MidValleySports.Com

By Tim Peterson

(Los Angeles) – Ryan Barker split the uprights from 34 yards out to give Penn State a 33-30 win over USC Saturday before 75, 250 fans at United Airlines Field at the LA Memorial Coliseum.

USC had the ball first in overtime but Michael Lantz missed wide left on a 45-yard field goal attempt opening the door for Penn State.

The Nittany Lions rallied twice to force the overtime. They were down 20-6 at halftime and also 30-23 late in the fourth quarter. But each time they responded and caught and ultimately passed the Trojans.

Penn State got on the board first on a 36-yard field goal by Ryan Barker with 4:43 left in the first quarter.

Penn State had a touchdown called back on a pass interference penalty in the endzone before Barker’s field goal.

USC immediately answered with a 75-yard touchdown run by Quinten Joyner who swept the left end and outran the Nittany Lion secondary for the score.

In the next possession USC drove 89 yards on 7 plays. A 28-yard run down to the Penn State nine-yard line by Woody Marks set up a nine-yard touchdown pass from Miller Moss to Joyner early in the second quarter.

Desman Stephens II then picked off a pass and returned it to the Penn State 26 to put the Trojans in business again. But they stalled there and Lantz booted a 45-yard field goal to make it 17-3 with 10:05 left in the second quarter.

Barker kicked a 33-yard field goal for the Nittany Lions when a drive stalled at the USC 16-yard line to cut the USC advantage to 17-6 with 2:46 left in the second quarter.

A 33-yard screen pass from Moss to Marks set up a 47-yard field goal by Lantz with seven seconds left in the second quarter to make it 20-6. The Trojans took that 14-point lead into the halftime break.

On Penn State’s first possession of the third quarter Tyler Warren snapped the ball and then ended up catching a 32-yard touchdown pass from Drew Allar as the Nittany Lions pulled off a little trickery. Allar had caught a pass from Beau Pribula who took a direct snap before connecting with Warren to slice the lead to seven.

After a USC punt Penn State marched 90 yards on 8 plays to get even. Kaytron Allen finished it with a three-yard run. With 4:42 left in the third it was 20-20.

An Easton Mascarenas-Arnold interception at the Penn State 24 led to a 39-yard field goal by Lantz to put the Trojans up 23-20 late in the third quarter.

Penn State then drove all the way down to the USC three-yard line where the drive stopped. Barker kicked a 20-yard field goal to tie it at 23.

On the Trojans’ next possession Moss hit Kyron Hudson on a five-yard touchdown pass to finish a 9-play, 75-yard drive to put USC up 30-23 with 5:56 left.

But the Nittany Lions answered…again. Allar found Nicholas Singleton for a 14-yard touchdown pass with 2:56 left to tie it at 30.

USC had a shot at the end of regulation but was unable to capitalize and the game went into overtime.

The Trojans had the ball first in OT but on fourth down Lantz missed wide left leaving USC vulnerable.

The Nittany Lions cashed in when Barker nailed it and the celebration ensued.

For USC Moss completed 20 of 34 for 220 yards and two touchdowns and an interception. Marks ran for 111 yards on 20 carries and had four receptions for 44 yards. Joyner had the one big rushing touchdown and finished with 82 yards on three carries. Makai Lemon caught six passes for 73 yards.

For Penn State the story on offense was Warren who had 17 receptions for 224 yards and a touchdown. Warren set an FBS record for most catches for a tight end in a game and had the second most receiving yards in school history. Allar finished 30-43 for 391 yards and two scores. He also threw three picks.

Penn State, ranked number four coming in, remained unbeaten on the season improving to 6-0 with the victory while USC dropped to 3-3 overall and 1-3 in the Big Ten.