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Prior to the start of Saturday’s game at Beaver Stadium, Penn State fans were just hoping for a win.
#WeAre pic.twitter.com/MREU8asxnh
— AJ (@AJJ724) November 21, 2020
Penn State is getting a W today. I need it for my sanity.#WeAre
— Sad King (9-0) (@LorenzoKingIII1) November 21, 2020
Have very little expectations for the game today and I will still be disappointed #WeAre
— Chris Coll (@chris_coll25) November 21, 2020
Now please for the love of god can Penn State win today too
— Mike Rinaldi (@MikeRinaldi99) November 21, 2020
Okay, Penn State, I'm going to need you to win at least 1 game this season. Please and Thank you pic.twitter.com/Ltr2bVtkQN
— Sally (@finkbeinersally) November 19, 2020
Unfortunately, fans did not get what they so badly yearned for. Instead, the Nittany Lions are now 0-5 this season.
Even though Iowa moved the ball down the field on their opening drive, the Nittany Lion defense stiffened and forced a field goal. This was followed by a Penn State drive that culminated in a Keyvone Lee touchdown run.
T-D-vone Lee
— Jeremy Reeder (@TheJeremyReeder) November 21, 2020
Touchdown for the good guys.
— The Last Boy Scout. (@psutitan) November 21, 2020
Good tough run by Keyvone Lee. When he fills out he could be a good one
— Redacted (@Redacted247) November 21, 2020
Yes! Keyvone Lee pounds in for the #PennState touchdown. #WeAre
— Rich Turner 7️⃣9️⃣ (@RichTurner79) November 21, 2020
Touchdown Keyvone! Might be the best drive of the year.
— Corey (@Black_And_Gold7) November 21, 2020
Follow Lee’s touchdown run, the Nittany Lions appeared to have momentum. Unfortunately, that did not last long. The rest of the first half Penn State was physically manhandled and dominated. Especially the Nittany Lion defense and offensive line.
Have been trying to think of something to tweet about the Penn State defense but it’s just the same problems over and over and over
— Matt Brown (@MattBrownCFB) November 21, 2020
Iowa's score means Penn State is still averaging 31.2 ppg allowed through 5 games.
— Derek Fuamatu-Ma’afala (@soju_warrior) November 21, 2020
That's 5 points per game more than any Penn State defense in the modern era.
Has there ever been a Penn State defense this bad? I know the mid 2000s teams were rough, but I can't remember the defense being this porous.
— Cory Schneider (@CoryPSU) November 21, 2020
Remember back when Penn State was known for great defense? Those days are gone
— Don Doxsie (@Dox5) November 21, 2020
Leave it to the Penn State defense to make Iowa’s QB look like Peyton Manning #FireBrentPry
— Chris Lewis (@ChrisLew717) November 21, 2020
Let me sum up Penn State:
— Kevin McConlogue (@KMcconlogue) November 21, 2020
Offensive Line: Awful
Defense all 3 levels: Horrible
Offensive play calling: Can’t even think of a word
This is a bad football team
Penn State’s offensive line is a colossal disappointment.
— Chris Buchignani (@buchignani) November 21, 2020
/pin Tweet
Penn State offensive line is biggest disappointment of 2020
— JeffSmith (@JeffSmithButler) November 21, 2020
and there was a lot of competition for that "honor"
Penn State’s offensive line just got crushed by Iowa’s defensive front. Once again, nothing’s going right for this Lions team.
— Alex Ferguson (@viewfromamerica) November 21, 2020
The Penn State offensive line is just... not good.
— Mike V.P. (@MikePettigano) November 21, 2020
One of the few players who showed up today for Penn State’s defense was defensive end Shaka Toney.
YES SHAKA TONEY!!!! BOOM!!!!!!!!
— The Caleb And Phil Football Podcast (@CPFBPodcast) November 21, 2020
Shaka Toney making plays like always, this play wasn't fooling him. pic.twitter.com/erVjjt7lGl
— NCAAF Nation (@NCAAFNation247) November 21, 2020
Shaka Toney is the only guy I like on this defense rn
— Penn State Talk (@PSURecruitTalk) November 21, 2020
Despite the coaches best efforts, some players still want to play. Shaka Toney one of them
— Ryan McClellan (@whoisnator) November 21, 2020
Toney finsihed the game with a pair of sacks and a forced fumble. He had multiple TFLs, blew up multiple plays, and was one defensive end who did a great job of containing the edge on off-tackle runs by Iowa.
Fans were not happy with the play calling of offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca, either.
Turnovers, missed tackles, questionable play calls...
— Tyler (@ThroneTyler845) November 21, 2020
Same Penn State, different week
Ahhh a sense of normalcy. Questionable play call and a turnover for Penn State. Bad pitch and pitch relationship for Levis on that play
— Jarrod Prugar (@jprugar26) November 21, 2020
Can someone explain any of these play calls by Penn State’s offense?
— Mike Wolf (@MikeTWolf) November 21, 2020
3 attempts to gain 1 yd..........2 series ended by poor blocking an d telegraphed plays
— Thomas B (@tru2psu) November 21, 2020
Going to need a thesaurus to find a word to describe Penn State’s play calling this season...
— The Mayor (@addyOklock) November 21, 2020
Penn State play calling has been horrendous. Terrible 3rd and short/4th down play call. This team is bad in all areas..... both coaching and playing.#PSU
— AB (@AB__004) November 21, 2020
While, for a variety of reasons, it’s difficult to put too much blame at the feet of Ciarrocca this season, there has been some questionable play calling. Especially in the red zone and on 3rd and 4th and short.
Throughout the game the Penn State defensive line was mauled. To be honest, this was one of the worst games I have ever witnessed from a Nittany Lion defensive end. The worst part is, the defensive line has been pushed around for much of the season.
Penn State's defensive line getting dominated in GIF form https://t.co/t19hRlJex7
— Ben Ferree (@BFerree_) November 21, 2020
I don't normally believe in this sort of stuff at the P5 and NFL level, but Penn State's defensive line just got squished by the Iowa O-line. There was nothing about technique or skill there. Just beat the crap out of them for 6. on that QB sneak.
— Thomas Frank Carr (@ThomasFrankCarr) November 21, 2020
Penn State is getting manhandled in the trenches... this is the worst I have ever seen a Penn State defensive line get dominated. Embarrassing.
— Marty (@msj41817) November 21, 2020
These long run plays that are continuously being give up, there’s nothing fancy about the blocking schemes.
— Josh Williams (@joshrw_williams) November 21, 2020
Flat out there’s a rather large void into between the defensive line and the secondary for #PennState
SARGE AGAIN
— Heavens! (@HeavensFX) November 21, 2020
"The offensive line just blowing away Penn State's defensive front" pic.twitter.com/ARgaZSbGZH
After Will Levis fumbled for the third time, he was yanked from the game. This led to former starter Sean Clifford coming into the game. Cliff proceeded to complete his first two pass attempts, for 96 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Sean Clifford rn pic.twitter.com/DmvTeBkMgO
— Ryan Kanner (@rkanner17) November 21, 2020
Showtime Sean Clifford is BACK
— nate (@JTDanieIs) November 21, 2020
Sean Clifford said pic.twitter.com/yi6G7O3U3w
— Mike (@Mjg5250) November 21, 2020
SEAN CLIFFORD JUST HAD A PERFECT PASS AND I DON’T KNOW HOW TO FEEL
— Greg Babunovic (@somebabsguy) November 21, 2020
Sean Clifford comes in and is crushing. Where has this been all season?? 2-2 and 2 tuddies
— Jake Arnold (@jakecarnold) November 21, 2020
Sean Clifford on 2 snaps goes 2/2 for 2 touchdowns & 96 Yards (and a successful 2 point conversion pass)
— Mesut (@MasterfulMesut) November 21, 2020
L O L
Sean Clifford off the bench has crazy stats
— penn state burner (@news_penn) November 21, 2020
penn state football and sean clifford pic.twitter.com/mOhMl9GulM
— heifetz (@Mr_AlexKim) November 21, 2020
Unfortunately, Clifford’s hot start did not last. The rest of the way Clifford was 11/20 for 78 yards and two interceptions. We also saw a lot of what has plagued Clifford in the past (happy feet, poor throws, not reading the defense) return.
With 3:27 remaining in the game and trailing 34-21, James Franklin made the interesting decision to punt. This, rightfully so, did not sit well with Penn State fans.
You're gonna PUNT? Loser team deserves to lose.
— Dan Arnoldi (@ArnoldiPSU) November 21, 2020
Penn State is punting down 13 with 3:26 left in the game. James Franklin has waived the white flag.
— DylanCallaghanCroley (@DylanCCSports) November 21, 2020
It does not matter, but punting here is a fireable offense.
— Kevin Horne (@KevinHornePSU) November 21, 2020
That’s strange. I thought Penn State was still theoretically in the game, but they just gave up with that punt. You’d think James Franklin would want to try a little bit.
— Ben Fischer (@BenFischerSBJ) November 21, 2020
How can you punt there Penn State?
— Jackson Harris (@JacksonHarris89) November 21, 2020
How did we not go for it. Theres nothing to lose
— El_Toney (@noeltoney2) November 21, 2020
In my previous tweet I had made what I thought was a solid case for defending James Franklin. However, I am now deeply perplexed and bewildered by the decision to punt, down 13, with just over three minutes to go. Gonna have a @SierraNevada Celebration now.
— Tim Hyland (@IntelligentCFB) November 21, 2020
Yes, it was 4th & 17. That said, when you’re trailing my multiple scored with less than 4:00 minutes to go in the game it HAS to be four down territory. Just has to. That was inexcusable by Franklin.
We’ll leave you with this, as Penn State is 0-5 for the first time in program’s history.
Penn state is toast (0-5)
— Joe Patoasterno (@PSUtoaster) November 21, 2020