PSU’s Smith and Bucknell’s Pyles, Campbell Semifinalists
By Shawn Carey – Two Central Pennsylvania college football players, Penn State linebacker Brandon Smith and Bucknell University’s Mark Pyles, are in the running for the premier student-athlete in college football. Smith and Pyles have been named two of 181 semifinalists for the 2017 William V. Campbell Trophy, widely regarded as the “Academic Heisman,” the National Football Foundation announced. The finalists will be announced on November 1 and each will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship. The winner will be announced on December 5 in New York City, and his scholarship will increase to $25,000. John Urschel was the last Penn State…
Penn State Beats Iowa On Final Play
By Luke Meredith – IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — It was happening like it had so often in the past. A once-sluggish Iowa team had come to life in the fourth quarter at home under the lights, and another top-five opponent was set to go down. Trace McSorley, Juwan Johnson and the resilient Nittany Lions flipped the script, scoring on the game’s final play to survive a wild Big Ten opener. Johnson caught a seven-yard TD pass as time expired and fourth-ranked Penn State rallied to stun Iowa 21-19 Saturday night. Saquon Barkley had 211 yards rushing and 94 yards…
Jones wins Warner Fusselle Award
By StateCollegeSpikes.com – Steve Jones has earned another accolade to add to his legendary legacy. Jones, who has served as the “Voice of the Spikes” since the inception of the franchise, was named the winner of the 2017 Warner Fusselle Award for Broadcast Excellence as the top broadcaster in the New York-Penn League. The award is given annually by the NYPL to the radio or TV/video streaming broadcaster whose work is deemed exemplary based on baseball knowledge, delivery, production values and overall presentation. The honor is bestowed in memory of the late Warner Fusselle, who served as radio broadcaster for…
Brandon Smith On Good Works Team
GoPSUSports.com – UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State senior linebacker Brandon Smith ihas been named to the Allstate AFCA (American Football Coaches Association) Good Works Team. He is among the 11 FBS and 22 overall honorees for their contributions to the community. Smith is the fourth Nittany Lion to earn Allstate AFCA Good Works Team honors, joining Ben Kline (2015), Stefen Wisniewski (2010) and Wayne Holmes (1994). In its 26th year, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® shines a spotlight on the incredible stories of selflessness and community service displayed by these student-athletes and honorary head coach, and honors their…
PSU Routs Georgia State
By Travis Johnson – STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — All week, the usually unflappable Trace McSorley told himself, if he could settle his feet down, his arm would follow suit. A week after Penn State’s quarterback played his most uneven game in a while, bouncing on his toes and firing over his teammates heads, he had one of his best under Beaver Stadium’s bright lights. McSorley threw a stadium-record 85-yard touchdown pass to Saquon Barkley for one of his four scoring strikes and also ran for a touchdown in No. 5 Penn State’s 56-0 victory over Georgia State 56-0. “That…
Penn State’s 2020 and 2021 Big Ten Schedule Announced
GoPSUSports.com – UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Big Ten announced its conference football schedules for 2020 and 2021 today. Penn State hosts five conference games in 2020 beginning with Northwestern Sept. 26 and welcomes four Big Ten opponents to Beaver Stadium in 2021 starting with Illinois Oct. 16. The 2020 Big Ten schedule opens Sept. 26 against Northwestern, followed by a road trip to Michigan Oct. 3. Following a bye week, the Nittany Lions host Iowa (Oct. 17) and Ohio State (Oct. 24) in back-to-back weeks before hitting the road for a pair of games at Indiana (Oct. 31) and…
Number 4 Penn State Tops Pitt, 33-14
By Will Graves – STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Trace McSorley threw for three touchdowns, including Saquon Barkley’s 46-yard catch-and-run, and No. 4 Penn State pulled away from Pittsburgh for a 33-14 win. McSorley completed 15 of 28 passes for 164 yards, helping the Nittany Lions (2-0) avenge a loss to their in-state rivals a year ago. Tight end Mike Gesicki had two touchdown receptions and Barkley ran for 88 yards as Penn State ended a two-game skid against the Panthers. Qadree Ollison rushed for 96 yards for the Panthers (1-1), but Pitt’s offense struggled to finish drives early on…
Penn State 1st Shutout Since 2007
By Travis Johnson – STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Each time Penn State’s offense drove toward Beaver Stadium’s south end on Saturday, Saquon Barkley passed 16 Penn State students in the front row whose bare chests, painted blue and white and beginning to smear from the rain, spelled out S-A-Q-U-O-N F-O-R H-E-I-S-M-A-N. Barkley has tried to block out personal hype to keep focused on his responsibilities as a team leader. He’ll need to keep doing it, especially if he keeps playing like this. The junior running back racked up 226 total yards and two touchdowns to lead No. 6 Penn…
