The Penn State Football team won their first bowl since the Jerry Sandusky Scandal in 2012. The team had received a postseason ban that should have lasted four years, but with Penn State complying with the rules well and exceeding expectations the bowl ban was lifted after 3 years. Penn State competed against Boston College.
Penn State was the first to score on a 72 yard pass from Christian Hackenberg to Chris Godwin, but Boston College responded with 21 unanswered points. Boston College just ran over the #1 rush defense in the college football. But Penn State wouldn’t go away; Geno Lewis caught a pass tipped by the defender with no time left in the third quarter for touchdown. Then DaeSean Hamilton scored on a 16-yard pass, also thrown by Christian Hackenberg. The game was tied, but Boston College stayed tough and Mike Knoll hit a field goal to put Boston College up by a narrow three (24-21). Christian Hackenberg was not his best this season, but he is clutch and he led a drive capped off by a Sam Ficken field goal to tie it at 24 apiece. The game would be sent to overtime.
In overtime Boston College scored a touchdown on their first possession. Everyone thinks Point After Touchdown (PATs) attempts are stupid and are an easy extra point, but it decided the game for Penn State and Boston College. Mike Knoll completely missed it. On Penn State’s possession Christian Hackenberg threw another strike to Kyle Carter for a touchdown, and Sam Ficken nailed the Extra Point. Game Over. Penn State with the victory, all because of a missed PAT.
Penn State had a decent season, everyone expected better, especially after the 4-0 start. I think the only reason we went 6-6 this season is because James Franklin is new to the program (Still not much of an excuse because Bill O’Brien went 8-4 his first year at the helm). I think Penn State has a good shot at being ranked in the Top 25 for the first time in a while in 2015. It may be difficult, because Jim Harbaugh, a very successful NFL Coach, is now coaching up the Michigan Wolverines, a rival of Penn State. Projected Record: 8-4.