Penn Sate offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead helped the Nittany Lions create major touchdowns during the second half of his team’s 52-49 loss to the USC Trojans in Monday’s Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, and Penn State coach James Franklin made sure to let him know how happy this made him.
On the Nittany Lions’ first play of the second half, Saquon Barkley ran for a 79-yard touchdown. On their second play, Trace McSorley found Chris Godwin for a 72-yard touchdown, and at that point, the Penn State bench was going wild.
Here is how Franklin celebrated the huge score:
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USC kicker Matt Boermeester scored a game-winning 46-yard field goal as time expired– after two missed attempts– to lead the Trojans to the victory.
Penn State initially erased a 27-14 first-half deficit to gain a comfortable 49-35 second-half advantage. Then came USC’s turn. Although they lost one of their top players, defensive back Adoree’ Jackson, to an ankle injury and their leading tackler Cam Smith to a targeting ejection, the Trojans didn’t give up.
USC forced a Nittany Lions punt and got the ball back with a minute and 59 seconds remaining, although even then, trailing 49-42, the Trojans needed to gain 80 yards just to tie the game.
USC’s freshman quarterback Sam Darnold ultimately helped save his team from defeat. He was named the Trojans’ starting quarterback after USC got off to a 1-2 start, and his MVP performance on Monday demonstrated why.
Helped by a pair of Nittany Lions defensive pass interference penalties, Darnold led the Trojans on a three-play, 80-yard touchdown drive capped by a 27-yard strike to sophomore Deontay Burnett that tied it up 49-all.
Then, USC safety Leon McQuay intercepted McSorley on the following drive and returned it 32 yards to the Nittany Lions 33-yard line to give USC a chance to win it in regulation.
Darnold, who grew up in Southern California dreaming about playing in this game, finished 33-of-53 passing for 453 yards with five touchdowns for a very memorable outing.
Burnett recorded a career-high 13 catches for 164 yards and three touchdowns to help overshadow Penn State’s excellent second half.
PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 02: Wide receiver Deontay Burnett #80 of the USC Trojans attempts to make a reception against cornerback Jordan Smith #12 of the Penn State Nittany Lions in the fourth quarter of the 2017 Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 2, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
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