Was it pretty? Not exactly. Was it the game every Penn State fan wanted to see at the beginning of the season? Of course not. Regardless, Penn State took advantage of the postseason opportunity it fought hard for down the stretch by winning the Pinstripe Bowl in blistering weather conditions against the Clemson Tigers.
Interim head coach Terry Smith had a lot to deal with as key players on the roster opted out of the game on both sides of the football and even more were listed out as they prepare to enter the transfer portal. But those who did play proved they would not rest without giving Smith a bowl victory to cap the job he has done this season since taking on the interim role following the firing of James Franklin.
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Here are some of the key stats from Penn State’s Pinstripe Bowl win over the Clemson Tigers.
Red Zone efficiency: Penn State 2-for-2, Clemson 1-for-2
In a defensive game like the Pinstripe Bowl, Penn State took advantage of its two red zone trips with 10 total points. Penn State started the game with an early red zone trip that only resulted in three points after knocking on the doorstep of the end zone, but Penn State did seize the opportunity later in the game to help keep Clemson at a distance. Clemson also scored a touchdown late in the game in the red zone, but missed a short field goal on its first red zone trip.
Total offense: Penn State 397, Clemson 236
Penn State and Clemson played a defensive first half before things started to open up a bit more later in the game, but Penn State’s defense won the day by holding the Tigers to fewer than 240 yards of offense. Penn State’s offensive production was boosted by a 73-yard touchdown by Trebor Pena, but that counts!
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Penn State defense: 236 yards, 43 rushing yards allowed
While the Penn State offense took some time to warm up in the chilly New York City weather, the defense was cooking from the start. Penn State’s defense did a great job of getting off the field all game long while holding the Tigers to just 5 third-down conversions out of 15 attempts, and holding Clemson to just 236 yards of total offense.
Dani Dennis-Sutton: 2 sacks, 2 TFL
Penn State’s defense brought the pain to Clemson all game long, but Dani Dennis-Sutton did his part to set the tone. The defensive captain for the game made good on his promise to Terry Smith to end the season giving his all. Dennis-Sutton had two critical sacks of Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik and he was bringing pressure all game long.
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Ethan Grunkemeyer: 23-of-34, 262 yards, 2 TD
Penn State’s starting quarterback seemed to improve as the season unfolded, and he saved his finest moments for the final game of the season. Grunkemeyer passed for 262 yards and had one of the most efficient days in Pinstripe Bowl history despite a tough start to the game and a handful of dropped passes in the cold weather.
Quinton Martin: 101 rushing yards, 20 attempts, 5.0 ypa
With no Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, somebody had to step up in the running game. And Quinton Martin delivered. Martin provided some stability on the ground with 101 rushing yards behind an offensive line missing multiple starters. Penn State got a few backs involved with Corey Smith and Tikey Hayes getting some carries as well, but Martin proved to be the most consistent rusher, and his 21-yard gain was one of the biggest plays of the day for the Nittany Lions.
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Trebor Pena: 100 receiving yards, 5 receptions, 1 TD
The Pinstripe Bowl MVP had his first 100-yard game in a Penn State uniform and had the highlight of the day with a 71-yard touchdown. One of the key offseason transfers may not have had quite the production that was expected this year, but the year ends on a positive note.
Devonte Ross: 84 receiving yards, 8 receptions
Another offseason transfer addition brought in to inject life in the passing game, Devonte Ross had his second-most yards in a game of the season in the Pinstripe Bowl. Like Pena, this season may not have gone quite according to plan, but Ross had some key moments in Penn State’s win, including a massive 35-yard gain on third down in the fourth quarter.
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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Key stats from Penn State’s Pinstripe Bowl win
