Penn State vs Pittsburgh 1997 GAME STORY

today abc sports college football it's the renewal of an old rivalry dating back to 1893 as the panthers of pittsburgh take on number two penn state six one 233 pounds he runs like a tailback has that speed has the power of a fullback actually was a linebacker one time he's going to be fun to watch he is special i also want you to watch penn state on defense the nittany lions could have the best linebacking trio in the country colin short and nelson all butkus award candidates there's no question pitt is up against it today and it looks like a mismatch but new head coach walt harris he's very talented a young head coach who's rebuilding the panthers and folks right now he is still 1-0 at pittsburgh they have elected to defer to the second half as you may imagine many teams do that early in the years dwayne shulters is back deep for the panther and we are underway in state council [Applause] shulters watches its sail out of the end zone throwing on first down and the overthrow is intended to receive terry murphy was out there but there was a mix-up because he is nowhere near the ball well the defense for the nittany lions this is the defensive line that's led by matt fornatal a senior he's been through the wars in a big defensive line as well great linebackers maybe the best trio in the country they're all butkus award candidates aaron collins will be in the backfield a lot today and the secondary jason collins aaron's brother back after 18 months of rehab with a broken leg [Applause] [Music] [Applause] very often today gonzalez the [Applause] [Music] starting lineups for penn state the offensive line maybe a question mark for joe paterno they lost three starters not very deep phyllis trotsky from looks bear pennsylvania the leader there of course joe juror vicious certainly the leader at the wide out spot they'll go to him all day long control the big time in mike mcqueary in his first start although he's a fifth year senior curtis edis behind it penn state's game plan is always very simple straight ahead no fair dodging we're going to wear you down here comes courtesies first of many carries across midfield you're ambitious in motion to the near side on third and six mccreary and completed still on his feet inside the 30-yard line down to the 20-yard run a 29-yard gain on third and six it's a basic play out of the eye play action now watch this mcqueary just sets there's his pullback now harris i love this comment he made this week he says hey if i'm not on the ground i might as well keep going watch how many tackles he breaks one two spins away from this one still on his feet you got a guy coming behind he's trying to just get the football he's not ready to go today he is in motion on second and 11. here comes straight up he's got a lot of room down to the 10 yard drive of the nittany lions [Applause] third and goal from the sixth sustained drive by penn state trying to get to the end zone not this time juror vicious well covered with three extra points last year but this is his first field goal try of his career [Music] and he splits the uprights [Music] so a 24-yard field goal from travis forney the sophomore out of block haven pennsylvania joe paterno [Music] young offensive line for pitt right now they're not getting their blocks they're not locking on they're giving up too quickly and gonzalez does not feel comfortable dropping back gonzalez with time this time picked off [Music] but watch he's playing three here number 24. gonzalez thinks he has a receiver coming in on the post but watch there's the tip ball there's lee playing free back in his safety position and now he's just looking for some luck shawn lee as you mentioned is only five seven he's out of harrisburg pennsylvania junior this defense is balanced it's talented again down inside the five down to the goal line at the 1. by turning the ball over because they capitalized and they love to go to their big tight ends look at brown now brown is a horse he's six seven 270 pounds 6-4 270. now they're ready to score a lot of weapons on this penn state [Applause] offense touchdown penn state and they made it look easy backfield mccreery throwing well on this drive down the field it's hard to stop you know what's scary i think he is an outstanding player [Music] third consecutive kickoff that has sailed out of the end zone for a point well so he understands second in five wayne shelters wrapped up fights his way back maybe that was not created by joe petuno and he put it to rest third and five shoulders comes our way and then stays up knocked down outside the 30 we'll see he's close to a first down i'm not just over the hole [Music] first down gonzalez straight drop has a man over the middle wide open is the tight end john john the pressure off the running game inside second and nine the pitch back to silters looks for room tripped up play of the drive third and eight a big play here for pittsburgh complete inside the 20 and a first down they'll move between his defense [Music] [Applause] all the blue jerseys watch how everybody converges on the ball they play defense 11 guys become one look at that four biggest play so far for pittsburgh though third and goal from the fourth gonzalez to scramble rifles it too hard in 21-yard full goal try and it is good so the pittsburgh panthers on the board on the field so first and ten at the 33-yard line aaron harris the fullback bounces off of one and then stopped at [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] lot of time has a receiver at midfield and to the 47-yard line that's juror vicious to clear watch this now first of all he gets plenty of time hold it right there and just look the only pressure he had was right here coming on the right side nobody else even near him he stays in the pocket he looks into the seam they're playing a zone defense he hits his receiver has certainly settled down and right now driving the nittany lions down the field second down the third to the air vicious incomplete trey craig number five former defensive [Music] lineman [Music] and it's on the ground at the 28-yard line penn state looks like harris got it he has this time he's got a little pressure but this ball is perfectly thrown again decent protection he had to put that right in between the one and the oh he did balls loose and penn state gets there yesterday to the top of the stadium every saturday that's out to erin harris he's popped right at the 32 in state with 84 yards in the air maybe a little surprising because you know we expected them to come out and just run run run the football and they didn't but a couple of things number one the turnover by pitt you see there in the bottom left-hand corner is juror vicious comes back in the ball game and pitt gave penn state some great field position also yeah the interception early on mcqueary with a lot of time now flushed out and dumped at the 30 quarterback and he looked awfully good on the last drive a 15-play drive that went 76 yards [Applause] hands it off in the backfield on dallas on the run has his man at the 34. this is his team this year though well that's what i mean even though he's had the story this is his first start where he says this is my club after chanting the play on third and four gonzalez has a man wide open completely under held on to the football i'm not sure how courtney brown with the sack if they can't cover downfield let me come hard i'll hit the quarterback in the backfield you know spending some time here the last couple of days these are good quality kids offensive enter the sack collins in there and forces come from a family of 19. you know what a depth chart is before you ever get the prince brandon short drops gonzales they it's amazing trying to right side it's still up good vision nowhere to go but he gained four on that play query on your pressure still up though not anymore ball is loose but i think he was down he was pigeon on for another punt pinkbow and his own 40 yard drops the ball and i [Music] last couple of nights third and nine after the timeout gonzales with the straight drop swing pass out of the backfield and schulter's dropped it a little bit forward [Music] [Applause] but if you're coming down to cover a punt that's perfect timing he makes the catch boom you hit him 34 yard line draw vicious in motion play action for mcqueering flushed out a lot of women and courtesan is ahead of him with a block a first down inside pittsburgh territory knocked out of bounds macquarie i mean big red now has stepped up he looks he's got protection but all of a sudden he feels the middle collapse on him a little bit his vision shows the right side wide open just get to the sidelines don't take a hit get out of bounds does take a little bit of a hit here but it's more of a push in now for sure gracious in motion to the near side [Music] [Music] with the catch and he was popped from both angles they survived 226 90s prototype receiver [Music] and here come the panthers penn state picks it up ski only the intended receiver content a good noteball good call you're right so third and eight now harris the one set back to query gets hit as he throws to the end zone touchdown [Music] who was touchdown just as he threw the football to joe juror vicious his favorite year ago the leading receiver for this nittany lion team first thing right there they pick up the blitz now watch this they're isolated on brutus number 34 the linebacker that is absolutely no contest for jura vicious [Applause] shelters on the carry straight ahead there are those that will watch the winner of the tennessee park [Music] nowhere to go especially rushing the passer [Applause] picked up over the middle poteet with the catch at the 26th of todd black ledges that franco harris's query to throw on second down this is for the first down another big catch out to the 45 maybe the 46-yard line [Music] for 15 so far he goes to the ground this time [Music] look at how strong this is to the 42-yard line at the beginning of the game this guy is special there's no quit in him he loves to run the football he also if he can't outrun you he'll love to bang you the stiff arm the little spin the low center of gravity now he gets up a little more speed [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] left until halftime pittsburgh trying to get something on the board before half is that complete or not and it's incomplete linesman said incomplete he had a different angle than the side judge side judge was ready to mark it [Applause] [Music] to join it penn state sitting on the football line pass out to curtis out to the three receivers set mcqueary with the straight drop over the middle complete up to the 45-yard line that's the big-time end kuncho brown [Music] [Music] play action [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] catches another one at the 12-yard line he had five catches for 88 yards play action from the query nobody open and he almost threw that one into the hands of the pit he's [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] yards and now 29 yards 2 for 2 on the seat at halftime 20 to valvoline halftime 97 comes up next with john saunders and tom blackledge we'll be back in a little bit [Applause] across his body on the run very difficult to do then he finds anastasia who's going the opposite direction anastasia worked his way up he's from a small high school he came in here he was the field back for you matt millen tells us that all the time and different personalities too they compliment each other out there isn't that the truth all is loose but it was whistled dead this schneider knocked him loose he's solid he's calculated they say he always blows a couple assignments to start the game because he's he's so excited but then he settles down he's very consistent probably between short and college of personality you know nelson wants to be an fbi agent i hope he doesn't blow any assignments early on there third and six for the panthers a quick toss out of the backfield tony thompson the full back he has a first down first in about 23. [Applause] collins was there watch 86 here gives a little inside outside move then the little swim gets past him makes a big play and then gonzalez unloads it he's beating a pretty good offensive three receivers set now for the panthers schulte at the 25 [Music] [Applause] he pays the price though jim nelson just pounded him at the 35. he takes one here it's a good read a good play by gonzalez almost looks like it was a quarterback draw mike mcqueary the quarterback for penn state going deep well covered down there is a receiver but [Applause] he has really gotten comfortable here now with this offense just unleashes this ball here's a native of state college now watch this see if there's a little push here whoop just a little hand shove in the back the ball was under thrown his receiver got to a big completion of their weight they got all the breaks and i couldn't stand them harris a nifty move to the outside back to the original line of scrimmage [Applause] maybe [Applause] now in motion looking for his hole certainly one of the top running backs in the nation over 1200 yards a year ago good blocking on the right side but in terms of the heisman race where do you put him in there i mean peyton manning obviously uh has it right now too deep again shelters with his back [Music] [Applause] for gonzalez now [Applause] stop this just before he throws it and i'm gonna look at him right here he's throwing off his back foot and almost trying to protect himself from the hit he is not throwing in rhythm stepping into it watch he's almost backing up and throwing just before the hits come the ball game and it's just so strong and if you're a defender right now for pittsburgh you're wondering when you're going to get a break out of state college pennsylvania right here with the university where you think of larry and matt sue right away on third and 13 to the air knocked down by dj it's easy to read during zone defenses and [Music] [Applause] a couple of penn state players to spend a lot of time on his back on the ground and now matt lytle the back of the junior in there and here's billy west on the carry across the 30 out to the first down in the 47. [Applause] [Music] not going to get there just across the 44. [Applause] here comes curtis tough going though out to the 10 manager ohio state in michigan that's a big difference he's out across the 40 to the 42 before being knocked out won't work effectively and by the way the 341 yards in the air by mike mcqueary not only his best showing but he's approaching in on the record the single game record penn state completion there may have done but i've been on some lopsided games against him and that's because he stands with this what works for him his game plan jonas dies in the catch crawls his way down to about the 43. i'll tell you something john thanks randy moss started at notre dame and now uh maybe a heisman hopefully and grew up in west virginia more yards than any penn state quarterback has ever thrown for in a single game 366. penn state's going to go for it even being up 31 our statistician john madness says hey harris give him the film give him the video [Applause] [Music] [Applause] kevin thompson a sophomore in there now at quarterback and there's bob stevenson he was a tight end now he's playing complete at the 25-yard line roseski the redshirt freshness and a pit panther was there before the ball was spent the last couple of years as the quarterback coach [Music] high school running back they put him in as the nickelback he's playing well in 17. [Applause] [Music] thompson to throw complete out of the back field kevin thompson [Applause] swing pass out of the backfield and incomplete a lot of room too joe dawkins depending on your choice of holes second gear in a row if they pull it off that they'll upset northwestern [Applause] [Music] [Music] west first down more inside the 18 first time at the 15-yard line now [Applause] a world of time but nobody opened secondary first down state upsetting number one hit 48-14 wide over throw to the end zone it's a junk ball incomplete broken up by chris alston [Applause] touchdown what a strike [Applause] [Music] see how he feels that's eddie robinson again at the studio in new york [Music] [Applause] you're going to hear a lot from this young man over his years at penn state true freshman [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] that's certainly a thing to think about but realistically they don't have a shot but i'm saying the key only see the final score [Music] it's an odd looking t isn't it that's your own side team that's your upside down you're gonna do it upside down on side play you called it [Music] he's going to try to get that big hop on the second or third bounce he's got the sprinters down here to catch it [Music] didn't make it happen they got it back and the flag is down though at the 35. pretty well chevrolet will donate one thousand dollars on each school's general scholarship funding reward outstanding their academic achievements and to assist those in financial need in a chevrolet tradition for more than a quarter of a century and how about the demon deacons upsetting northwestern for the second straight year well joe paterno's got some good and some bad they get a good win his team did uh most everything right early on had a couple of breakdowns late he's not going to be happy about that or he might be it gives him a lot of things [Music] 366 yards and joe paterno now 1-0 on the 97 season the first step towards what they hope uh will be a national championship great performance bob mcqueary too don't forget eight o'clock eastern time florida state taking on usc from the la coliseum for lewis johnson and tim brant i'm terry again and hope you enjoyed it so long from state college pennsylvania

Channel: Arc-Lite

Views: 1,167

Rating: 5 out of 5

Keywords: Penn State Football, 1997, College Football, Pittsburgh Football, Pitt Panthers, Panther Football, Mike McQueary, Curtis Enis, Joe Jurevicius, Cuncho Brown, Chafie Fields, Jim Nelson, Courtney Brown, Aaron Collins, Brandon Short, Travis Forney, Joe Nastasi, Shawn Lee

Id: kBUl8dqc89Q

Length: 27min 12sec (1632 seconds)

Published: Thu Apr 29 2021