Penn State vs. Purdue score, takeaways: Sean Clifford throws game-winning TD after back-breaking pick six
Penn State beat Purdue 35-31 in an exhilarating season-opener Thursday that saw seven lead changes and Nittany Lions quarterback Sean Clifford go through a whole profession of feeling in one evening.
It looked like Penn State would assume command over the game right on time, as Clifford tracked down Brenton Strange for a 67-yard score.
pass with two seconds left before halftime to give the Nittany Lions a 21-10 lead. It was a lead that didn't keep going long once the final part started.
The Boilermakers overwhelmed the second from last quarter, assembling two score drives and holding Penn State to 33 yards of offense to tempest to a 24-21 lead.
After two minutes, after Purdue went three-and-out. Clifford cruised an ignore well objective Mitchell Tinsley's head and into the energetic arms of Purdue's Chris Jefferson.
Jefferson took the ball 72 yards to the house to give Purdue the lead back, and maybe Penn State's night was finished.
The Nittany Lions oversaw just 14 yards on their next two belongings and had to dropkick, yet the Boilermakers couldn't place the last nail in the casket, which set them back.
Penn State got the ball once again with 2:22 left to play, and the Nittany Lions set up an eight-play, 80-yard score.
drive in 1:25, with Clifford tossing his fourth score of the evening, this chance to KeyVone Lee, who scored from 12 yards out.