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Whenever a team loses a game by just a small handful of points, as Penn State did on Saturday at Michigan State, coaches will go back and take a hard look at the numerous moments that could have led to a much different result. For Penn State, there were a handful of moments James Franklin and the Nittany Lions would love to have back in their 30-27 loss to the Spartans. Joey Porter Jr. being flagged for pass interference in a key spot should be high on the list.
Porter Jr. was flagged for pass interference on Michigan State’s top receiver, Jayden Reed, on a 3rd-and-Goal play late in the third quarter. It is unknown if Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker would have taken his chances with a field goal from the 13-yard line with a walk-on back-up kicker in snowy conditions or considered that four-down territory, so just how costly the penalty was could be undetermined.
Regardless, the penalty on Porter gave Michigan State a fresh set of downs from the Penn State two-yard line, and three plays later Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne got a push up the middle for a go-ahead Spartans touchdown. Instead of potentially preserving a 20-17 lead, Penn State was now down 23-20, and the Spartans would not lose the lead for the rest of the game.
After the game, Franklin was asked about the concerns with Porter and his abundance of costly penalties this season. The head coach of the Nittany Lions didn’t come right out and single out Porter in his response, but instead seemed to focus on how the coaching staff can work with the entire secondary to improve their technique moving forward.
“We’ve got to help them with not using his hands and not be so grabby,” Franklin explained in his response, according to Lions 247. “Obviously, when you get a number of penalties like that, just like we do, people turn it in ahead of time and you’ve got a bull’s eye on you.”
Needless to say, Porter seems to have a bullseye on him.
Joey Porter Jr. has been called for so many costly penalties for Penn State this season.
— Kevin McGuire (@KevinOnCFB) November 27, 2021
Has been a long year for Joey Porter Jr.
— Ben Jones (@Ben_Jones88) November 27, 2021
Sorry have lost count how many pass interference penalties have been called against Joey Porter Jr. That one on third down gives Spartans a first and goal from the 3.
— Joe Juliano (@JoeJulesinq) November 27, 2021
Another interference penalty on Joey Porter Jr. This one in end zone.
— Richard Scarcella (@nittanyrich) November 27, 2021
Porter’s pass interference certainly wasn’t the only reason Penn State lost to Michigan State on Saturday. The defense, which had been excellent in the red zone all season long, gave up four red zone touchdowns on five red zone opportunities for the Spartans. everyone can take some blame in that. Penn State also lost the turnover battle, 2-1, and rushed for just 61 yards as a team. The defense simply could not get off the field enough either, giving up 9 third-down conversions in 18 attempts and three of four fourth-down conversion attempts by the Spartans.
For Porter, he has had some really good moments this season and has been a steady player when put on the field. But the costly penalties tend to stick out the most, and he has been called for far too many this season.
Add that to the list of things to work on in the offseason.
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