Penn State place kicker Ryan Barker, second from right, is mobbed by teammates after making the game-winning field goal during overtime of an NCAA college football game against Southern California, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
By Neil Rudel
nrudel@altoonamirror.com
Following are the highlights and lowlights from Penn State’s 33-30 overtime victory over USC on Saturday at the Los Angeles Colesium:
Play of the game: The 32-yard touchdown pass from Drew Allar to Tyler Warren with 12:52 left in the third quarter pulled the Lions within 20-13. The play started with Warren snapping the ball out of an unbalanced formation to Beau Pribula, who threw it backward to Allar, who lofted the TD to Warren, who reached over USC safety Zion Branch.
Offensive player of the game: Warren caught 17 passes — a new PSU single-game record — for 224 yards and a touchdown. His 224 yards set a Big Ten record for a tight end. Warren also rushed once for 4 yards and completed 1-of-1 for 9 yards.
Defensive player of the game: Penn State defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton made six tackles. One of his TFLs came in overtime and led to USC’s missed field goal.
Most telling statistic: The Trojans averaged 13.2 yards per rush (on 11 carries) in the first half and 3.2 (on 13 carries) in the second half.
Most deceiving statistic: The Lions turned the ball over three times.
Hidden statistic: USC scored touchdowns on two of its first three drives and one on its next nine possessions.
Best run: USC scored a 75-yard touchdown in the first quarter on a beautifully executed fake reverse (to speedster Zachariah Branch) that Quinten Joyner kept and blazed to a 7-3 lead.
Best pass: Allar threaded a 16-yarder to Omari Evans to the USC 3 in the third quarter, setting up the TD that tied it at 20.
Worst pass: USC QB Miller Moss missed high on an open Duce Robinson (who’s 6-foot-6), which could have set up a game-winning field goal attempt in the final seconds of regulation.
Best catch: Julian Fleming’s 16-yarder on fourth down with 3:42 left was tightly contested and kept the Nits’ hopes alive.
Catch it, will ya: Fleming dropped a pass in the second quarter; Trey Wallace did as well. Abdul Carter dropped an interception in the third quarter.
Hold it, won’t ya: Penn State didn’t fumble.
Best block: Nick Singleton picked up USC’s blitz just enough on the Lions’ game-tying drive.
Best tackle: USC’s Kamari Ramsey stopped Warren with one-on-one tackles twice in the red zone.
Best hit: Carter had PSU’s only sack.
Best kick: Ryan Barker drilled a 36-yard field goal in overtime to win it.
Worst kick: USC’s Michael Lantz missed a 45-yard field goal in overtime.
Best call: It turned out going for the fourth-and-seven from their own 44 and 4:27 left, and not punting despite having their timeouts, helped the Lions win the game.
Worst call: Lincoln Riley didn’t manage the last two minutes of regulation well.
Best effort: Allar passed for a career-high 391 yards and rushed for 32 on four scrambles.
Unsung hero: Barker, in just his second start, went 4-for-4 in field goals.
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