Oct. 24, 2016
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - After their first win over a top-2 team since 1990, the Nittany Lions have been named the FWAA Team of the Week. Penn State used a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter to topple second-ranked Ohio State Saturday night.
Additionally, head coach James Franklin was named the The Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week by the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. The Dodd Coach of the Week Award honors the football coach whose program embodies the award's three pillars of scholarship, leadership and integrity, while also having success on the playing field during the previous week.
"What a milestone win for Coach Franklin and his team. It's the kind of win that Coach Dodd would have appreciated as the Penn State players never stopped playing hard, and special teams played a key role in determining the outcome of the game," said Jim Terry, Chairman of the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation. "After a difficult personal week for Coach Franklin, Saturday night's performance made him an easy choice for this week's award. We're thrilled to honor him."
Since the award was established in 2002, the Nittany Lions have won FWAA Team of the Week honors four times. This is their first win since 2012, when Penn State defeated No. 13 Wisconsin. Three of Penn State's four FWAA accolades have come against Ohio State (2005, 2008, 2016).
The win was Penn State's first over a top-2 team since defeating #1 Notre Dame in 1990 and was the program's first win as an unranked team over a top-2 opponent since defeating the second-ranked Buckeyes in 1964.
With the win, the Nittany Lions entered the Associated Press Top 25 the 24th slot. This marks the first time that Penn State has been ranked since week 15 of the 2011 season.
For their efforts, Brandon Bell (Mays Landing, N.J.) (defensive) and Marcus Allen (Upper Marlboro, Md.) and Grant Haley (Atlanta, Ga.) (co-special teams) garnered Big Ten weekly honors. Haley was also selected as the Big Ten's Rose Bowl Player of the Week. In addition, the Nittany Lions were selected as the Athlon Team of the Week, while defensive coordinator Brent Pry was named Athlon Coordinator of the Week (defensive).
Allen blocked a 45-yard field goal attempt with 4:39 remaining in the game. The blocked kick was scooped up by Haley, who took it 60 yards for the game-winning touchdown.
The Nittany Lion defense was outstanding, holding Ohio State scoreless in two quarters for the first time since the Michigan State game last season. In their return, linebackers Bell and Jason Cabinda (Huntington, N.J.) combined for 31 tackles, 2.0 sacks and 3.0 tackles for loss.
Penn State is 5-2 overall and 3-1 in Big Ten play after the victory over the Buckeyes. The Nittany Lions are back in action at Purdue Saturday at noon on ABC (with an ESPN2 mirror).
Single game for the 2016 campaign are on sale now. To purchase tickets or for more information, fans can visit www.PSUnrivaled.com, call 1-800-NITTANY or visit the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office weekdays from 10 a.m-6 p.m.