Late Rally Falls Short, Nittany Lions Fall to Bulldogs

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Facing a 21-point deficit in the third quarter, Penn State rallied to come within a touchdown of Georgia, but the Nittany Lions ran out of time as the Bulldogs held on, 24-17, to win the 71st annual TaxSlayer Bowl Saturday afternoon in EverBank Field. Penn State wide receiver Chris Godwin became the school’s career leader in bowl receiving yards and just the second to surpass 1,100 receiving yards in a season.

Leading 24-17, Georgia (10-3) tried to ice the game with less than two minutes remaining by going for it on fourth-and-2 from the Penn State 23. Jason Cabinda and Garrett Sickels stuffed Georgia’s Keith Marshall for a 2-yard loss, giving the Nittany Lions (7-6) a chance to tie the game with a touchdown and extra point with 1:52 remaining.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Trace McSorely, who entered the game midway through the second quarter after quarterback Christian Hackenberg left with an injury, led the Nittany Lions to the Georgia 39 with eight seconds remaining, but his Hail Mary pass attempt was batted down near the goal line. After the game was over Hackenberg announced he would be foregoing his senior season to enter the NFL draft later this year.

McSorely finished completing 14-of-27 pass attempts for 142 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing seven times for 31 yards. Running back Saquon Barkley totaled 69 yards on 17 carries.

Godwin caught six passes for 133 yards, giving the sophomore 273 receiving yards between the 2014 Pinstripe and 2016 TaxSlayer Bowls for a new school record. He finished the season with 1,101 receiving yards ranking second only to Allen Robinson’s 2013 effort (1,432 yards).

Georgia took a 24-3 lead on a Sony Michel touchdown run with 4:15 remaining in the third quarter, but the Lions started their rally on the next drive, scoring their first touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter on fourth down, capping a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. A 21-yard completion to Godwin on third-and-6 moved the Lions to midfield and a 29-yard rush by Barkley to the Georgia 15 setup the drive. Facing fourth-and-7 though, a false start penalty backed PSU to the 17, but McSorely found Geno Lewisjust inside the right sideline in the end zone following the final quarter break.

Both teams would punt and Penn State forced another Bulldog punt before finding the end zone again. A 20-yard run by Barkley started the seven-play drive, and a leaping catch by DaeSean Hamilton for a 20-yard touchdown capped it with 6:14 remaining.

Georgia was able to run 4:15 off the clock on its ensuing possession, and withstood Penn State’s final rally.

Hackenberg completed 8-of-14 passing attempts for 139 yards with one interception before leaving the game. He threw for 510 yards in his two bowl games, good for No. 3 on the Penn State career bowl list.

In addition to his touchdown, Hamilton caught five passes for 71 yards. Penn State outgained Georgia, 401-327 in total offense.

Linebacker Brandon Bell led the defense with 11 tackles, while Austin Johnson and Anthony Zettel each recorded a sack.

Penn State received the opening kickoff and advanced from its own 17 into Georgia territory with three-consecutive double-digit passing completions by Hackenberg. The drive stalled after a pair of runs for no gain, and Hackenberg was intercepted by Dominick Sanders on a short pass under pressure that bounced off Barkley’s hands on third and 18.

The Bulldogs started at their own 47 and gained 26 yards on seven plays to setup a successful 44-yard field goal attempt with 7:02 remaining in the first quarter.

The remainder of the quarter would be scoreless as both teams would punt on their next three possessions.

Godwin setup a field goal drive in the second quarter with big receptions of 19 and 51 yards. The 51-yarder moved Penn State to the Georgia 18. Tyler Davis converted a 34 yard field goal with 8:08 remaining in the half.

Georgia answered in just three plays on its next drive though. McKenzie broke a 26-yard run to the Penn State 46 on the first play, and then following a 2-yard rush by Michel, wide receiver Terry Godwin threw deep to Malcolm Mitchell on a trick play for a 44-yard touchdown with 6:46 remaining in the half.

The Nittany Lions went three-and-out and failed to convert on a fake punt, giving Georgia the ball on the Penn State 46. Both teams traded three-and-outs again, giving the Bulldogs the ball at their own 42 with 1:54 remaining in the half. They drove 58 yards in seven plays for a touchdown, as Lambert capped the drive with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Terry Godwin with 24 seconds remaining in the half for a 17-3 lead.

Both teams punted following their first drives of the second half. McKenzie returned Penn State’s punt 37 yards to the Penn State 23, to setup Georgia’s second drive of the half, but a sack byAnthony Zettel backed the Bulldogs to the 31, forcing a 48-yard field goal attempt that sailed wide left.

A 19-yard completion to Godwin on third down moved the Lions into Bulldog territory, but Penn State turned the ball over on downs at the 44. Michel then capped a seven-play, 56-yard touchdown drive with a 21-yard scoring run with 4:15 remaining in the third quarter.