Penn State football players of the game against Nebraska
By Marty Leap
The Penn State football team improved to 9-2 on the season with a 56-44 victory over Nebraska on Saturday at Beaver Stadium.
For a second consecutive season, the Penn State football team has gone 7-0 at Beaver Stadium. After a 56-44 victory over Nebraska in a game that was not nearly that close the Nittany Lions are now 9-2 this season, 6-2 in the Big Ten, and 7-0 at Beaver Stadium.
While the final score made this game seem close — it was not. Penn State led 42-10 at halftime, and Nebraska’s 10 first half points were set up due to special teams blunders by the Nittany Lions. At one point, Nebraska went over 30 consecutive minutes of game time with recording a first down. The Cornhuskers then proceeded to score 21 points against Penn State’s third string defense.
With all of that said, here are the Penn State football players of the game from their 56-44 victory over Nebraska.
Offnese – running back Saquon Barkley
For much of the season’s first two months it appeared that Saquon Barkley was on his way to winning the Heisman Trophy. After struggling the past few games, Barkley got back on track in a big way on Saturday evening.
Barkley rushed for 158 yards, he had 66 yards receiving, and 224 yards of total offense. He also rushed for three touchdowns, setting a new Nittany Lion record for career rushing touchdowns with 39. He broke Larry Johnson‘s record for receptions and receiving yards by a running back on Saturday.
Saturday was the final home game, and, most likely, the final game at Beaver Stadium of Saquon Barkley’s Penn State career. It what was a joy for Nittany Lion fans to see Barkley go out with a bang by running all over the Cornhusker defense.
With his performance on Saturday, Barkley has thrust himself firmly back into the Heisman race. While the odds do not remain in his favor to win the award, it would be a surprise to see him finish lower than second after his performance on Saturday.
Honorable mention: QB Trace McSorley, WR Juwan Johnson
Defense – linebacker Jason Cabinda
In the final home game of his Nittany Lion career senior MIKE linebacker Jason Cabinda had a great game for the Penn State defense. The senior defensive captain was the leader of the unit throughout the game and helped shut down Nebraska’s offense until garbage time late in the third quarter and in the fourth quarter.
Cabinda was all over the field on Saturday and consistently around the ball. He finished the game with seven tackles, half a sack, a tackle for a loss, and two pass breakups. Cabinda also recorded an additional quarterback hurry and caused an incompletion by drilling Nebraska quarterback Tanner Lee on a pass attempt.
Honorable mention: LB Brandon Smith, S Marcus Allen
Special teams – kicker Tyler Davis
Between Zech McPhearson failing to find the ball leading to a muffed punt and an early Blake Gillikin shank, the punting units struggled early on for Penn State on Saturday. While Gillikin rallied to have a good game, the special teams player of the game goes to kicker Tyler Davis.
Tyler Davis was 8/8 on PAT attempts on Saturday night and also had a pair of touchbacks on kickoffs. After a rough start to the season, the senior kicker continues to finish his 2017 campaign strong.
Honorbale mention: P Blake Gillikin, CB Lamont Wade
Next: Penn State rolls over Nebraska on senior day
That will do it for this week. The 9-2 Nittany Lions will finish the 2017 regular season by traveling to College Park, Maryland, to battle to 4-7 Maryland Terrapins next Saturday
. A kickoff time has not yet been announced.