GLENDALE, Ariz. — If this was Saquon Barkley’s final game at Penn State — and it’s hard to find anyone who believes it wasn’t — he made sure to go out in style.
It’s hard to do much better than bursting for a 92-yard touchdown, as Barkley did in the Nittany Lions’ 35-28 victory against Washington Saturday night in the Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium.
Unless, of course, you complete 32 of 41 passes — including going 12 for 12 on third downs — for 342 yards and a couple of touchdowns, as Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley did.
“Trace was slinging it,” said receiver DaeSean Hamilton, who had four receptions for 96 yards and two touchdowns.
Neither Barkley nor McSorley made a one-dimensional contribution — Barkley also caught a game-high seven passes for 38 yards, while McSorley netted 60 rushing yards on 12 carries — and Penn State (11-2) probably wouldn’t have won without both.
Ultimately, though, McSorley was the biggest difference-maker in this game, which ran Penn State’s Fiesta Bowl record to 7-0.
“As good as Barkley is, it’s that quarterback who makes that whole offense go,” Washington coach Chris Petersen said.
McSorley guided his team to 545 yards of total offense, obliterating the school record of 491 for a bowl game, set against Baylor at the 1975 Cotton Bowl, so it’s hard to argue with Petersen’s assessment.
But it shouldn’t be overlooked that Penn State’s offensive line — criticized harshly and often throughout the season — consistently gave McSorley the opportunity to make plays.
It was matched against one of college football’s better defensive fronts, but protected McSorley effectively and opened holes that allowed the Nittany Lions to net 212 yards on the ground.
The line also played a major role in Penn State converting 13 of 17 third downs.
“Our offensive line did a tremendous job,” McSorley said.
Although Penn State had a lopsided advantage in most statistical categories, the Huskies had a decided edge in one that often is decisive: Turnovers.
Washington had two interceptions and one fumble recovery, while Penn State did not generate a takeaway until its final defensive play.
“The third-down success we had allowed us to overcome the turnovers,” Franklin said.
Even though Penn State scored on its first possession and never trailed, the outcome wasn’t settled until the waning seconds of regulation.
The Huskies, on fourth-and-10 from their 28, executed a hook-and-lateral that moved the ball into Penn State territory, but ended with Washington’s Dante Pettis throwing a backward pass to Nittany Lions linebacker Brandon Smith.
The late-game drama stemmed from a false-start penalty on offensive guard Brendan Mahon, when Penn State faced a fourth-and-short in Washington territory with just over a half-minute to play.
Franklin had called a running play, but opted to have Tyler Davis try a 45-yard field goal after Mahon’s penalty was called.
Davis missed, so Washington got a final — and ultimately, futile — attempt to tie the score.
Penn State reportedly suspended two defensive linemen, Shareef Miller and Shaka Toney, for at least part of the Washington game. Miller played extensively in the second half, while Toney never got onto the field.
Franklin said, rather unconvincingly, that their usage stemmed from the “rotation” Penn State planned before the game.
The Nittany Lions nearly had a rotation at running back, too, as Miles Sanders of Woodland Hills got six carries. That was only a third as many as Barkley, but still a higher percentage than the norm in 2017.
Whether Sanders is the feature back next fall hinges on when Barkley decides to turn pro, and Barkley continues to insist that hasn’t been settled.
“I’m not really focused on that,” he said. “I’m just living in the moment and enjoying it.”
Dave Molinari: Dmolinari@Post-Gazette.com and Twitter @MolinariPG
First Published: December 31, 2017, 12:48 a.m.