Rose Bowl, USC vs Penn State: Highlights, score and recap
USC defeated Penn State Monday night in one of the best Rose Bowl games we’ve ever seen
After starting the season 2-2, Penn State won nine straight games to close out the year with an 11-2 mark, including a comeback win in the Big Ten title game over Wisconsin. The Nittany Lions were the first team left out of the playoff and many believe it was because of a 49-10 loss to Michigan earlier in the season.
The last time these two teams made the Rose Bowl together was 2009 and the USC Trojans came out on top by two touchdowns. This year’s matchup looked to be even more intriguing as both the Trojans and Nittany Lions were red-hot coming into the game. USC was 1-3 to start the year and won eight straight games to close out the year, putting a 52-6 drubbing by Alabama behind it.
Like all Rose Bowls, this one had the feeling of a national championship. These two teams were arguably the two that didn’t make the playoff that should have and if each had one less defeat this season, they may have just made it in over Ohio State and Washington.
The Trojans raced out to a 13-0 lead through the first quarter and then a 20-7 lead before Penn State stormed back and pulled within six, 27-21, at halftime. The game was just starting to get exciting.
In fact, the second half was an shootout. Penn State captured the lead in the third quarter, but USC wasn’t going away that easily. However, the Nittany Lions broke out in the third quarter, scoring 28 points and taking a 49-35 lead.
Ronald Jones II scored first in the second quarter to pull within a touchdown and it was a whole new ballgame in the fourth quarter. The Trojans scored the game-tying touchdown with under 90 seconds to go in the game and the stadium went nuts.
How did USC’s defense respond? Just by intercepting Penn State’s Trace McSorley and returning it into Nittany Lions’ territory. Sam Darnold and the Trojans had a chance to win the game after being down by two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
Matt Boermeester came in to kick the game-winning 45-yard field goal for the Trojans and drilled it right down the middle.
Highlights
Three Stars
It’s hard to name a better player than Sam Darnold after this incredible game. The USC quarterback was the better of the two quarterbacks for most of the game, passing for 453 yards and five touchdowns.
Deontae Burnett had a monster game for the Trojans. The sophomore wide out had his first 100-yard game of the year, catching 13 passes for 164 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winner.
Saquon Barkley was the game’s top rusher and he ran all over the Trojans. He finished with 25 carries for 194 yards and two touchdowns in the loss.
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Next Season
The USC Trojans will have an exciting matchup to start their 2017 season against Western Michigan at home. The Broncos finished the 2016 regular season and conference title game 13-0. Penn State will have a much easier matchup against the Akron Zips in Happy Valley.