What James Franklin said after Penn State's win over Michigan
Penn State was finally able to get their first win of the season today as they beat Michigan 27-17. The win got them to 1-5 on the season and had them avoid their first 0-6 start in program history.
Their rushing attack led the way today as Keyvone Lee had 22 carries for 134 yards and a touchdown while averaging a tad over six yards a carry. Quarterback Sean Clifford also had 73 yards rushing with a touchdown while Will Levis also added a rushing touchdown.
With the Nittany Lions feeling high about themselves, here’s what head coach James Franklin had to say after the game.
Franklin: "That was a battle of two very, very respected programs in a very unique and challenging year. I think the biggest thing [for us] is obviously no turnovers."
— Onward Sports (@OnwardStSports) November 28, 2020
Franklin: "It was awesome to see a guy like Drew Hartlaub… that fumble recovery was big."
— Onward Sports (@OnwardStSports) November 28, 2020
Franklin: "We had two true freshmen running backs, and three corners total in the game. We had a lot of challenges behind the scenes."
— Onward Sports (@OnwardStSports) November 28, 2020
Franklin: "The most important thing, our guys are battling corona and I think our team is doing a pretty good job with that."
— Onward Sports (@OnwardStSports) November 28, 2020
Franklin on getting that first win: "I'm just happy for our kids. At the end of the day people are focused on football…But there's been a lot of things going on this year. To see our team battle through that adversity, I couldn't be happier for our players."
— Onward Sports (@OnwardStSports) November 28, 2020
Franklin on young players stepping up: "To see some young guys that were forced into significant roles figure it out today, and make plays and do some of the dirty work. It was great to see."
— Onward Sports (@OnwardStSports) November 28, 2020
Franklin on Sean Clifford and Will Levis: "It's been challenging on both of them. I'm really proud of both of them. They've been awesome and both have handled adversity really well."
— Onward Sports (@OnwardStSports) November 28, 2020
Franklin on the mood in the locker room: "We're just excited about this one and enjoying it. There's a lot of emotion in that locker room. This has been a tough year, and I'm not just talking football."
— Onward Sports (@OnwardStSports) November 28, 2020
Franklin on Lee's preparation this week: "There was nothing different. He has shown flashes since he got here, him and Caziah. For me to sit here and say that I saw this coming, it's just hard to say cause the reps were so limited."
— Onward Sports (@OnwardStSports) November 28, 2020
Franklin mentioned he was proud of his team overcoming penalties and "some interesting calls."
— Onward Sports (@OnwardStSports) November 28, 2020
Penn State will try to get their second win of the season next Saturday against Rutgers. The time is still yet to be determined.
