Penn State Football: Quarterback Report Post Ohio State 2018
A tough loss for Penn State football shouldn’t dim the Heisman campaign for Trace McSorley. The senior QB was lights out all game.
Once again, the swagger-filled Penn State football QB delivered an absolute gem to behold in Saturday’s one-point loss to Ohio State. Trace McSorley broke another record, setting the single-game school mark for total yards, compiling 461 against the Buckeyes. He did that while playing a clean game, putting a zero in the turnover category.
Unfortunately for McSorley, the team didn’t come out with the W and that, for right or wrong reasons, stings his Heisman campaign a bit. It shouldn’t, because he did everything to win the game. With Miles Sanders bottled up all night, McSorley made the correct reads constantly on the ground and through the air. It’s the reason he finished with 286 yards and two touchdowns through the air and added 175 more on the ground on seven yards per carry.
Whether it was off the zone read or just having the presence of mind to scramble, he played like the best player in the country. Ohio State couldn’t contain him in space and showed off his highly underrated speed in rushing situations.
In the passing game, the receivers did drop some big throws. But again, he hit clutch passes down the sidelines and over the middle where only his receivers could make the catch most of the time.
When the pressure began to get to him, he was polished and poised. He started moving the team down the field for the game-winning drive. Sadly for everyone wanting the final ball in his hands, it wasn’t meant to be with a controversial run call on 4th and 5.
There’s no doubt, he earned an A+ grade at the QB position. He did his job, it just didn’t result in a victory this time around. Still, he deserves a home-run swing for his efforts. VBR salutes him in that regard.
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McSorley SEASON STATS: 4-1, 2018 record; 74-of-139, 1,050 yards, 10 touchdowns, two interceptions; 410 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns, 6,2 yards per carry; 1,460 total yards, 16 total touchdowns
McSorley CAREER STATS: 26-6 career record; 8,419 passing yards; 60.6 completion percentage; 69 touchdowns, 20 interceptions; 1,309 rushing yards, 24 rushing touchdowns; 9,728 total yards, 93 total touchdowns