Penn State and James Franklin can recite their “1-0” mantra all they want, but they knew how challenging their first three games looked.
A road trip to Big Ten West preseason favorite Wisconsin.
A potential trap game against defending Mid-American Conference champion Ball State.
A home game against Auburn from the mighty Southeastern Conference.
That’s why winter conditioning and weight training, spring practice, summer workouts and preseason camp were so grueling and so demanding.
“We grinded harder than we ever have since I’ve been here,” quarterback Sean Clifford said. “Last year wasn’t us. Everybody knew that. Even if you didn’t, I’m hoping we’re proving it now.”
Penn State made it through the early-season gauntlet unscathed, turning back Auburn 28-20 Saturday night at Beaver Stadium to move to 3-0 and No. 6 in The Associated Press Top 25.
“I think we’re a mentally tough football team,” said Franklin, the Lions coach. “I think we’re a physically tough football team.”
Motivated to rebound from their losing record in 2020, the Nittany Lions have relied on a defense that’s rarely out of position and on the steady play of Clifford.
He was brilliant against Auburn, completing 28-of-32 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns in what was the best performance of his career. He went 12-for-12 in the second half. He played with poise, accuracy and mobility.
He’s clearly comfortable under the guidance of new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Mike Yurcich. His completion percentage has spiked to 71.3%.
“He’s taken some criticism, so I’m super happy for him,” Franklin said. “He made the plays he should have made tonight, but I thought he also extended the play a couple times like when he threw it (to Jahan Dotson) in the back of the end zone.
“I’m really happy for him. I’m really proud of him.”
Franklin said Clifford is tough, but safety Jaquan Brisker might be the one who best represents Penn State’s grit.
Brisker made a late interception to help the Lions win at Wisconsin. Saturday night, he closely covered wide receiver Kobe Hudson in the end zone when Bo Nix threw an incompletion on fourth-and-goal from the 2 with 3:08 to go.
Later, Brisker broke up NIx’s pass inside the Penn State 15 on the game’s final play.
“We’re a very tough team,” Brisker said. “We’ve always got each other’s backs, whether it’s offense, defense or special teams. If we have a sudden change, we have the offense’s back. If they score on us, then the offense has our back. We just stick together.”
Penn State players often have talked about the unity of this year’s team. They say they’re much closer than they were last year when COVID-19 prevented them from spending a lot of time together and when a few guys might have been looking ahead to the NFL.
“This is one of the tightest teams I’ve been around,” senior defensive end/linebacker Jesse Luketa said. “We love each other. You guys can see it. You guys can see the camaraderie on the field.
“We got each other’s backs. It’s not just lip service. We’re displaying it week to week.”
The defense has allowed just 43 points against three quality teams. It has been especially stingy when opponents drive inside the Penn State 20.
“You can’t let offenses score,” Brisker said. “We have to make it hard for any offense in the red zone.”
Penn State still has to navigate its way through a schedule that includes games against No. 5 Iowa, No. 10 Ohio State, No. 19 Michigan and No. 20 Michigan State, three of which are on the road.
But so far, no team in the country has two wins as impressive as the Lions have against Wisconsin and Auburn. It’s the first time in school history that they’ve beaten two ranked opponents in their first three games.
“I think we’ve got a tough-minded football team,” Franklin said. “Obviously being tested early in the season like this is going to be good and helpful. We’re just going to build on it from there. I’m pleased with where our football team is right now.”
Source: Berkshire mont
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