanks to a great catch by wide receiver Breshad Perriman before taking a QB sneak in for a touchdown to make it a 13-10 Penn State lead.
Penn State would answer right hack however after two plays that resulted in a 3rd and 17, Hackenberg threw a deep pass to WR Geno Lewis who caught the pass in stride and took it to the house to make it a 20-10 Penn State lead.
The fourth quarter caused blood pressure to be at an all-time high for both Penn State and UCF fans as neither team took control of the game as it went down to the wire.
UCF would start the fourth quarter continuing their drive that ended the third as they drove 77 yards and a TD, to bring them within three.
Penn State’s next drive would result in an interception on a horrible pass from Christian Hackenberg before UCF would mishandle a handoff resulting in a PSU fumble recovery. Just a few plays later, WR Chris Godwin fumbled giving the ball right back to the UCF Knights.
The Knight’s drive following the Godwin fumbled resulted in a punt but UCF was able to force only Penn State to a field goal on their next drive.
Following Penn State’s field goal, a Holman lead UCF offense came out firing on all cylinders. UCF WR Josh Reese seemed to save the Knights’ day when he caught an overthrown pass while in coverage and landed on his back at the six yard line. Holman would run in for the touchdown after not finding anyone open. There was just one problem, they left 1:13 on the clock for Penn State and Christian Hackenberg.
Hackenberg who had already thrown for over 400 yards came in for the Nittany Lions. After picking up just seven yards on three plays, Hackenberg was able to pick up eight yards as he kept the ball and ran for the first down. Hackenberg would complete his next three passing attempts which moved the Nittany Lions to UCF’s 19. After calling a timeout with three seconds left, senior kicker Sam Ficken came on for the 36-yard field goal. He had an opportunity to erase all the bad memories of years, but only if he made the kick.
There was no doubt about it when it left Ficken’s foot that Ficken had won the game for Penn State on a 36-yard field goal, his fourth of the day.
It wasn’t pretty by any standards, but Penn State got the job done on Saturday afternoon, there’s no doubt about that. Christian Hackenberg showed why he’s considered one of the best in college football but also showed that he needs some work to do.
Some things became certain however on Saturday, the first being that if Penn State wants to win this season on a weekly basis, the offensive line must improve. The second, DaeSean Hamilton is going to be a star wide receiver along with Geno Lewis this season for the Nittany Lions. The third, this is going to be one of hell of a season for Penn State if today was an indication of the future.
[Photo Credit: Patrick Bolger/ Getty Images]
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