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Penn State Football: QB report post week one of 2018

By Collin Wieder

STATE COLLEGE, PA - SEPTEMBER 01: Trace McSorley #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions drops back to pass against the Appalachian State Mountaineers on September 1, 2018 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA - SEPTEMBER 01: Trace McSorley #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions drops back to pass against the Appalachian State Mountaineers on September 1, 2018 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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Trace McSorley and the offense were not perfect. However had the Penn State football senior signal caller not clutched up, it would’ve been disastrous

An unexpected, thrilling, 45-38 overtime victory Saturday for Penn State football over Appalachian  State left many PSU fans reaching for the panic button.

Before fans jump to that impulse, keep calm and Trace McSorley on. Is there anything this guy can’t do. When Penn State needed him most, he once again answered. Despite the defense surrendering more than 450 yards and 31 points (the other seven are credited to the special teams), he never wavered.

On fourth-and-two with the game on the line in the fourth quarter, he found Brandon Polk for a gain of 10 and a first down. A few players later in the red zone, he lasered a ball into KJ Hamler for the game-tying score.

And even before any of the late-game heroics, he rushed for two scores in the game, including one to start the second quarter, giving Penn State the first lead since the first quarter. He did everything right in the end. The offense didn’t turnover the football, and it rolled up 434 total yards and 45 points.

Now, the numbers aren’t pretty for McSorley, but he got the job done. The team was plagued by offensive line miscues and a few drops, so it’s certainly not all on him. He ended up 21-of-36 for 230 yards and one touchdown along with 53 rushing yards and two scores to close out the day. In my opinion, the way the world should measure QBs most is if they did the most they could to win the game. McSorley did. Career win No. 23 didn’t come easily, but he willed to happen. For that, I’m giving him an A+ in that category.

Next. Penn State Football: Nittany Lions look for improvement in Week 2 at Pitt. dark

When it comes to how he handled the pressure and performed despite trailing by seven to a mid-major school, he earned an A+ as well. Sure, some will say the play and numbers weren’t enough. Nevertheless, it’s the season-opener and he performed like a senior starter should. It’s the reason he earned Player of the Game honors as well.

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