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Neil Rudel

Freshmen blooming quickly

UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State’s future appears to be in good hands. Its present may be, too. The Nittany Lions cruised in their home opener Saturday, blowing out Ohio University, 46-10, before 107,306 at Beaver Stadium. The stars were a pair of freshmen — tailback Nick Singleton and quarterback Drew Allar. Singleton electrified the stadium by rushing for 179 yards on 10 carries and two touchdowns — a 70-yarder to put the Lions up 14-0 and a blazing 44-yarder in the third quarter that made it 40-7. In between, he ripped off a 48-yarder to open the second half, which ...

Rocco family continues to be part of PSU legacy

Ohio at PSU Saturday: Noon Records: Both teams are 1-0 TV: ABC Radio: TOONA 1430-AM; 99.7-FM The latest line: PSU by 24.5 By Neil Rudel nrudel@altoonamirror.com UNIVERSITY PARK — The 2022 Penn State football season is a homecoming for the Rocco family. Danny Rocco is in his first ...

PSU point-counterpoint: What were you most impressed with in the season opener for Penn State?

The Nittany Lions can feel good about many aspects of their performance at Purdue. Quarterback play (save Sean Clifford’s bad interception), the debuts of Mitchell Tinsley and Barney Amor, Joey Porter Jr. having one of the better statistical games of a Penn State cornerback ever (six breakups, eight solo tackles, fumble recovery) and Penn State’s fourth-quarter defense were all quite impressive. But I’m going to take the Lions’ short-yardage offense. How many times have we seen Penn State stuffed on third- and fourth-and-short over the last few seasons? You’re right: ...

Purdue coach airs out strategy, apologizes

By Neil Rudel nrudel@altoonamirror.com WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. --- Shaking out the cobwebs from a late night at Purdue: n There was highly questionable coaching strategy in the fourth quarter of Penn State’s 35-31 victory over the Boilermakers, and it didn’t involve James Franklin. In ...

PSU QB, defense clutch in the end

By Neil Rudel nrudel@altoonamirror.com WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — James Franklin called it a “character win,” and it’s tough to argue. On a season-opening night against a dangerous opponent with a great passing game, Penn State lost its momentum, then found a way when it mattered most and emerged with a 35-31 win over Purdue before 57,307 at Ross-Ade Stadium. With two minutes to go trailing, 31-28, Sean Clifford engineered an eight-play, 80-yard drive capped by his fourth touchdown pass, a 10-yarder to Keyvone Lee. It was the seventh and final lead change, and Penn ...

For openers, a chance to restore confidence

By Neil Rudel nrudel@altoonamirror.com There are no must-wins in Week 1, especially for a coach just a few months removed from a contract extension through 2031. But tonight, at Purdue (8 p.m., Fox), is a big game for James Franklin. Public confidence in him is not high. His body of work since taking over at Penn State in 2014 — overall — still gets a good grade. He led Penn State to the Big Ten championship in 2016 and followed that up with strong seasons in 2017 and 2018, featuring outstanding offensive players, riding the great Trace McSorley and winning the Fiesta ...