Penn State Football Players of the Game: Fiesta Bowl

Penn State football capped off their 2017 season with a Fiesta Bowl victory over the Washington Huskies on Saturday

Sadly, the 2017 Penn State football season is over. On a good note, though, the Nittany Lions went out with a bang by earning a hard-fought 35-28 victory over the Washington Huskies in the Fiesta Bowl.

With the win, the Nittany Lions will finish the 2017 season with an 11-2 record and they will finish the year ranked in the top10. This marks the first time since 2008/2009 that the Penn State football team will finish consecutive seasons with 11 wins and a top-10 ranking.

While the victory was a team effort, as always, there were a few players who shined above the rest. So, here are the Nittany Lions’ players of the game from their thrilling Fiesta Bowl victory over Washington.

Offense – Quarterback Trace McSorley

Do not let the two interceptions he threw fool you, Trace McSorley was excellent on Saturday afternoon. Besides, neither interception was on McSorley at all.

Trace led a Penn State offensive attack that dismantled a Washington defense that entered the contest ranked fifth in the FBS in total defense. The Nittany Lion offense ranked up a new school bowl record 545 yards against the Huskies, as McSorley accounted for 402 of the Nittany Lions’ 545 yards.

In Penn State’s victory, McSoley went 32-41 for 342 yards and two touchdowns through the air. The redshirt junior quarterback also rushed for 60 yards and was Penn State’s second-leading rusher behind Saquon Barkley. Due to his efforts, McSorley was named the game’s offensive MVP.

Trace McSorley continues to get better and more dangerous as a quarterback and will be one of the frontrunners for the Heisman Trophy in 2018.

Honorable mention: RB Saquon Barkley, WR DaeSean Hamilton

Defense – The defensive line

Penn State’s defensive line made Washington quarterback Jake Browning’s life hell on Saturday. Additionally, they helped hold the Huskies to just 104 yards rushing.

After being suspended for the game’s first half, Shareef Miller exploded in the second half with a sack and three quarterback hurries. Tyrell Chavis and Curtis Cothran both recorded a sack while Kevin Givens and Parker Cothren each had half a sack.

To go along with a sack, Yetur Gross-Matos had a pair of additional quarterback hurries and was a terror all day long. Shane Simmons pressured Browning multiple times and was unblockable all game long. Even redshirt freshman Daniel Joseph made some waves in the Fiesta Bowl.

Penn State’s defense held Washington to just 331 yards of total offense and14 first downs. The unit forced a turnover, held Jake Browning to a 65.3 QBR, and allowed the Huskies to convert just 50 percent on third/fourth downs in the Fiesta Bowl.

The main reason for all of this? Sean Spencer’s defensive line.

Honorable mention: S Marcus Allen, LB Jason Cabinda

Special teams – Punter Blake Gillikin

Washington return man Dante Pettis has more punt return touchdowns than any other player in FBS history. However, Penn State completely negated Pettis in the return game in the Fiesta Bowl. The main reason for this? Punter Blake Gillikin.

Blake Gillikin’s right leg was only called upon twice on Saturday. Gillikin averaged 43 yards per boot on these two punts. He downed one inside the 10-yard line, while Pettis had to fair catch the other at the 22-yard line.

Penn State’s punt coverage team also deserves a lot of credit for negating Pettis in the return game, so does the offense as they only had to punt on two of their 11 possessions. However, containing a dangerous return man like Pettis always starts and ends with the punter.

Honorable mention: K Tyler Davis, DB Lamont Wade

Next: Penn State 35, Washington 28

That will do it for the Fiesta Bowl and the 2017 Penn State football season. It was an amazing season for the Nittany Lions who finish with an 11-2 record and a Fiesta Bowl Championship. Thank you to everyone who followed along all season long!!