Tough week for local FB teams
It isn鈥檛 often that the Pitt, West Virginia, Penn State, California and Waynesburg football teams all lose, but that is exactly what happened Saturday.
Pitt led most of its game at Notre Dame, and the Panthers seemed primed to once again upset Notre Dame.
A bland offense and two missed field goals contributed to the five-point loss and wasted a solid defensive effort.
While Pitt was not expected to win, a victory would have helped the Panthers in a bid to return to a bowl and give the team the extra practices they could use.
Speaking of leading most of the game, that is also what Penn State did before choking away another late fourth quarter lead, this time to Michigan State.
The Spartans came in with the top-ranked rushing defense in the country at just over 33 yards per game, but thanks to a pair of long Miles Sanders runs, the Nittany Lions rushed for 205 yards.
However, Michigan State鈥檚 pass defense is one of the worst in the country and despite that, the team barely went downfield.
People can talk about Penn State鈥檚 last five losses totaling 12 points all they want, but it appeared from the stands that the play calling on its last offensive drive was conservative.
It was as though the play calling for Penn State was playing play not to lose, rather than playing to put the game away.
Penn State鈥檚 dream of making the playoff ended Saturday, and the Nittany Lions will now have to win out to have even a remote chance to make their third straight New Year鈥檚 Six bowl game.
West Virginia laid an egg at Iowa State, with Will Grier only throwing for 100 yards and the Cyclones out-gaining the Mountaineers, 498-152, in the game.
While that was only WVU鈥檚 first loss, its playoff hopes are shot.
Cal U struggled against Gannon, which came into the contest with a 1-5 record, and lost, 29-15.
Waynesburg had won its previous three games after starting 0-3, but lost, 28-3.
Holt鈥檚 at it again for SRU
A week after forcing a fumble in Slippery Rock鈥檚 win over IUP, Ringgold grad Dalton Holt had an interception for 32 yards. He also recorded a solo tackle and two assists.
For the season, Holt has 22 solo tackles, nine assists, and two breakups.
PS-Fayette first
Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, hosted its first-ever cross country meet last Saturday and it was a success.
While the hosts finished fourth, head coach Joe Carei realized the monumental event was a big hit.
鈥淚t was a great day. We had 11 teams and besides the rain and mud, the event went well,鈥� said Carei. 鈥淚t was the first time we had a college invitational on campus.
鈥淲e finished fourth overall and was the top PSUAC school.鈥�
Frazier grad Nyoah Martney looked best for Fayette in the 8k as he finished eighth with a time of 28:27.7.
鈥淭his is an event that we were anticipating since Coach Carei rejuvenated the cross-country program four years ago,鈥� said Athletic Director Lou Zadecky. 鈥淣ever could I have imagined how fantastic it would turn out to be.
鈥淚 am so proud of our coaches and cross country team and what they did to compete and pull this invitational off.鈥�
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