END OF RIVALRY?
Penn State and Pitt meet in what could be final matchup
STATE COLLEGE >> A year ago, Sean Clifford saw his first action for Penn State and completed his first pass for a touchdown against Pittsburgh at Heinz Field.
Jahan Dotson also was in uniform for the Nittany Lions on that rainy night in their 51-6 win, but he did not play.
Clifford and Dotson will play more significant roles when No. 13 Penn State (2-0) faces Pittsburgh (1-1) today at noon at Beaver Stadium (TV-ABC; WEEU-AM/830) in the final scheduled game between the teams.
Clifford, in his first season as the starting quarterback, has completed 66.7 percent of his passes for 559 yards and six touchdowns with no interceptions. He ranks fourth in the Football Bowl Subdivision in pass efficiency.
“Sean Clifford is a baller,” Pan
thers coach Pat Narduzzi said, “just another quarterback that they’ve developed in their system and knows what he’s doing. He’s got a nice arm throwing the ball all over the place.”
In a 45-13 win over Buffalo last week, Clifford completed 16-of-22 passes for 279 yards and four touchdowns, two to Dotson and two to tight end Pat Freiermuth. The Bulls crowded the line of scrimmage and held the Lions to 78 net rushing yards, which allowed opportunities downfield in the second half.
Pittsburgh has a similar philosophy on defense. Under Narduzzi, the onetime defensive coordinator at Michigan State, the Panthers often stack the line and rely on man-to-man coverage in the secondary.
“They do not want you to run the ball for 1 yard,” Penn State coach James Franklin said. “It’s a challenge. It’s an in-your-face style of defense. It’s a good scheme, there’s no doubt about it. We’re excited for the challenge.
“They’re going to be very aggressive at the line of scrimmage. They’re very hands-on and very, very physical.”
Last year at Heinz Field, Trace McSorley completed 14-of-30 passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns, but receivers dropped several of his throws. KJ Hamler, who had three catches for 40 yards and a touchdown that night, is back as a starter this year, joined by Dotson and Justin Shorter
in the lineup.
“I remember sitting in the tower at Michigan State,” Narduzzi said, “watching that guy (Hamler) run around as a sophomore (at a high school camp) going, ‘Holy cow, that guy is a football player.’ He’s impressive. We’ll have to know where he is all the time. They move him around quite a bit.”
Penn State receivers will go against cornerbacks Dane Jackson and Jason Pinnock and safety Damar Hamlin, all returning starters in the Pitt secondary.
“This is the first game we’ve played a press (pass coverage) team,” said Dotson, who caught four passes for 109 yards against Buffalo. “This is what we worked on all offseason. We can’t wait for the challenge.”
Freiermuth can be a matchup problem for the Panthers. He made eight catches last week for 99 yards and two touchdowns — all career highs — and has at least one reception in 14 consecutive games.
Much also will depend on the Penn State offensive line, which yielded three sacks to Buffalo. Pitt’s gambling defense will pressure the guys up front.
“They play good, sound football,” Clifford said. “They play really hard against the run. They have a good front seven with experienced defensive backs and give you a bunch of looks.”
The game very well might come down to Penn State’s receivers getting off the line of scrimmage and winning one-on-one matchups with Pitt’s defensive backs.
“Justin Shorter is 230 pounds,” Franklin said, “and KJ Hamler and Jahan Dotson aren’t 230 pounds. They’re going to have to win differently. That’s going to be a big battle, how our guys get off the press and how our guys are going to be physical in the running game.
“I like how our wide receivers are progressing. They’re bigger. They’re stronger. They’re more experienced. They’re playing with a lot of confidence.”