It all came down to the kickers in Saturday’s Pinstripe Bowl between Boston College and Penn State, and the Nittany Lions’ reigned supreme.
Most of the game at Yankee Stadium belonged to the Eagles, as Penn State only held the lead for about a minute after opening the scoring in the first quarter. Running back Jon Hilliman scored for BC on the next drive, and the Eagles held onto the lead until the game’s final minutes.
It was those final minutes that made all the difference.
Penn State started their comeback with about seven minutes to go in the fourth quarter, and Sam Ficken hit a 45-yard field goal to make the score 24-24 with just 20 seconds left in regulation.
In overtime, it took the Eagles only three plays to find the end zone. But kicker Mike Knoll missed the extra point, giving the Nittany Lions a chance to get ahead.
And that they did.
Penn State converted on third down twice, the second time resulting in touchdown on a 10-yard pass from quarterback Christian Hackenberg to tight end Kyle Carter. Ficken’s extra point was good, and the Nittany Lions came out with the 31-30 win.
Ficken might have had some clutch rub off on him before the game, though, as he used retired New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter’s old locker.
Thumbnail photo via Rich Barnes/USA TODAY Sports Images
