So much for the sun and warm weather in Orlando. In a game dampened by rain, slowed by mud and with the Nittany Lions trailing late in the fourth quarter, PSU needs someone special. And Daryll Clark answered the call as Penn State .beat #13 LSU 19-17.
In a driving rainstorm turned the field into a mosh pit in some places. LSU had rallied from a 13-point deficit late in the second half to take a 17-16 lead on Stevan Ridley’s 1-yard touchdown run with 12:49 left. And then Clark took over.
Clark led the Nittany Lions on a late-game drive that set up Collin Wagner’s 21-yard field goal with 57 seconds left, and Penn State staved off a last-ditch effort by the Tigers to preserve the victory.
“No matter what .. whatever it takes, we have to keep these chains rolling,” the senior said in recounting a talk with the offense before the drive. “All we need is a couple points.”
Penn State coach Joe Paterno got his record 24th bowl win and handed Les Miles his first loss in five bowls as LSU coach. It was just the second game ever between two popular college football programs.
In a driving rainstorm turned the field into a mosh pit in some places. LSU had rallied from a 13-point deficit late in the second half to take a 17-16 lead on Stevan Ridley’s 1-yard touchdown run with 12:49 left. And then Clark took over.
The win was the first time Penn State had beaten a ranked team all season despite its gaudy record, something that JoePa noted in his post game press conference.
“That thing about not beating a ranked team, I mean, between you and me, that’s a lot of hooey (sic), OK, to be honest with you. I think you guys have to write about something, so you pick out something.”