Vol. 120, No. 17 Oct. 21-23, 2019 MICAH’S MOMENT Photo by Caitlin Lee/Collegian Led by Micah Parsons, the Penn State defense delivered another memorable White Out moment with their fourth quarter goal line stand By Benjamin Ferree arm tackle from Tariq Castro- was that he simply does his job. But as the second half wore on And even though Parsons led THE DAILY COLLEGIAN Fields and looked like he was “He is a special guy, a special for the Penn State defense, Michi- them statistically, he knows it going to reach the edge, but Par- player,” Garrett Taylor said. “I gan began to find holes, ones that was a whole team effort to get the As Micah Parsons sat at the sons was there and delivered a think he’s done a good job making Parsons couldn’t fix himself even victory and every game someone corner of the podium follow- blow sending the quarterback to plays in the framework of the de- though he did his best. different steps up. ing Penn State’s 28-21 win over the Beaver Stadium grass. fense which is something that we Michigan sensed the shift in “Each game you have someone Michigan he was asked about KJ The tone was set for Parsons talk about a lot. momentum as the Wolverines that’s always doing something Hamler and his ability to make on that play and he only got “He doesn’t do things outside drove down to the field to a first good, having a great game,” Par- big plays in big moments. stronger from there. of his call. He is just doing his job and goal, down 28-14 at the start sons said. “We called it tag to- His response was simple. “I just really wanted to help this in the calls and is making special of the fourth quarter. night. Tag whoever is going to get “The greatest players step-up defense,” Parsons said. “I really plays. It’s fun to play behind a guy They sensed a chance to pull to the play first. When you got a when it’s time to step-up.” just wanted to prove to everyone like that. He had a great game, he off an upset in a White Out game. great group of guys, especially up And while Parsons was talk- ‘this is it man.’ I think this defense was flying around.” But first they had to get past front and in the back seven, the ing about his electric teammate, But for one of Parson’s team- Micah Parsons. is for real.” back guys and we’re all trying to he could’ve been talking about Parsons finished the first half mates, he had a little too good of The linebacker came up on go to the ball. himself. with eight total tackles, including a game. second down and made the stop, “Plays are going to happen Penn State’s defense needed four that were solo. “Micah gets on my nerves,” filled the hole on third down for a and you’re going to make a lot of it biggest players in its biggest The linebacker was all over Lamont Wade said jokingly. “We gain of one. moment of the 2019 season to the field, scraping down the line argue every game about who is And all of a sudden it was fourth plays.” date. of scrimmage, filling holes and going to get more tackles. We do down for Michigan. Parsons continued to talk about And on Saturday night, Micah causing havoc for the Michigan that every game.” Shea Patterson met Parsons Hamler in the corner of the po- Parsons was that guy for Penn offense. Wade came into Saturday on a quarterback sneak, but this dium saying, “when you are able State’s defense. Penn State’s ‘wild dogs’ were night’s game second on the team time Patterson won. to make that play when the team Parsons tied his career high unusually quiet on an explosive in tackles, just behind Parsons, But Penn State’s defense didn’t needs you, that’s when you know with 14 tackles, six of which were play standpoint on Saturday who Wade eventually admitted is let this affect them. you are a great player.” solo, and played a big role in the night, but what they did was ab- one of his favorite players to be on The next Michigan drive, the On Saturday night, in the White gritty performance of the Nittany sorb blocks and allow the lanes the field with. Wolverines drove all the way to Out game, Parsons made those Lions defense. for Parsons to fill and make so “He is a dog,” Wade said. the goal line with a chance to tie, plays. It started for Parsons on the many plays. “Whenever he say ‘he got this’ I but on fourth down a dropped Parsons was the great player. second play of the game. According to safety Garrett believe him. I put my trust into pass in the end zone meant that Shea Patterson pulled the ball Taylor, another reason Parsons him. It is great being on the field Penn State’s strongest unit all To email reporter: [email protected]. on a zone read, shrugged off an was able to make so many plays with guys like that.” season did enough to clinch a win. Follow him on Twitter at @BFerree. MY VIEW | DYLAN JACOBS Pretty or not, Penn State is a contender There were plenty of games There were mistakes made disappointment. learned from the mistakes from “This brotherhood that we last season where Penn State across the board, but when a play But in the offseason, this team the ones that came before have right now on the de- had its back against the wall. needed to happen, the Nittany worked hard in preparation for them. fensive side of the ball is No team, no Lions made it happen. moments like this, and it wasn’t What the Nittany tremendous,” Parsons matter the talent, “We didn’t play our best in all going to waste it. Lions want to achieve is said. “I think that’s can play a perfect three phases tonight, but we “It really shows how much right in front of them. the difference right game every week. played well enough to win the time and work we put in in the They will be a top-6 now.” It’s all about game,” James Franklin said. offseason, spring ball, to close team eight weeks Who knows how the response “We played really good compli- out games,” running back Ricky into the season. this season will when facing that mentary football. We made plays Slade said. They now play end, but when adversity. when it was needed. We made “I’d say we’re really proud of tough, but win- a team is so Last year, the big plays on defense when it was that.” nable road close-knit Nittany Lions needed. We made big plays on In the second half, the Nittany games like they are, didn’t have success in these offense when it was needed and Lion offense couldn’t do much in the anything can scenarios. the same thing on special teams. of anything, so the defense was next happen. On Saturday, Penn State was “We will critique the heck out constantly on the ropes. few “I feel like far from perfect. of this, find a way to get bet- But they were ready to step up. this year we But it fought through the ter. We will enjoy it the rest of “I know we put in the work weeks. have more adversity, showing that this is a tonight. We are 1-0, that is always in the summer and the spring,” Fighting for of a sense of team that’s tough to beat. the goal.” Castro-Fields said. the big prize togetherness, “Every great fighter ends up Last year, Penn State couldn’t “So I knew we were going to be comes later. brotherhood,” on the ropes,” linebacker Micah hold on to leads like this against ready when our time was called. Who knows cornerback Lamont Parsons said. “It’s how you fight the likes of Appalachian State, Our offense needed us and we what lies ahead Wade said. “These back.” Ohio State and Michigan State, stepped up.” a few weeks from now. guys are my brothers. This Penn State defense faced and it cost them against the This team stepped up in a way But for right When we go out there, adversity for the first time this Buckeyes and Spartans. that not many have had under now, Penn State we tell each other every season. It was actually tested, Those games now serve as les- James Franklin. His struggles is in it. It’s in the game ‘I’m playing for you, and for a while, Michigan was sons for this team. against ranked teams is common race. I got you.’ I told Sean, having success. “Last year we kind of lost knowledge at this point. Many KJ, Noah ‘I’m playing for The Wolverines methodically games that came down to the But in back-to-back weeks, people you.’ And they told me the moved the ball down the field wire like that,” cornerback Tariq Penn State has gotten two wins outside of same thing. I know they’re on multiple drives in the second Castro-Fields said. “So I’m super over tough ranked competition. the team playing for me, I know they ee/Collegian L half, and appeared to wear down proud of the guys to be able to They weren’t pretty games.