Penn State football (1-0) advanced to the final frontier, defeating Alaska vs. Anchorage (0-1) 24-21 in a scrimmage at Alaska Stadium in Anchorage, Alaska.
Both teams used a lot of ground combat in heavy snow. Nick Singleton and Caitron Allen each scored touchdowns in the first half, but the Seawolves fought back to make it 14-14 at halftime. Both teams scored again in the second half, but Sandor Sahaidak made a field goal in the final seconds to give Penn State a 24-21 victory.
how did it happen
Penn State won the coin toss and elected to postpone the game until the second half. In blizzard-like conditions, Ty Variusnes King, a quarterback from Anchorage, Alaska, trotted onto the field. King's first pass was incomplete and Abdul Carter burst in and sacked him for a loss of six yards, making it 3rd-and-16. King handed the ball to running back Fartrell Craggins, but Craggins' 5-yard gain was too slow.
Drew Aller and the Nittany Lion offense took control at their own 25-yard line. Aller threw a short pass to Liam Clifford, but Clifford only gained 2 yards. Two 4-yard gains by Nick Singleton then gave the Nittany Lions another down. But the drive stalled as the Seawolves stuffed Singleton twice and Aller's third-and-long pass was incomplete.
However, it didn't take long for Penn State to get the ball back. King's first pass was intercepted by AJ Harris and he was tackled at the 21-yard line. Caitron Allen took the opening handoff and gained 11 yards, giving Penn State first-and-goal at the 10-yard line. Two plays later, Allen dove into the end zone in the “T” formation with 3:01 left in the first quarter to give the Nittany Lions a 7-0 lead.
However, the Seawolves quickly fought back. Cragins had back-to-back 10-yard gains and backup running back Larpetron Duc Marriott completed an 8-yard carry that crossed midfield for the first time this afternoon. King threw a screen to Craggins, who exploded for a 23-yard gain to the Penn State 24-yard line. King then completed a pass to Cosgrove Shumway at the 5-yard line, who easily made his way into the end zone to tie the score at 7-7 and begin the second quarter.
Penn State continued to face adversity on subsequent trips. Aller had two incompletions, including one that prevented Keandre Lambert-Smith from getting inside. Singleton only gained 2 yards on third-and-long, and Riley Thompson punted the ball.
Meanwhile, the Seawolves continued to display their offensive prowess. King completed the drive with a 13-yard pass to Tyroil Smoochie-Wallace and a 9-yard pass to center Brylon Brasington. The ground game got involved after two incompletions as King and Cragins each ran 6 yards to recover a down. But there was a brief hiccup when Mr. Carter fired Mr. King again. As a result, Alaska Anchorage moved the ball over the next seven plays, gradually chipping away at Tom Allen's defense. Craggins then made an explosive shot into the end zone from his own 20-yard line to give the Seawolves a 14-7 lead with five minutes left in the first half.
Despite facing a deficit late in the second half, Penn State continued to move the ball. After Aller got a first down to open the drive, Singleton found the hole and continued to gain yards. Allen caught his pass on two screens and smoothly progressed down the field. Aller passed the ball to Singleton at his own 12-yard line, and Singleton weaved his way through the defense and into the end zone, ending the first half tied 14-14.
Aller was unable to take the field by the start of the second half as he was benched due to frostbite in arctic weather. Beau Pribula took his place and immediately scrambled 11 yards to start the third quarter. True freshman London Montgomery saw some action that provided temporary benefits. But when the two combined to move Penn State up the middle, the tide shifted back to Singleton and Allen. However, the drive stalled as Pribula struggled to complete the pass and Allen was stuffed to force a punt.
Even after two scoreless drives, Pribula continued to use his mobility. He found Tyler Warren for the first time for a 10-yard gain, then scrambled 20 yards to push Penn State past 50 yards again. Pribula fired a 15-yard dot to Trey Wallace, who passed it to Singleton for a 5-yard gain. Two plays later, Pribula found Warren again for a 23-yard touchdown to take a 21-14 lead at the end of the third quarter.
The Seawolves went 3-and-out on their first drive of the fourth quarter. Singleton had two 3-yard gains on the next drive, but Pribula was sacked on third down and forced to punt.
But Alaska-Anchorage kicked into gear. King found Cragins on two screen passes, the latter gaining a first down. Cragins and Doc Marriott split the next six carries, marching down the field as the clock ticked down. Three plays later, they reached 1st-and-goal and King completed a touchdown pass to Smoochie-Wallace to tie the score at 24 apiece with five minutes left in the game.
Pribula then fought back with two first-down completions. Singleton had two 1-yard gains and Allen ran for a 9-yard gain and a first down as the clock ticked down. Pribula scrambled for another 5 yards and Montgomery ran for another 5 yards to refresh on downs. But three plays later, Penn State had a crucial third-and-nine. Pribula retreated and found Warren again at 16 yards, but the clock continued to tick. In a rush, Pribula spiked, but was then forced 10 yards out of bounds. He took a shot to Lambert Smith in the end zone, but was sacked for a 6-yard loss. With seconds left, Sandor Sahaidak came on and attempted the winning field goal from the 24-yard line. Sahaydak took the kick, and the ball narrowly missed the goal post, giving Penn State a 24-21 victory as time expired.
Take-out
- This was a gritty, classic Big Ten-style football game. Penn State's dominant ground game bodes well for what's to come this season.
- Pribula played a key role in Penn State's victory. Despite the inclement weather, he looked calm and ready, which is a huge testament to his growth as a quarterback.
- In the kicking battle, Sahaidak may take an early lead. He lost his spot to Alex Felkins last season, but his walk-off field goal in the snow is a good sign he's ready to bounce back.
- Tyler Warren once again proved he can hold tight end even without 2024 NFL Draft pick Theo Johnson. He should be a strong candidate to win the Mackey Trophy this season.
What's next?
Penn State's annual Blue-White game kicks off at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, April 13 at 2 p.m.
Editor's note: This article is part of Onward State's April Fool's series. This is satirical and intended for entertainment purposes and is not to be taken literally. All quotes are for the purpose of this post.
