Upon further review: Penn State 38, UW 31
Madison – Jeff Potrykus reviews Wisconsin’s 38-31 loss to Penn State in the Big Ten title game Saturday in Indianapolis.
OFFENSE (D)
The inability to pick up 1 yard on fourth and 1 from the Penn State 24 illustrated one of UW’s season-long problems. UW couldn’t always run the ball successfully in short-yardage situations, which led to too many missed scoring chances.
On the final offensive play against the Nittany Lions, tight end Kyle Penniston, right tackle David Edwards and right guard Beau Benzschawel blocked down. Left guard Jon Dietzen pulled and fullback Austin Ramesh led Clement over the right side.
Penniston was stood up at the line of scrimmage and Dietzen appeared to stumble as he approached the line of scrimmage. As a result, UW got no movement on that side. Ramesh tried to take out cornerback Grant Haley but Haley used his quickness to get around the block and drop Clement for no gain, with help from linebacker Marcus Allen.
For the players and coaches who take pride in playing physical football and imposing their will on opponents, that failure had to be galling.
DEFENSE (D)
UW looked fabulous – until the final two-plus minutes of the first half.
The Nittany Lions punted twice, lost two fumbles and turned the ball over on downs on their first six possessions and trailed, 28-7.
Then when quarterback Trace McSorley led a five-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to cut the deficit in half the tenor of the game changed.
UW couldn’t get to McSorley, who threw darts down the field to his receivers. UW’s defensive backs, who had been so adept at contesting passes, looked as if they had no idea what they were doing or where the ball was.
Penn State put together scoring drives of 70, 63, 81 and 58 yards to turn a 14-point halftime deficit into a seven-point lead.
Perhaps the most troubling part for UW is that no one on the defense could make a play to get the momentum back.
SPECIAL TEAMS (D)
Senior kicker Andrew Endicott missed crucial kicks against Ohio State and Nebraska and added Penn State to that list. UW needed to score on its first possession of the second half to stymie Penn State’s momentum. Endicott got that chance from 48 yards but missed right, a flaw he hasn’t been able to fix this season.
Freshman Anthony Lotti placed two of his four punts inside the Penn State 20. However, he had two chances to help flip the field in the second half and instead got off punts of 39 and 37 yards. The Nittany Lions started from their 37 and drove for the tying touchdown after the first punt and started from their 36 and drove for a field goal after the second punt. Lotti has to be better in those situations.
UW vs. Western Michigan in Cotton Bowl
COACHING (C)
UW won six consecutive games using Alex Hornibrook and Bart Houston at quarterback. Head coach Paul Chryst gave Houston the start for the first time since Week 3. He stayed with Houston from start to finish despite the fact Hornibrook, who suffered an apparent concussion in the regular-season finale, was cleared to play. Would Hornibrook have provided a spark coming off the bench as Houston had in several games? We’ll never know.