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Success With Hyperlinking Is Targeting Another Win

An unpopular call didn’t damper a dominant performance from the Nittany Lions’ defense.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 04 Penn State at Wisconsin Photo by Dan Sanger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Targeting reared its ugly head again over the weekend, with linebacker Ellis Brooks the latest culprit. An otherwise fantastic day for Brooks and the whole Penn State defense was somewhat overshadowed by an ejection that has been almost universally panned.

The staff didn’t like it. Brooks wasn’t happy with it. But the questionable call didn’t cause the Nittany Lions defense to fold, with Jaquan Brisker’s gutsy performance and Arnold Ebiketie’s dominant debut leading the way.

For most to all of the game, the defense rescued what looked like a pitiful offense. That turned around early in the second half as Sean Clifford was finally able to air out the ball to Jahan Dotson. After the offense had its moment, the defense took center stage again late in the game.

The Nittany Lions will look to carry this momentum into a matchup with Ball State. Much like the Nittany Lions, the Cardinals used a second half surge to power past Western Illinois in their season opener.

The defending MAC champions return nearly every starter from the team that finished last season ranked No. 24.