The Crystal Ball Run NCAA Football 14 season simulation contined today, and we’re taking note of how Penn State is performaing as well. After a 2-1 start yesterday ended with an overtime heartbreaker, today’s fortunes are much more pleasent when it comes to overtime. But first, Kent State has some other plans to get through.
KENT STATE 31, PENN STATE 26
Passing: Ferguson, 7-of-14, 139 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Zwinak, 12 carries, 69 yards, 1 TD
Receiving: Carter, 5 rec., 73 yards, 0 TD
Tackling: Carson, 11 tackles, 1.0 sack
While freshman Christian Hackenberg has having his ups and downs early in the season, he goes down early due to injury against Kent State, who abuses Penn State on defense. Penn State’s offense is then put in the hands of Tyler Ferguson and D.J. Crook, who split time as the offense is out of sync against the Golden Flashes. Kent State had upset LSU earlier in the season and now have a victory over Penn State but are just 3-2 to keep them from being considered a BCS Buster.
Penn State turns the football over three times and the Nittany Lions blow a 10-0 first quarter lead. Sam Ficken comes through with four field goals. Penn State drops to 2-2 on the year.
PENN STATE 26, INDIANA 20 (OVERTIME)
Passing: Ferguson, 18-of-45, 206 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Zwinak 15 carries, 76 yards, 2 TD
Receiving: Robinson, 4 rec., 51 yards
Tackling: Carson 10 tack
It certainly is not pretty, but a win is a win in Big Ten conference play for the Nittany Lions. After a sluggish performance in the first half, with Tyler Ferguson seeing all of the snaps under cneter this week while Hackenberg is still out with an injury. Indiana takes a demoralizing 17-3 lead in to halftime but Bill O’Brien gets his players to adjust in the second half, forcing overtime thanks to a Zwinak touchdown run from two yards out early in the fourth quarter. The teams exchange field goals in the first overtime session but Penn State’s defense forces a turnover as Indiana opens the second overtime. After the offense methodically moves in to better scoring position, Zwinak plunges in from one yard out to seal the victory in the Big Ten opener.
Penn State improves to 3-2 on the year and takes a 1-0 Big Ten record home with them. Next up? A home date with Michigan.
PENN STATE 34, MICHIGAN 31 (OVERTIME)
Passing: Ferguson 11-of-27, 146 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Belton, 8 carries, 71 yards, 1 TD
Receiving: Robinson, 4 rec., 61 yards
Tackling: Carson 9 tackles, 1 TFL
For the second straight week Penn State needs overtime heroics to pull out a victory. This time it comes against top 25 Michigan, who crushes Penn State’s defense for over 500 yards of offense but turns the football over five times. Bill Belton takes charge in the running game, splitting time with Zwinak more this week. Belton gets Penn State on the board in the second quarter with a 25-yard run after Michigan had taken a 10-0 lead.
Penn State enters halftime trailing 13-7 but takes over in the third quarter with a 21-point outburst. Brandon Moseby-Felder cathes two touchdown passes from Tyler Ferguson and Zwinak adds one on the ground. Michigan stroms back to force overime in the fourth quarter though, scoring 18 straight points in the final five and a half minutes of the fourth quarter, but the Wolverines run out of energy and are unable to score in overtime when they imss a long field goal attempt. Sam Ficken boots a 39-yard attempt for the win, sending Penn State to 2-0 in Big Ten play and 4-2 overall.
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