Allow me to breeze past your drive-by-drive recap of what was ultimately a breeze on Saturday. Penn State scored on their first five drives of the game, taking a failed fourth down conversion by Nebraska
at their own 2-yard line and turning it into the first touchdown of the game. They followed up with a 90-yard field goal drive, then a 75-yard touchdown drive, and by halftime, the score was 23-3.
The Lions cruised from that point, tacking two more touchdowns to Nebraska’s one to make the final score 37-10.
The important part of the night, of course, were the two running backs. Nicholas Singleton tied Saquon Barkley’s touchdown record, and Kaytron Allen, in front of his family and friends, and the rest of Penn State’s fans, became the all-time rushing leader, passing Evan Royster, who held the record for over a decade.
Singleton and Allen, though, are not the only ones who get flowers. The rest of the seniors who didn’t quit when things looked bleak, and everyone else who kept fighting even when the ultimate goal was well out of reach, you deserve some recognition too.
- Nick Dawkins,
- Zuriah Fisher,
- Alonzo Ford, Jr.,
- Dominic DeLuca
- Liam Clifford
- Zakee Wheatley
- Khalil Dinkins
- Nolan Rucci
- Gabe Nwosu
- Kyron Hudson
- Trebor Peña
- Zane Durant
- Dani Dennis-Sutton
- Drew Shelton
- Riley Thompson
- Devonte Ross
- and, finally, Drew Allar, who, even though his career his over, has stuck around to ensure Ethan Grunkemeyer is set up for success.
You all could have hung it up the minute the clock hit zero against Northwestern. You could have made preparations for your future at after Iowa came back to win it. You could have opted out after Ohio State put the foot on the gas. You could have decided you’d had enough after the heartbreaker against Indiana. But you stayed committed. You stayed fighting. And, for that, we all thank you.
Here’s to all the seniors who made the team what it is. And here’s to a fulfilling career at the next level, whatever that looks like for you.
Thank you.
