Penn State ran the damn ball.
Boise State could not.
It was a frustrating night for the Broncos – even as Penn State’s play calling was frustrating at times.
Eventually, Penn State figured out it just needed to run the damn ball and now it will run to the College Football Playoff semifinals after beating Boise State, 31-14, in the Fiesta Bowl.
In the preamble to Tuesday’s matchup, so much was made about how Penn State needed to stop Ashton Jeanty to win. How Jeanty – the Heisman Trophy runner-up – would be the key if Boise State had any chance at beating Penn State. How Jeanty – averaging 192 yards per game – was just a mere 131 yards from breaking Barry Sanders single-season rushing record.
Yet, Penn State’s defense stomped his efforts out time and time again.
Jeanty ran for 104 yards, 28 short of breaking Sanders’ record. He averaged just 3.5 yards per carry – less than half of his usual 7.5 yards per carry average entering the game. He fumbled the ball twice – one of which went for a turnover. He never found the end zone.
Every single one of those stats were his season worsts. No team had held Jeanty to under 125 yards. No team held him to less than 3.5 yards per carry. Jeanty entered the game with just two fumbles the entire season.
Aside from one run for 26 yards, Penn State consistently wrapped up Jeanty early, stymying him throughout the game.
However, Penn State’s own offense nearly stymied itself.
After a blazing hot start, including two impressive touchdown throws by Drew Allar, it appeared the Nittany Lions had found the right offensive game plan.
Running the ball 10 times in the first quarter for 69 yards, Penn State was willing its running game – and really the entire offense – over Boise State’s defense.
But in the second quarter, that offense – and nearly the momentum – evaporated. Penn State rushed for eight yards on 11 carries in the second quarter. Andy Kotelnicki’s offense opted for passing plays – of which the Nittany Lions went 6-for-12 in the quarter. In short yardage situations in the third quarter, it chose passing plays, not a ground attack that averaged 5.3 yards per carry on the day.
In the fourth quarter, after a Zakee Wheatley interception, Penn State had a chance to drive down the field and eat clock.
Allar rushed for 5 yards and then 4 yards. It felt obvious to run for the final one, but instead, on a roll out pass, Allar missed Khalil Dinkins.
It gave the Broncos one final shot of momentum and optimism.
Throughout this season, Penn State’s defense has played a bend-don’t-break style. Once again, Penn State was asked, up 24-14, to keep Boise State at arm’s length. And it did. The defense stood strong during a 12-play, 55-yard drive by Boise State, resulting in a second missed field goal by the Broncos.
With 9:20 to play, the game was Penn State’s for the taking. One long drive and score would ice it.
That’s when Penn State remembered to run the damn ball.
Nicholas Singleton rushed for 1 yard, eating clock. Kaytron Allen rushed for 12 yards and then 7 yards, chewing more time. Then, Penn State picked up a first down by a throw from Allar to Dinkins on 3rd-and-8.
Singleton ran again on first down, taking the clock to the 5:04 mark.
And finally, Penn State got its longest run of the night. Singleton bounced through a hole for 58 yards and a touchdown, his longest of the season.
Allen finished the evening with 134 rushing yards and Singleton added 87 more as Penn State completed its ninth 200-plus yard rushing effort of the season.
That season is now extended with a trip to the Orange Bowl for a spot in the National Championship on the line.
All because Penn State could, while Boise State couldn’t, run the damn ball.
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