Penn State Football 2017 Season Rewind: Nittany Lions battle weather, unusual circumstances in loss at Michigan State
Penn State football had to battle unusual circumstances in the matchup at Michigan State
After jumping out to a 7-0 record to start the 2017 season, Penn State seemed to be in prime position for a special season. Following a route of Michigan, Penn State vaulted to No. 2 in the nation heading into a gauntlet that included road games at Ohio State and Michigan State. The Nittany Lions fell in Columbus, but had a chance to rebound against the Spartans.
However, pulling out a victory against Michigan State proved to be a difficult tack. Although the Spartans were coming off an upset loss to Northwestern, they always proved to be a tough out at home. Plus, Michigan State was crushed by the Nittany Lions the previous season, so revenge was on the mind.
Penn State wasn’t playing well to start the game, but did hold a 14-7 lead after the first quarter thanks to two Trace McSorley touchdowns. The score remained that way midway through the second quarter, but that’s when things got bizarre.
Lightning was detected in the area, so the teams were asked to leave the field and the stadium was evacuated. In what turned into an unusual situation for football players, the game was delayed for over three hours.
The Nittany Lions had to not only deal with the unorthodox situation, but also being in the visitors locker room for an extended period of time
When the game finally resumed, Michigan State scored late in the second quarter to tie the game heading into halftime. The break was yet another unique situation both teams had to manage considering the length of the weather delay that had just ended.
Michigan State scored on an L.J. Scott run in the third quarter to take the lead. Penn State struggled to move the ball, but found a rhythm late in the half. Tyler Davis connected on a 26-yard field goal, then McSorley hit DeAndre Thompkins for a 70-yard score to go up by three as the third quarter expired.
The weather remained cold and damp in the second half, and the wet conditions really seemed to bother the Nittany Lions, especially ate in the game. The Nittany Lions found it difficult to move the ball and failed to score any points,
Michigan State got two field goals, including one as time expired, to pull out the 27-24 upset.
As a team, Penn State really struggled. Star running back Saquon Barkley was held to zero yards rushing in the first half and finished with just 63. McSorley provided the bulk of the offense, throwing for 381 yards and three scores. Unfortunately, he also threw three costly interceptions.
Related Story: Season Rewind: Penn State drops heartbreaker at Ohio State
Losing to Michigan State was seemingly the final blow in Penn State’s championship hopes coffin. Making matters worse was the fact that Ohio State was upset earlier in the day at Iowa, meaning Penn State, with a win against the Spartans, would be right back in the hunt for the Big Ten and a spot in the College Football Playoff.