Penn State football: Micah Parsons sparks defensive domination over Maryland

York Daily Record

STATE COLLEGE — The rookie remained at the center of Penn State's rapidly rising defense on Senior Day.

Micah Parsons delivered his signature play with just over 10 minutes left Saturday in the Nittany Lions' 38-3 dismantling of Maryland in wet and frozen Beaver Stadium.

The game was far out of reach by then. Penn State's defense had suffocated and dominated the Terps' impressive fleet of runners.

They blew up one play after another in the backfield on the way to a head-turning 15 tackles for loss.

Penn State's Micah Parsons (11) drags down Maryland's Javon Leake (20) for a loss during the second half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018. Penn State won 38-3.

But go to the fourth quarter and the Harrisburg true freshman linebacker. Parsons had just finished tracking down a Maryland receiver downfield after a catch-and-run.

On the next snap he wrangled runner Javon Leake behind scrimmage for a 2-yard loss, like he was roping a calf in a rodeo.

Parsons did his part, once again, with four tackles overall and that one for loss. He is officially Penn State's regular-season tackle leader (69) as a 19-year-old kid.

Junior linebacker and former walk-on Jan Johnson finished second with 66.

More:Penn State vs. Maryland football: Trace McSorley, defense deliver last time at home

More:Penn State defensive tackle Antonio Shelton brings the noise vs. Maryland

Here's one way to show Penn State's impressive defensive growth: They've recorded a combined 33 tackles for loss in just the past three games.

"Our defensive line is just playing at a really high level right now," coach James Franklin said after the game. "I know we've played great D-line here for a really long time, but I'm really proud of the steps we're taking."

On Saturday, they kept Maryland out of the end zone for the second straight meeting, a week after the Terps shredded Ohio State for 51 points.

Penn State's Shareef Miller (48) drops Maryland's Avery Edwatds (82) for a loss during the second half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018. Penn State won 38-3.

They held Maryland's Anthony McFarland to 12 yards on six carries after he ripped Indiana and Ohio State for more than 500 yards combined.

They lived in Maryland's backfield, led by surging sophomore defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos (3.5 tackles for loss), tackle Kevin Givens (2.0 TFLs) and linebacker Cam Brown and cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields (1.5 each).

Gross-Matos has been the Big Ten's top defensive end the second half of the season and finished second with 20 TFLs.