Game Coverage

Rose Bowl highs, lows

Rose Bowl highs, lows

PASADENA, Calif. -- Following are the highlights and lowlights from Penn State's 35-21 victory over Utah on Monday at the Rose Bowl:

Play of the game: On the first play of the fourth quarter, Sean Clifford found KeAndre Lambert-Smith for an 88-yard touchdown pass that gave the Lions a 28-14 lead with 14:49 remaining.

Offensive player of the game: Clifford completed 16-of-21 passes for 279 yards and two touchdowns. He was not intercepted.

Defensive player of the game: Lion safety Ji'Ayir Brown made eight tackles, including a sack and 1.5 for loss, and intercepted a pass he returned for 22 yards.

Most telling statistic: Penn State averaged 8.3 yards per play.

Hidden statistic: The Lion defense made six sacks and a total of nine tackles for loss.

Most deceiving statistic: Penn State only ran 53 plays.

Best run: On third-and-2 from the Lions' 13, Nick Singleton burst 87 yards for a touchdown that gave Penn State a 21-14 lead with 9:25 left in the third quarter. It was as if the Red Sea parted.

Best pass: The play of the game stands out, but Clifford was sharp throughout. He threaded a 28-yarder to Theo Johnson to the Utah 13, setting up the Lions' first touchdown.

Worst pass: With the Lions up 21-14, Utah backup quarterback Bryson Barnes floated a ball in the third quarter that Brown picked off.

Best catch: Nit cornerback Kalen King, in one-on-one coverage, made a leaping interception of Cam Rising in the first quarter.

Catch it, will ya: Harrison Wallace botched a pass in the third quarter (killing a drive), and Singleton dropped one in the second quarter.

Hold it, won't ya: The Lions didn't fumble.

Best block(s): Johnson and State guard Hunter Nourzad sprung Singleton's 87-yard TD.

Best tackle: Curtis Jacobs sniffed out a reverse and dumped DeVaughn Vele for a 9-yard loss in the third quarter.

Worst tackle: On third-and-1, Tyler Elsdon shot through but missed Ja'Quiden Jackson raced 19 yards for a touchdown that tied the game at 14 with 2:38 left in the first half.

Worst coverage: Marquis Wilson let Vele behind him for a 47-yard reception in the second quarter.

Best kick: Utah punter Jack Bouwmeester pooched one 39 yards to the Nits' 5 in the third quarter.

Worst kick: Bouwmeester had a 28-yarder in the fourth quarter.

Best call: Utah freed tight end Thomas Yassmin out of a short-yardage set for a 1-yard touchdown pass from Rising to tie the game at 7 with 7:55 left in the second quarter.

Worst call: Nothing jumped out.

Best effort: Senior long snapper Chris Stoll hustled down the field to down a late Penn State punt at the Utah 1.

Unsung hero: Lion defensive end Adisa Isaac made two tackles for loss.

Best moment: With the Nits up 28-14, the Rose Bowl staff played "Sweet Caroline," much to the delight of the PSU throng.