Well folks, we’re back with yet another season of your favorite Sunday post here on BSD! It just dawned upon me that this will be my tenth year doing position grades, which is mind-boggling to believe. I’ve had a blast doing these and reading your feedback in the comments telling me how right or wrong I am with my grades, and I look forward to more as this season chugs along, hopefully culminating in the Nittany Lions hoisting the College Football Playoff championship trophy in Miami come January.
Nevada
Position Grades: Nevada
Anyway, without further ado, here’s how yesterday’s dominating win over Nevada grades out:
Penn State scored on each of its first nine possessions, and a good part of that had to with Drew Allar having an solid game, going 22-of-26 passing with 217 yards and a touchdown strike to one of his new favorite tagets, Kyron Hudson. Drew sure looked like a guy who was a lot more trust in his wide receivers compared to last year. Ethan Grunkmeyer also impressed in garbage time, leading a 94-yard TD drive and throwing a couple lovely strikes, en route to him finishing the drive in the end zone, himself.
Even though neither back lit up the stat sheet or ripped off a truly explosive play on the ground, Nicholas Singleton had a pair of TD runs and Kaytron Allen added another TD for the running back corps. Cam Wallace and Corey Smith also showcased their stuff, with Wallace doing his best Saquon Barkley impression by hurdling a guy, showing that he was fully healed from his horrible knee injury suffered last season.
Yes, it’s Nevada. Yes, it’s only the first game of the year. But, you know what? Penn State did not have a single wide receiver catch more than five passes in a game last season, and yesterday we saw not one, but two Nittany Lion receivers eclipse that mark, with Hudson catching six balls for 89 yards and a TD, while Trebor Peña racked seven catches for 74 yards, plus a 13-yard carry. Devonte Ross is working his way back to 100 percent from an injury, but his lone catch of the day helped move the chains on 4th down.
We knew the tight ends wouldn’t be targeted quite as much as they were a year ago. Luke Reynolds seemed to get the most reps, though and was targeted a handful of times. Khalil Dinkins and Andrew Rappleyea both had some nice catches from Grunkmeyer, in what was a a solid effort overall from this unit.
Overall, the O-line played fine, but considering the massive amount of hype they were getting, yesterday felt a tad underwhelming. Much like with the D-line, there was plenty of rotating going on to get a bunch of players valuable experience before the conference slate. The botched snap at the goal line that sailed over Drew Allar’s head cost PSU what should’ve been a TD to cash in on an interception. Better to get those mistakes out of their system now, than in a more critical game.
Dani Dennis-Sutton was a one-man wrecking crew, constantly living in Nevada’s backfield, racking up a sack and 2.5 tackles for a loss. He also was responsible for two of PSU’s three turnovers forced, forcing a pair of fumbles that the Nittany Lions ultimately cashed into points. Zane Durant also had an interception that he nearly picked-sixed. With Zuriah Fisher out with an injury, younger guys such as Jaylen Harvey and Chaz Coleman saw their share of action off the edge.
Amare Campbell was the leading tackler, garnering six of them. Considering that he only arrived in Happy Valley in April, Campbell has done a tremendous job quickly acclimating to a new defense. Dom DeLuca also recorded a sack, in what was a solid day for a group that was instrumental in holding Nevada to 78 total rushing yards.
AJ Harris and Zakee Wheatley both had fumble recoveries, which were the most notable plays for a unit that just really wasn’t challenged at all by a team that showed no desire to throw the ball more than ten yards downfield. Nevada put up most of their 125 passing yards in garbage time against the 2’s and 3’s, scoring a TD in the final minute.
Although he was called upon a little more frequently than we hoped, Ryan Barker remains money as a field goal kicker, nailing all four of his attempts. King Mack also had a nice “Welcome Back to Penn State” moment with a 73-yard kickoff return that set up a scoring drive. Gabe Nwosu would have made his punting debut in addition to his usual kickoff duties, but the Lions never punted.
Jim Knowles had a solid debut as defensive coordinator, as his unit made life difficult all afternoon for an overmatched opponent. Even on the most promising of drives for the Wolfpack, the defense bent but didn’t break, with the starters giving up just a field goal. Offensively, we saw a lot more no huddle from Andy Kotelnicki and a desire to try and establish chemistry between Drew and his new set of receivers, while also trying to give Singleton and Allen their share of carries.
Really, the only coaching decision I had an issue with was with deciding to kick a field goal on 4th and 2 from Nevada’s 10-yard line late in the first half instead of just going for it. Granted, PSU’s defense did get a stop and then got the ball back with enough time for PSU to score a TD right before halftime to take a comfortable 27-3 lead to the locker room, so what do I know…
(BONUS CATEGORY) Scorigami: A+++
Congratulations to both teams on giving us college football’s first-ever 46-11 result, giving us a scorigami moment.
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Nevada
Enrollment climbs in charter schools, drops in Clark and Washoe school districts
Nevada
‘Light over darkness’: Local Hanukkah celebrations held amid tight security
As the most visible Jewish holiday, Hanukkah is traditionally observed publicly with ceremonies such as the eight-day lighting of the menorah, Rabbi Shea Harlig of Chabad of Southern Nevada noted Monday.
In the aftermath of an antisemitic terror attack that targeted Jewish revelers marking the beginning of Hanukkah at an Australian beach over the weekend, the holiday’s message of “light over darkness” resonates, Harlig said at a menorah lighting ceremony at Las Vegas City Hall.
Events hosted by the city and later at Clark County’s government center took place amid enhanced police security.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Monday that the attack, which killed 15 people and injured dozens more, was “motivated by Islamic State ideology,” according to CNN.
“The way we deal with it is not by hiding, but on the contrary by going out and doing more events to bring more light into the world,” Harlig added.
Police officers and marshals guarded the city’s Civic Center & Plaza during the menorah lighting ceremony.
The Metropolitan Police Department said Monday that it was monitoring the Australian terror attack and that it had bolstered officer presence at places of religious worship across the valley.
“As always, we remind everyone that ‘if you see something, say something,’” said police, noting that suspicious activities can be reported at 702-828-7777 and snctc.org.
‘Festival of light’
Las Vegas’ Hanukkah ceremony was one of about 50 organized in the valley for the holiday, Harlig said.
Performers known as the “Dancing Dreidels” shimmied to music before a torch that marked Hanukkah’s second day was lit among Hebrew prayers.
Mayor Shelley Berkley and Councilman Brian Knudsen joined the festivities.
“In the city of Las Vegas, we do not tolerate antisemitism, racism, discrimination or hatred of any kind, against any individual or group of people,” Berkley said.
The Jewish mayor later told the Las Vegas Review-Journal about the holiday’s personal significance.
“It’s a festival of light, it’s a happy occasion where you celebrate with your family and your friends and your loved ones, and the entire community,” she said.
Berkley said that the city, its marshals and Metro had stepped up to provide a safe environment during the festivities, adding that a menorah celebration at Fremont Street Sunday went off well during the first day of the holiday.
“I think everybody that attended the menorah lighting last night felt very safe, and very welcomed and valued in the city of Las Vegas,” she said. “And that is the message we wanted to get out to the community. No matter what your religion, your culture, you’re all welcome here in this city.”
Asked about Southern Nevada’s response to the terror attacks, Berkley said: “I believe there was tremendous concern in the Jewish community.”
She added during her public remarks: “There has been a Jew hate and antisemitism for 5,000 years. We just keep moving forward and doing the best we can, and I’m very proud of the Jewish community and very proud to be a part of it.”
A couple of hours after the City Hall event, Harlig and the Dancing Dreidels made their way to a similar celebration at the Clark County Government Center, where the victims were memorized with a moment of silence.
Commissioner Michael Naft echoed the rabbi’s menorah lighting message in his remarks.
“There is no better way for the Jewish community — (or) any community — to respond to darkness than with demonstrations of our power, demonstrations of our strength and by never hiding, by never running away,” he said. “That’s what we do here in Clark County and around the world.”
Contact Ricardo Torres-Cortez at rtorres@reviewjournal.com.
Nevada
American Red Cross of Northern Nevada deploying to Washington after flooding
RENO, Nev. (KOLO) – A disaster response volunteer with the American Red Cross of Northern Nevada is deploying to the state of Washington after flooding has affected the state.
Flooding in the state, caused by days of heavy rain, has forced the evacuation of around 100,000 from their homes. The volunteer will join hundreds of Red Cross responders from around the country to provide shelter, food, and aid to those in need.
“Our Northern Nevada volunteers bring skill, commitment and compassion to every disaster deployment,” said Bridget Posson, Executive Director of the American Red Cross Northern Nevada Chapter. “As an ERV driver, he plays a vital role in delivering essential support to families impacted by this devastating flooding, but it’s his compassion and commitment to helping others that truly provides hope in their time of need.”
The volunteer being deployed is from Minden, and has been deployed more than 25 times to disaster areas over more than 30 years.
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