Bumpy Season for the Nittany Lions
Penn State football faces a difficult season as the team fails to seize a significant victory.
November 2015
Adam Ring '18
The Penn State University football team has had a season that can be described in many ways. Some would say that the season has been a disgrace, considering that the Nittany Lions have been defeated by all ranked opponents they have matched.
These teams consist of the once number one team, Ohio State, the number twenty-one team, Northwestern, and the Temple Owls. After falling to Temple for the first time since 1941, the season ahead seemed to be one of frustration for the entire roster, and especially the team’s veterans.
These predictions were soon proven false when Penn State won five straight games, two of which were against teams within their conference, The Big 10. The Big 10 is always one of the best conferences in college football, and this year was no exception with six of its teams in the nation’s top 25.
Penn State lost to Ohio State, then beat Maryland and Illinois with a combined score of 70-30. Senior Christian Hackenberg was on a roll before throwing his first interception in six games in a last second loss to the Northwestern Wildcats.
Other players have also contributed greatly to the team, like Chris Godwin, Saquon Barkley, and the entire defensive line. Godwin has 49 catches for 808 yards along with 3 touchdowns. He leads the team in receptions and yards, which of course makes him the favorite target for Hackenberg. Barkley, the freshman running back, rushed for 836 yards on 133 carries and 7 touchdowns.
The Penn State D line has been nothing short of phenomenal this season. Together, they have combined for 31 sacks, with the senior, Carl Nassib, recording 14.5 of those. This statistic breaks the record for sacks in one season at the university.
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Penn State needs to improve its secondary and help to protect Hackenberg if they want to have a successful end of their season. If they can pull through, they just might be able to make their way to a bowl game victory.