Penn State Football Players of the Game vs Northwestern
By Marty Leap
The Penn State football team is now 6-0 on the season
After an easy 31-7 victory over the Northwestern Wildcats on Saturday, the Penn State football team is now 6-0 this season. Their 6-0 record includes being 3-0 in Big Ten Conference play. Saturday’s victory was also James Franklin’s first victory over Northwestern as a head coach.
The victory on Saturday was a team effort from the Nittany Lions. However, as always, there were a few players who rose to the top. This brings us to the Penn State football players of the game from Saturday’s victory.
Offense – Quarterback Trace McSorley
Redshirt junior quarterback Trace McSorley had a record-breaking performance on Saturday afternoon and it came when the Nittany Lions needed it most. Throughout the day the Northwestern defense bottled up Saquon Barkley as the rushing attack. This put the offense squarely on the shoulders of Trace McSorley and he answered the bell.
McSorley went 25/34 for 245 yards and a touchdown in Saturday’s victory. He also rushed for a touchdown, despite finishing the day with -1 yards rushing largely due the inability of the offensive line to pass the Northwestern pass rush.
At one point in Saturday’s game McSorley completed 15 consecutive passes. This broke Kerry Collin’s school record for consecutive completions in a game of 14 that he set back in 1993. Saturday afternoon was just yet another step toward rewriting the Penn State quarterback record books for Trace McSorley.
Honorable mention: WR Saeed Blacknall, QB Tommy Stevens
Defense – Defensive end Shaka Toney
Pass rush specialist Shaka Toney continues to be a terror for opposing defenses. Toney had a pair of sacks and forced a fumble in Saturday’s victory. However, his impact went deeper than just the stat sheet.
On Northwestern’s opening possession Toney hit Clayton Thorson on a third-down pass attempt. The pressure and hit that Toney applied led to a bad pass from Thorson that Amani Oruwariye intercepted, keeping Northwestern off the board despite them being in the red zone.
On Northwestern’s next possession, Toney once again got to Thorson this time forcing a fumble. The Nittany Lions recovered the fumble and thwarted yet another Wildcat possession.
Late in the first half the Wildcats penetrated Nittany Lion territory. However, a sack by Toney knocked Northwestern out of field goal range. This led to a hail mary attempted by Thorson on the last play of the half that the Nittany Lions intercepted.
Shaka Toney was an absolute game wrecker for the Nittany Lion defense on Saturday afternoon and the best should be yet to come for the redshirt freshman.
Honorable mention: S Marcus Allen, CB Christian Campbell
Special teams – Punter Blake Gillikin
While many people may not realize it, the Nittany Lions have a great weapon in punter Blake Gillikin. In my opinion, Gillikin is the best punter in the country and he continued to show that on Saturday afternoon in Evanston.
Blake Gillikin averaged 43 yards per punt on Saturday, including a long of 50. Three of Gillikin’s five punts pinned the Wildcats inside the 10-yard line, and another went for a touchback.
All season long Penn State has won the field position battle while having dominant special teams units, and a big reason for this has been punter Blake Gillikin.
Honorable mention: LB Brandon Smith, S Nick Scott
Next: Nittany Lions move up in latest AP Poll
That will do it for this week. After a bye week next Saturday, the Nittany Lions will be back in action on October 21 when the Michigan Wolverines come to town.