Halftime corrections led to Penn State's third win

Penn State’s football team held its senior day Saturday in conjunction with its 39-24 home win against Michigan State at Beaver Stadium.

As impressive as the final score was for a send off to the senior class, things looked dire by halftime as Michigan State led 21-10.

What led to the turnaround?

“It’s about making corrections,” coach James Franklin said in a video conference with media Saturday. “It’s getting everybody on the same page with how they’re trying to attack us offensively and defensively and some subtle adjustments that we need to make to play cleaner.

“So we were able to get them settled down, make some adjustments. And then I thought we made some plays on defense. You made some plays on offense, made some plays on special teams. And you build some momentum and you build some confidence and you go from there.”

One of those defensive corrections was manifested in limiting Michigan State to a 23-yard field goal at 1 minute, 59 seconds of the third quarter after a drive of 12 plays and 51 yards. Had that been a touchdown, Penn State might not have been able to stage a successful comeback. After that score, Penn State had three unanswered touchdowns.

“That was a huge drive right there,” Franklin said. “Holding them to a field goal there — I think they were first-and-goal — and holding them to a field goal, and then the offense being able to do some things. I think the game could have been different if they if they score right there. The fact that we were able to battle and hold them to three points right there and then offense was able to come out and answer.

“We kind of started to chip away at their lead. And, then again, we made some big plays on offense and defense. We were able to start getting off the field on defense on third down. The problem the first half, defensively, they were just getting way too many yards on first and second down. But we were able to get them calmed down and make some subtle adjustments and just play better defensive football, gap sound, gap accountable, which was big.

“I thought we played complimentary football. There’s times where the offense wasn’t in rhythm, and the defense played well, and then, you know, there was times where the defense was struggling, then the offense was able to step up. And then same thing on special teams.”

At 3-5, Penn State will complete it’s season Saturday with a home game against Illinois. While hopes of finishing the season at .500 won’t be realized, being in position to end on a four-game winning streak appears to be a point of pride.

“The resiliency that we have showed, I’m proud of them,” Franklin said. “It’s not something that we’ve experienced or been through, so to find a way to show that type of heart, to show that type of belief and brotherhood, and stick together and stay together and battle through, I’m very proud of them. It’s not easy to do. The last three weeks we have found ways to win, which is really what we’ve done for seven years.”