Clifford writes great last chapter
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PASADENA, Calif. -- Sean Clifford saved his best for last.
The Nittany Lions' senior quarterback endured an up-and-down six-year career, especially in big games, but he was outstanding in leading a 35-21 victory over Pac-12 champion Utah in the Rose Bowl on Monday.
Clifford completed 16-of-21 for 279 yards and two touchdowns. He wasn't intercepted and was in complete command.
He was 5-for-5 in his first five third-down opportunities, and the Lions wound up converting seven of 11 to keep Utah's explosive offense off the field.
Clifford was sharp over the middle, underneath and over the top. On the Lions' go-ahead score in the second quarter, he spun away from a tackler and, running left, alertly hit KeAndre Lambert-Smith for 30 yards at the left sideline to set up the Lions' second touchdown.
His ability to manage the line of scrimmage helped spring Nick Singleton's 87-yard run that broke a 14-14 tie early in the second quarter.
"We caught the defense off guard there," tight end Theo Johnson, who made the key block, said. "They were looking over at their sideline."
Johnson snagged a 28-yard pass from Clifford in the first half that led to the Lions' first touchdown.
Clifford's signature moment was a pump fake that freed Lambert-Smith for an 88-yard touchdown reception -- longest in Rose Bowl history -- that gave the Lions a 28-14 lead early in the fourth quarter and pretty much iced the game.
"It was up for debate whether we wanted to take a shot," Clifford said. "It was third down-and-4, and I'd been seeing the same look all game, so I was definitely a proponent for taking that shot, and I know KeAndre wanted it, too."
Clifford humbly spread the credit.
"Great players make great plays, and KeAndre got -- anybody could have thrown that one," he said. "Kudos to Dre. He played a great game."
Like his teammates, Johnson was especially pleased for Clifford to be able to end his Nittany Lion career on such a high note.
"I've said it a ton," Johnson said. "I'm really proud of Cliff. I came in in 2020, and I've seen the ups and down and his trials. To see him to go out like this, you can't write it up any better. No one deserves it more than him."
Not only did Clifford go out smiling, the win exorcised one of James Franklin's demons as the Lions had lost 11 straight games to Top 10 opponents.
But the leadership of the likes of P.J. Mustipher, Ji'Ayir Brown and especially Clifford put a stop to that streak and fueled optimism for the future.
"I'm just happy for him," Franklin said of Clifford. "He's seen it all in his Penn State career, and at Penn State it's important not how we just do it on the football field but in the classroom and in the community, and he's done it with utmost class the entire time. That's what college football is about, and that's what Penn State is about."
And yet, as the celebration spilled from the Rose Bowl field into the Penn State locker room, Clifford felt good for everybody else.
"It means a lot, just being able to see all my teammates on the sideline with smiles on their faces," he said. "It just means the world. I just couldn't be prouder to be a Penn Stater.
"I just respect, love and appreciate every single man that has came through Penn State's program and impacted me in whatever way, whether that be coaches, administration, staff and especially my teammates. I just can't thank everybody enough for my experience at Penn State. I cherished every minute of it, the ups and the downs. I just couldn't be more thankful."
So Clifford, deservedly, leaves feeling great.
And finally, though he already owned most of the career passing records because of his longevity, the Nittany Lions' fan base could feel good for him, too.
Rudel can be reached at 814-946-7527 or nrudel@altoonamirror.com.