Shaka Toney Has Career Day to Help Preserve Victory: BSD MVP

Penn State was playing with a lead in the fourth quarter against Indiana, but a victory was far from guaranteed. However, Shaka Toney was going to do everything in his power to make certain there would be no late collapse again this week.

The redshirt sophomore ended up having one of the best individual performances for a Penn State defensive lineman in program history, and basically did it all in the closing minutes of the game. Toney would end up with four sacks and two forced fumbles on the afternoon, helping shut down the Hoosiers offense for good and clinching Penn State’s fifth victory of the season. The four sacks tied a single-game Penn State record, as Toney joined Terry Killens, Jimmy Kennedy and Tamba Hali at the top of the record books.

Toney put the exclamation point on his outstanding performance as his fourth and final sack of the afternoon forced Indiana to take its final timeout with 37 seconds remaining, as the Hoosiers were hoping to find the end zone to escape with a victory in the final seconds. Toney would have none of it.

As this young Penn State team continues to find its identity, Toney proved to be a player who is ready and willing to step up and make a play when the game relies on it.

Others Considered:

DE Yetur Gross-Matos- The true sophomore also had a career game at Indiana, and easily would have walked away with MVP honors if not for Toney’s incredible performance in the final moments. Gross-Matos led the team with 10 tackles, while also chipping in two sacks.

QB Trace McSorley- Once again, McSorley’s passing stats were hindered by a number of dropped passes throughout the afternoon, including a would-be touchdown that went through the hands of Brandon Polk. But McSorley took matters into his own hands and moved the offense with his legs, rushing for 107 yards and two touchdowns.