Penn State Football's Top 10 Plays of 2014

Penn State Football's Top 10 Plays of 2014

By brookshooley

July 2, 2015

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Penn State Football's Top 10 Plays of 2014

Penn State nittany lions football — Penn State’s roller coaster 2014 ended with a bowl victory and a solid foundation heading into this season. The Nittany Lions finished 7-6 including a 2-6 Big Ten record. Several players delivered key performances in crucial points of several games, and here are the top 10 best plays.

Penn State’s roller coaster 2014 ended with a bowl victory and a solid foundation heading into this season. The Nittany Lions finished 7-6 including a 2-6 Big Ten record. Several players delivered key performances in crucial points of several games, and here are the top 10 best plays.

10. Geno Lewis' Long Touchdown Reception vs. Central Florida

Geno Lewis penn state nittany lions

10. Geno Lewis' Long Touchdown Reception vs. Central Florida

Geno Lewis penn state nittany lions — As the third quarter drew to a close in Penn State’s overseas matchup with UCF, the Nittany Lions were clinging to a 13-10 lead. With less than a minute till the fourth, quarterback Christian Hackenberg hit receiver Geno Lewis for a 79-yard scoring strike to give Penn State a 20-10 lead and some momentum heading into the final quarter.

As the third quarter drew to a close in Penn State’s overseas matchup with UCF, the Nittany Lions were clinging to a 13-10 lead. With less than a minute till the fourth, quarterback Christian Hackenberg hit receiver Geno Lewis for a 79-yard scoring strike to give Penn State a 20-10 lead and some momentum heading into the final quarter.

9. Bill Belton's Long Touchdown Run vs. Indiana

Bill Belton penn state nittany lions

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9. Bill Belton's Long Touchdown Run vs. Indiana

Bill Belton penn state nittany lions — A Hackenberg interception found Penn State down 7-0 to the Hoosiers late in the second quarter. On the ensuing possession, the Nittany Lions were backed up to their own eight-yard line. But running back Bill Belton took a handoff up the middle and outran the Hoosiers for a 92-yard touchdown to tie the score. The Nittany Lions left Bloomington with a 13-7 win.

A Hackenberg interception found Penn State down 7-0 to the Hoosiers late in the second quarter. On the ensuing possession, the Nittany Lions were backed up to their own eight-yard line. But running back Bill Belton took a handoff up the middle and outran the Hoosiers for a 92-yard touchdown to tie the score. The Nittany Lions left Bloomington with a 13-7 win.

8. Chris Godwin's Long Touchdown Reception vs. Boston College

Chris Godwin penn state nittany lions

8. Chris Godwin's Long Touchdown Reception vs. Boston College

Chris Godwin penn state nittany lions — After a slow start against Boston College, Penn State found their offensive mojo late in the first quarter. Hackenberg hit receiver Chris Godwin for a big 72-yard touchdown pass to open the scoring. Penn State held an early 7-0 lead.

After a slow start against Boston College, Penn State found their offensive mojo late in the first quarter. Hackenberg hit receiver Chris Godwin for a big 72-yard touchdown pass to open the scoring. Penn State held an early 7-0 lead.

7. Jesse James' Touchdown Reception vs. Maryland

Jesse James penn state nittany lions

7. Jesse James' Touchdown Reception vs. Maryland

Jesse James penn state nittany lions — The Nittany Lions took a fragile 9-7 lead into the locker room in a hostile game with rival Maryland. That lead remained until late in the third quarter. Penn State needed to pad the lead heading into the fourth. Hackenberg found tight end Jesse James on an eight-yard pass to give Penn State a 16-7 lead. But Maryland would rally to win 20-19 in a disappointed Beaver Stadium.

The Nittany Lions took a fragile 9-7 lead into the locker room in a hostile game with rival Maryland. That lead remained until late in the third quarter. Penn State needed to pad the lead heading into the fourth. Hackenberg found tight end Jesse James on an eight-yard pass to give Penn State a 16-7 lead. But Maryland would rally to win 20-19 in a disappointed Beaver Stadium.

6. Anthony Zettel's Pick-Six vs. Ohio State

Anthony Zettel penn state nittany lions

6. Anthony Zettel's Pick-Six vs. Ohio State

Anthony Zettel penn state nittany lions — Ohio State took an early 17-0 lead but failed to deliver the knockout punch. On the Buckeyes’ first possession of the second half, Penn State defensive tackle Anthony Zettel picked off Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett and returned it 40 yards to cut the lead to 17-7.

Ohio State took an early 17-0 lead but failed to deliver the knockout punch. On the Buckeyes’ first possession of the second half, Penn State defensive tackle Anthony Zettel picked off Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett and returned it 40 yards to cut the lead to 17-7.

5. Bill Belton's Touchdown Run vs. Rutgers

Bill Belton penn state nittany lions

5. Bill Belton's Touchdown Run vs. Rutgers

Bill Belton penn state nittany lions — Penn State was in an offensive rut for about 58 minutes against Rutgers. Trailing 10-0 at the half, the Nittany Lions added two Ficken field goals in the second half and trailed 10-6 late in the fourth quarter. With 1:13 to play, running back Bill Belton plunged into the end zone from five yards out to give Penn State a 13-10 win.

Penn State was in an offensive rut for about 58 minutes against Rutgers. Trailing 10-0 at the half, the Nittany Lions added two Ficken field goals in the second half and trailed 10-6 late in the fourth quarter. With 1:13 to play, running back Bill Belton plunged into the end zone from five yards out to give Penn State a 13-10 win.

4. Sam Ficken's Game-Tying Field Goal vs. Ohio State

James Franklin penn state

4. Sam Ficken's Game-Tying Field Goal vs. Ohio State

James Franklin penn state — After a long 19-play 77-yard drive, Penn State stalled at the Ohio State 14-yard line trailing 17-14. It was close enough for Ficken as he sent the game into overtime with his 31-yard field goal. However, the Buckeyes would get into a rhythm in overtime and came away with a 31-24 win in double overtime.

After a long 19-play 77-yard drive, Penn State stalled at the Ohio State 14-yard line trailing 17-14. It was close enough for Ficken as he sent the game into overtime with his 31-yard field goal. However, the Buckeyes would get into a rhythm in overtime and came away with a 31-24 win in double overtime.

3. Sam Ficken's Game-Tying Field Goal vs. Boston College

Sam Ficken penn state nittany lions

3. Sam Ficken's Game-Tying Field Goal vs. Boston College

Sam Ficken penn state nittany lions — Penn State let a 21-7 lead slip away and trailed Boston College 24-21. In the fourth quarter, the Nittany Lions had one more chance. Hackenberg and the offense got to the Eagle 28 and stalled. It was close enough for Ficken as he nailed a 45-yard field goal to send the game into overtime.

Penn State let a 21-7 lead slip away and trailed Boston College 24-21. In the fourth quarter, the Nittany Lions had one more chance. Hackenberg and the offense got to the Eagle 28 and stalled. It was close enough for Ficken as he nailed a 45-yard field goal to send the game into overtime.

2. Sam Ficken's Game-Winning Field Goal vs. Central Florida

Sam Ficken penn state nittany lions

2. Sam Ficken's Game-Winning Field Goal vs. Central Florida

Sam Ficken penn state nittany lions — The Nittany Lions’ 20-10 lead faded down the stretch of the game, and UCF led by a slim 24-23 margin after a Justin Holman touchdown run with 1:13 left in the game. Penn State had one last gasp. Hackenberg and company put together an eight-play 55-yard drive to give Ficken a chance to win the game. Ficken’s 36-yard field goal split the uprights and Penn State left Dublin with a 26-24 victory over the Knights.

The Nittany Lions’ 20-10 lead faded down the stretch of the game, and UCF led by a slim 24-23 margin after a Justin Holman touchdown run with 1:13 left in the game. Penn State had one last gasp. Hackenberg and company put together an eight-play 55-yard drive to give Ficken a chance to win the game. Ficken’s 36-yard field goal split the uprights and Penn State left Dublin with a 26-24 victory over the Knights.

1. Kyle Carter's Game-Tying Touchdown Reception vs. Boston College

Kyle Carter penn state nittany lions

1. Kyle Carter's Game-Tying Touchdown Reception vs. Boston College

Kyle Carter penn state nittany lions — Boston College scored a touchdown in overtime but missed the extra point. The game was Penn State’s to lose. Hackenberg threw a fantastic 10-yard pass to receiver Kyle Carter in the end zone to tie the score. It was Hackenberg’s fourth touchdown pass of the day. Ficken’s extra point gave Penn State a 31-30 bowl victory in Yankee Stadium.

Boston College scored a touchdown in overtime but missed the extra point. The game was Penn State’s to lose. Hackenberg threw a fantastic 10-yard pass to receiver Kyle Carter in the end zone to tie the score. It was Hackenberg’s fourth touchdown pass of the day. Ficken’s extra point gave Penn State a 31-30 bowl victory in Yankee Stadium.

Brooks Hooley is a Junior Big Ten Football writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @brookshooley.

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