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Penn State Football flashback: Daryll Clark’s breakthrough in San Antonio

By Collin Wieder

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Quarterback Daryll Clark #17 of the Penn State Nittany Lions jumps over Taylor Mays #2 of the USC Trojans to score a touchdown in the first quarter of the 95th Rose Bowl Game presented by Citi on January 1, 2009 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Quarterback Daryll Clark #17 of the Penn State Nittany Lions jumps over Taylor Mays #2 of the USC Trojans to score a touchdown in the first quarter of the 95th Rose Bowl Game presented by Citi on January 1, 2009 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /
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Daryll Clark eventually became one of Penn State football’s greatest passers. But in his first bowl game action, he emerged as a red zone threat.

As the summer days wind down, Penn State football’s much-anticipated 2018 season inches closer. To pass the time, I’m taking a look back at a of the fun moment in PSU history. One memory  that stuck out to me was the performance of quarterback Daryll Clark in the 2007 Alamo Bowl.

In that era of the program, the Nittany Lions were trying to reclaim the magic of the 11-1, 2005 team. Anthony Morelli put up a decent career at the starting QB spot from 2006-2007, but he  never quite lived up to his Elite 11 billing. With his departure soon coming with the conclusion of the Alamo Bowl, fans got a glimpse of what Clark could do.

Down 14-0 after the first quarter, Penn State needed to make up some ground. Morelli tossed a 30-yard touchdown to cut the lead to seven. Throughout the game, Clark subbed in as a wildcat quarterback with Morelli at receiver. The wrinkle gave the Aggies trouble, rushing only six times but for 50 yards and a score that would come on game-tying drive.

An Aggie fumble after the 30-yard Butler touchdown opened the door for Penn State to level the contest. Clark came in to seal the deal. He took a direct snap and rambled forward 11 yards through a violent collision with a defender and into the end zone, making it, 14-14. (Video Courtesy of Anthony Durso).

Clark didn’t throw any pass attempts that day, but he proved how multiple the spread HD offense could be in the coming years. Plenty of teams experienced his precision in the passing game the next two seasons. Clark revolutionized the Nittany Lions’ attack leading them to two straight 11-win seasons.

Must Read: Penn State Football 2018 Player Profile: OL Michal Menet

By the end of his career, Clark became the school’s all-time leader in career touchdown passes (43). Also, he added 22 scores on the ground to set the career total TD record before Trace McSorley broke it.

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