KJ Hamler had a big day against Iowa, and the speedy receiver punched in a crucial and dramatic touchdown in the first half.

The game developed into a hard-fought defensive struggle in Kinnick Stadium. Though Penn State entered with its strong offense, it was the defense that kept the Hawkeyes in check for much of the afternoon.

With a final score of 17-12, every point scored by the Nittany Lions was crucial. That made Hamler’s soaring touchdown even more important.

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After the game, Hamler dissected what happened on his touchdown. According to Hamler, he ran an option route that he broke off to the sideline. He reeled in the catch and cut upfield with plenty of space. After that, his instincts simply took over:

“I caught the ball and didn’t expect all that of that space…I really, literally just took a leap of faith,” explained Hamler. “It wasn’t nothing I was thinking about at the time. It was just what I could do to get into the end zone for my team. I jumped, I couldn’t take it back, and blessed we got the touchdown.”

Penn State Football shared the video of Hamler’s comments, including his thoughts on the crucial win in Iowa City: