Penn State Football: Nittany Lions hold on to beat Washington in the Fiesta Bowl

Penn State football ended the 2017 season in spectacular fashion by picking up its 11th win in the Fiesta Bowl.

After blowing fourth-quarter leads in big games, including last year’s Rose Bowl, head coach James Franklin and Penn State finally came out on the right side of the scoreboard in the 2017 Fiesta Bowl. The Nittany Lions hung on to defeat the Washington Huskies by a score of 35-28.

Penn State was up 21 points at one point, but had to battle late to keep hold of the win.

Coming into the Fiesta Bowl all the talk was about the vaunted Washington defense. The Huskies entered the game ranked fifth in total defense and first in rushing yards, allowing just 92.3 yards per game.

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Penn State had no trouble running the ball on the Huskies. The offensive line played arguably its best game of the year and held the tough Washington defensive front in check. Saquon Barkley, who didn’t see his normal amount of snaps, rushed 18 times for 137 yards, and two scores. His highlight was a 92-yard scamper in which he outran a Washington defensive back on his way to the end zone.

In what was likely Barkley’s last game in a Penn State uniform, he showed a national audience what has made him the top running back in college football. He also led the Nittany Lions with seven receptions.

Overall, it was a very impressive day for the Penn State offense. Quarterback Trace McSorley threw for 342 yards with two touchdowns. He also added 60 yards on 12 carries. He did throw two interceptions in the contest.

Senior wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton finished his collegiate career with a huge game — racking up five receptions for 110 yards and two touchdowns.

Third down was a huge factor in the game for the Nittany Lions. They converted 13 of their 17 third-down conversions, with several coming in the form of big throws to wide receiver Juwan Johnson. It was a big day for Johnson, who made six receptions for 66 yards. McSorley was 12-12 when throwing the ball on third down.

The 545 yards for the Nittany Lions on offense marked the most total yards ever for a Penn State team in a bowl game.

For as impressive as the Nittany Lions were on offense, the numbers were just as good on defense. Penn State’s pressure was relentless and it bothered Washington quarterback Jake Browning all day. The Nittany Lions finished the day with four sacks of Browning.

Penn State held Washington, which had an impressive run game of its own, to just 104 yards on the ground. The Huskies finished with 331 yards of total offense.

A pair of seniors, linebacker Brandon Smith and safety Marcus Allen, led the Nittany Lions with seven total tackles a piece.

With 11 wins and a guaranteed top-10 finish, Penn State will carry a lot of momentum into next season.

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