The big plays are coming through the air for Penn State, and it helped lead to the Nittany Lions tying the game up early in the second quarter at Michigan State. Jahan Dotson scored his second touchdown of the game to tie things up for the Nittany Lions, but Parker Washington made the play of the drive with a fantastic one-handed snag of a pass from Sean Clifford.
Penn State started the drive in great field position, from the Michigan State 46-yard line. On the second play of the quick scoring drive, Clifford got some air underneath a pass to avoid a Michigan State defender, but it required Washington to make a great effort to come down with the football. Fortunately for Penn State, Washignton was able to get enough lift on his jump and extension to get one hand on the ball to come down for a 16-yard gain.
This catch was so nice, you will want to watch it twice…
On the very next snap, Clifford went back to his primary wide receiver, Dotson, for another big play through the air. Clifford found a streaking Dotson get into enough open space for a pretty easy 30-yard touchdown strike to bring Penn State within an extra point of a tied ballgame after falling behind 14-0 in the first quarter.
Penn State took advantage of Michigan State’s poor pass defense by bunching up three receivers in one spot before the snap. Then it was just matter of finding the open man once the play unfolded. That man, somehow, became Penn State’s No. 1 receiver.
Penn State did tie the game up at 14-14 with an extra point kick by Jordan Stout. Clifford shrugged off a tough opening drive to quickly amass 150 passing yards with the two touchdown plays to Dotson against a Michigan State defense that entered the week last in the FBS against the pass.
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