From Drew Allar to Tyler Warren, the story behind Penn State’s game-winning play at Minnesota
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MINNEAPOLIS — James Franklin had a decision to make, one that could damage or enhance Penn State’s dreams of reaching the College Football Playoff and competing for a national title.
Penn State, leading Minnesota by one point with 29 seconds left in regulation, faced a fourth-and-1 at the Golden Gophers’ 14-yard line. The Nittany Lions could have tried a chip-shot field goal to extend their lead to four points, giving Minnesota the ball back with a chance to win. Or they could risk it. They could go for it with hopes of converting and ending the game.
Franklin said they “wanted to end the game on our terms.” So, they went for it. What followed was a moment players, coaches and fans will remember for a long time.
Penn State quarterback Drew Allar faked a handoff to tailback Nick Singleton, scrambled around and, at the last second, found an open Tyler Warren on a crosser. The star tight end secured the catch at the 3-yard line, went down inbounds and let the clock bleed out, giving Penn State a 26-25 win.
The Nittany Lions avoided the upset. They used three fourth-down conversions and a six-minute closing drive to stave off the Golden Gophers, improve to 10-1 and keep the College Football Playoff well within their sights. Win next week against Maryland, and Penn State likely will host a first-round CFP game at Beaver Stadium.
But that’s not on the table without Franklin’s decision, Allar’s throw or Warren’s catch.
The Nittany Lions could have played it safe. They could have sent kicker Ryan Barker on the field to attempt a 31-yard field goal. Two things worked against that, though. First off, Penn State already had an extra-point attempt blocked and returned earlier in the game. Franklin said that was in his mind when he decided to leave the offense on the field.
The other aspect to this, though, is the confidence Franklin and offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki have in Allar, Warren and the rest of the offense.
Milking every second, Franklin waited until the end of the play clock before calling a timeout to talk things over. Singleton said the entire offense walked to the sideline pleading to go for it. Allar went over to Franklin immediately and suggested the play that ultimately was called.
“It’s the play that I wanted because it was a longer fourth-and-1,” Allar recalled. “I asked Coach Franklin what he thought about it, and then Coach K liked it.”
The primary option actually wasn’t Warren. It was Singleton, who set up the fourth-and-1 with a 9-yard run on third down. After the play-action fake, Singleton bolted out of the backfield and into the flat. Allar said they were “anticipating” Minnesota would squeeze in to stop an inside run.
But the Golden Gophers were disciplined enough to sag off and cover Singleton in the flat. Allar had to look elsewhere. He flipped his eyes from right to left and thought about taking off.
“I felt someone looping, so I was like, ‘All right, I’ll step up and try to get the first down,’ ” Allar said. “Then I saw Tyler waving his hands.”
Warren was open. Wide open. Koi Perich, Minnesota’s talented freshman safety, lost the all-world tight end in coverage, and Allar made him and the Golden Gophers pay. After Warren secured his eighth catch of the night, he dropped to the turf and let the clock melt away.
The Nittany Lions escaped with a win and with their CFP dreams fully within reach — thanks to Franklin’s decision-making, Kotelnicki’s confidence and the execution of Allar, Warren and their teammates.
“(Kotelnicki) talks about calling the game to win and not being scared to take shots and do stuff like that,” Warren said. “As an offense, we love to play for a coach like that. And Coach Franklin entices him to do it. That’s the kind of coordinator he is.”
“It just shows we’re aggressive,” Singleton said. “We want to win. And we found a way to win.”