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Neil Rudel on Penn State: 2022 was a year of resurgence for Nittany Lions

Penn State cornerback Kalen King (4) breaks up a pass intended for Michigan State tight end Daniel Barker (9) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)

STATE COLLEGE – Fourth-and-2 from the Michigan State 12, Penn State leading 21-16 with less than five minutes remaining. 

Instead of a field goal, James Franklin “thought we needed to be aggressive,” and – without a timeout – decisively called for a swing pass from Sean Clifford to Nick Singleton, who scored to put a cap on the Nittany Lions’ 10-2 season. 

Penn State turned an interception on the Spartans’ next possession into another touchdown and a 35-16 win, allowing the Lions to bask in a Senior Day success and turn their attention to bowl season. 

“We started slow but finished strong,” Franklin said. 

Neither team played their best for 60 minutes, but both showed character when it was needed most – Michigan State when it looked like it was going to muster almost nothing offensively and Penn State when it was forced to make a key drive in the clutch. 

“I just thought we played really good complementary football,” Franklin said. “Offense, defense and special teams all made plays when we needed to early on in the game.”  

Though a field goal would have given the Lions a safer 24-16 lead, Franklin had already watched Jake Pinegar miss from 37 and 28 yards, contributing to the Lions’ first-half malaise. 

So he showed belief in his offense and trust in his offensive coordinator, Mike Yurcich, who dialed up the right call as quarterback Sean Clifford threw his third of four touchdown passes on the day. 

“You (media) guys always think the fourth downs that work were good decisions and the 4,000 that don’t work were bad decisions and I agree with you,” Franklin said. “That one worked so it was a good decision. 

“I don’t know necessarily if the coaching manual would have said that that was the right thing to do, but how the game was playing out and missing some field goals early in the game, I just thought that was the right thing to do to be aggressive there.”

In his final home game after six years and four seasons as the Lions’ starter, Clifford completed 19-of-24 for 202 yards and no interceptions. 

“Sean did what he typically does,” Franklin said. “He manages the game extremely well and gets us in the right runs, gets us in the right protections and makes the plays when he needs to.” 

The fourth-down call and ensuing score capped a 75-yard drive and rekindled the defense, which had allowed Michigan State back in the game, and Kalen King picked off Payton Thorne to set up the Lions’ final score, a 35-yard TD from Clifford to KeAndre Lambert-Smith.

“We needed the stop,” King, who also had five breakups on the day as MSU went away from Joey Porter, said. “The game was getting too close for my comfort.” 

Even without injured leading receiver Parker Washington, the Lions’ receiving corps shined as the tight ends (Theo Johnson, Tyler Warren) caught three touchdown passes, and Lambert-Smith, in addition to his final score, threw a 48-yard TD to Johnson that put the Nits up 14-0. 

“That was a big-time throw,” Franklin said. 

Lambert-Smith joked afterward that Clifford told him, “I’ve got Drew (Allar) on my (butt). Not you, too.” 

“When the play was called, I think it was during a timeout,” Lambert-Smith said. “We were on the sideline talking about it. Theo said, ‘Lead me.’ So I did it. It was a perfect dime. Then I asked him, ‘Did I lead you enough?”’ 

It was that kind of feel-good day for the Lions, who put an exclamation point on their regular season with a strong November, outscoring Indiana, Maryland, Rutgers and Michigan State by a combined 165-40. 

“Overall, good night for us,” Franklin said. “I’m really proud. You think about where this team started, in terms of how people talked about us in preseason, to where we finished, I think inside the top 10 with one game left.” 

It probably clinched a New Year’s 6 bowl date – perhaps the Rose or Cotton — depending how the conference championship games shake out. 

Players opting out of bowl games has become a pattern, but unlike last year when the Nits careened into the Outback Bowl, more will likely stay around for a glamorous opportunity. 

Franklin said the next few days will be spent meeting with players “and making sure we’re all on the same page.”  

“Has it (bowl mentality) changed? Yeah,” Franklin said. “But I think it’s still important to go to the biggest and the best games you possibly can in the postseason, and whether that is the New Year’s 6 bowl game or whatever, there’s still value in it.” 

Especially when the Lions are trending up. 

“It’s good to get back to where we know Penn State should be,” defensive end Nick Tarburton said, “and that’s where Penn State should be every single year, double-digit wins and playing in big games.” 

In that regard, the 2022 season has represented a year of resurgence. 

Neil Rudel covers Penn State football and can be reached at nrudel@altoonamirror.com. 

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