Penn State vs. Central Florida Recap

Dublin, Ireland – Penn State had 511 total yards to Central Florida’s 246. Penn State had 24 first downs to Central Florida’s 11. Penn State won the time of possession battle 34:07 to 25:53. Knowing all that and seeing that sophomore quarterback Christian Hackenberg threw for a school record 454 yards; you would think that Penn State would have won by a couple of touchdowns. You wouldn’t think that the final play of the game would decide the outcome and that the young gunslinger would have to drive the Nittany Lions down to the Central Florida 19-yard line to allow kicker Sam Ficken to kick the game-winning field goal as time expired. Penn State wins 26-24

The first game under new head coach James Franklin was a nail-bitter and wasn’t exactly how he thought it might go but hey, a win is a win. “There was only a minute or so left in the game, and I looked across the sideline and there wasn't doubt in anybody's eye. Everybody believed. They believed in Hack. They believed in Ficken," Franklin said. 

Central Florida started redshirt freshman quarterback Pete DiNovo, which didn’t go so well. The first-time starter was replaced in the second half by Justin Holman after going 3-8 for just 18 yards. Holman brought the Knights back into the game and gave them some life. Holman scored what appeared to be the game-winning touchdown with just 1:13 left. He finished the day going 9-14 for 204 yards and a touchdown. 

Penn State’s Grant Haley returned the ensuing kickoff to the 26-yard line, giving Hackenberg nearly the length of the field to go. He made a couple throws down the field and scrambled for a first down before finally getting his team in position with 3 seconds left. Sam Ficken booted the 36-yard kick through the uprights as the clock hit :00. The sideline erupted and the crowd did the same. Heading back to the states with a win under his belt going into next week’s game against Akron, James Franklin should feel good about the way his team played on both sides of the ball.

The Nittany Lions take on Akron next weekend in Beaver Stadium at noon.