Balanced and Dynamic Offensive Attack Leads Nittany Lions

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Redshirt senior wide receiver Dante Cephas tracked a lofty throw from sophomore quarterback Drew Allar over his right shoulder and hauled it in while keeping his feet in bounds. Cephas’ second touchdown as a Nittany Lion embodied a consistent and dominant day from the offense in front of a home-like crowd at SECU Stadium. 

 

It’s a play worked on “almost every practice every day” said by Cephas, who showed why he was selected to the preseason Biletnikoff Award watch list. The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, product tallied six receptions for 53 yards and a pair of touchdowns on plays to the back pylon of the end zone. 

 

“Just off the release, just focusing, just staying locked into the whole play,” Cephas said. “I mean, just trusting in my quarterback to get the ball in the right location. And just me trusting my hands to make the catch and I made it both times.”  

 

Allar spread the ball around to seven different pass catchers for 240 passing yards and four touchdowns. Allar and the offensive scheme designed by offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich worked the ball quickly to the perimeter and allowed playmakers to create in space. These components cultivated an offense that’s scored 30 or more points in eight of nine games. 

 

Senior offensive lineman Olumuyiwa Fashanu noted the opening drive score as a “catalyst for the entire game” as Penn State went 7-for-15 on third down and 3-for-3 on third down. The Nittany Lions established themselves at the line of scrimmage and controlled the pace of the game with a strong blend of play action passes and dynamic runs. 

 

Wide receivers coach Marques Hagans called Penn State’s 51-15 win a “total team effort” and said how blocking spearheaded by the offensive line and outside playmakers played a pivotal role behind a strong performance that featured a perfect 9-for-9 mark in the red zone. 

 

“Once that rhythm happens, it feels like everybody’s on the same page,” Hagans said….