Penn State salutes to service with a win over Indiana

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Late game heroics from Drew Allar and KeAndre Lambert-Smith push No. 10 Penn State past pesky Indiana, 33-24.

Before kickoff, there was an emotional moment for redshirt freshman wide receiver Kaden Saunders. He led Nittany Lions out of the tunnel holding an American Flag and gave it to his father, Anthony, who served for 27 and half years in the United States Army.

Indiana’s opening possession lasted just 33 seconds for a three-and-out, Drew Allar and the Penn State offense didn’t fare much better.

The drive stalled out near midfield as the Hoosiers stuffed Nicholas Singleton out of the T-formation, and the punting unit came out to the displeasure of the crowd, who let out some boos.

The punting trend continued into the ensuing drives for both teams as they traded possessions.

Then, on his 10-yard line, Brendan Sorsby delivered the first blow, hitting DeQuece Carter in stride for a 90-yard touchdown, 7-0 Indiana. A miscommunication in coverage left the Fordham transfer open.

Looking to respond, the offense continued to look sluggish as it went three and out again, but Indiana provided a special team gift.

Camden Jordan muffed the punt from Riley Thompson, and it was recovered by Kevin Winston, giving the blue and white life and the ball at the Indiana 32.

Following a fourth down conversion, James Franklin rolled the dice again on a 4th and 1. It paid off as Allar connected with a wide-open Khalil Dinkins for a 9-yard score, 7-7.

For Dinkins, it was his second touchdown of the season and Allar’s 14th passing touchdown.

After the scoring started, the offenses went back to sleep, swapping possessions on punts.

There were chances for lightning during the game, and lightning did strike twice. On Indiana’s first possession of the second quarter, Sorsby found a wide-open Donaven McCulley for a 69-yard touchdown, 14-7 Indiana.

A strong kickoff return by Singleton gave the Nittany Lions the ball at midfield, but a penalty derailed the drive, and Alex Felkins couldn’t convert on the 51-yard field goal.

The Hoosiers drove into Penn State territory but came a yard short on a wild fourth down where the ball was snapped before Sorsby was ready.

The blue and white responded with a nine-play, 59-yard drive that took five minutes off the clock, capped off by a two-yard touchdown run by Singleton, 14-14.

Indiana was looking to cash in right before the half, but Jaylen Reed had other plans, jumping the pass of Sorsby for his first career interception.

It proved to be costly as Felkins avenged his first miss drilling a 50-yard field goal as time expired on the first half and gave Penn State its first lead of the day, 17-14.

The Nittany Lions started with the ball to begin the second half and found its groove after a few solid carries by Kaytron Allen. To finish the drive, Allar found tight end Theo Johnson on a jump ball for his second passing touchdown, 24-14.

It was a tone-setting drive to begin the third as Allar orchestrated a 12-play, 75-yard drive elapsing over six minutes.

The Hoosiers and Sorsby found traction on their first drive of the second half, getting into the red zone. However, special teams ace and cornerback Daequan Hardy came flying off the edge to drop Sorsby for a sack on third down, leading to a 37-yard missed field goal by Chris Freeman.

After forcing a Penn State three and out, Indiana took over and found a rhythm, once again, to capitalize deep in the Nittany Lions’ side of the field.

Sorsby hit Omar Cooper Jr. over the middle and found paydirt for a 26-yard touchdown, 24-21. It was Sorsby’s third passing touchdown in the game, a career-high for the Denton, Texas native.

After another Thompson punt, Indiana had the chance to take the lead or tie but got stuffed on a third and short with under six minutes to play.

The Hoosiers’ front seven had been a problem all day long, and on a third and 8 they made their biggest play, and it wasn’t a sack.

Forcing pressure up the middle, Allar threw off his back foot and it was intercepted by Josh Sanguinetti setting up a golden opportunity.

The Penn State defense stepped up as Tom Allen kept the play-calling conservative with three straight runs, and Freeman was clutch, knocking through the 35-yard field goal, 24-24.

With his back up against a wall and Indiana seizing the momentum, Allar had to step up in a big moment and did just that.

After a pair of first downs by Allen, Allar launched it deep and found Lambert-Smith tiptoeing down the sideline for a 57-yard touchdown, 31-24, with 1:46 remaining.

Then looking for his big-time play, Sorsby was stripped by Dani Dennis-Sutton on the first play of Indiana’s ensuing drive. Nobody was able to pick up the loose ball as it rolled out the back of the endzone for a safety, 33-24.

Tyler Warren came up with the recovery on the onside kick and Penn State was able to grind out the clock and came away with a gritty, bounce-back win.

Next up for Franklin and company, they hit the road to face the Maryland Terrapins who sit at 5-3 on the season.

Matt Scalzo is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email matt.scalzo8@gmail.com or mms7477@psu.edu.