Chase Sowell stands out in loss
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ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Penn State's Chase Sowell only had one 100-yard receiving game in his career coming into Saturday -- a 146-yard game on just four catches when he was with Iowa State last season.
He beat that mark by 5 yards on Saturday, but he did so on 11 catches for the game in the Nittany Lions' 21-18 loss to Michigan for the best game of his career.
But the reality for a leader like Sowell is the end result of a loss is what really matters to him.
"It's very frustrating, regardless of what I did," Sowell said. "I still feel like I can do more."
Koby Howard, who was likely going to be the No. 1 receiver this season, has missed the last four games with an injury. Sowell has since been the primary wideout to step up, but no others have been able to get the production lost from Howard.
"Chase has been playing really good football the last two weeks, to be honest with you," PSU coach Matt Campbell said. "I'm really proud of what that guy has done."
Sowell has clearly built a rapport with quarterback Rocco Becht over the last two seasons. On a day where Becht struggled in the second half with two interceptions, Sowell made it clear he isn't worried about the most experienced quarterback in college football.
"I know he'll take full accountability," Sowell said of Becht. "There were a lot of plays that were supposed to be made. We don't fault him. We don't fault (offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser). We don't fault Coach Campbell. It's all of us right now. The best thing we can do is stay together, and the leaders keep leading."
It has gotten to the point where it's become fair to wonder if it's time to give backup QB Alex Manske a shot. Sowell said it's devastating to see it because he knows Becht cares about the results.
"The biggest thing I told him was to keep being you," Sowell said. "You don't have to make these superhero plays. You just have to be Rocco Becht."