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
Rotten Tomatoes gives Cornish director’s new film unbelievable rating
The movie is screening in an unprecedented 125 cinemas nationwide from its opening night – a triumph for Cornwall’s hugely respected rising star director
A Cornish director’s latest film has been given an unbelievable rating by Rotten Tomatoes. Mark Jenkin, the writer and director behind Enys Men and Bait, releases his latest movie, Rose of Nevada, this month.
The 50-year-old is no stranger to good ratings with his biggest work to date, Bait, filmed in Cornwall, getting a 100 per cent rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. But his most recent work has just done something equally incredible with a 100 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes a day before its release date.
The movie, Rose of Nevada, is a British science fiction drama film written, edited, composed and directed by Mr Jenkin. It has been incredibly well received with critics describing it as “terrifically atmospheric” and “superbly visceral filmmaking”.
Hilary A White, writing for the Irish Independent, says: “Jenkin leaves plenty of space between story and audience, compiling a tale that feels cobbled together from stained Polaroids, dream snatches and fleeting glimpses.”
Deborah Ross, writing for The Independent, had this to say: “Though it’s about how we carry the past and what can be lost in a single generation, the film is never nostalgic or sentimental. It’s not Back to the Future. It’s terrifically atmospheric, thrumming with foreboding and dread.”
The movie, which was released in UK and Irish cinemas on Friday (April 24), tells the story of a mysterious boat that returns to a village 30 years after vanishing. Two men join its crew, hoping for better fortune. After one voyage, they find themselves transported back in time, mistaken for the original crew.
Rose of Nevada is screening in 125 cinemas nationwide from its opening night, including all 10 of the Merlin chain sites in the South West, including Bodmin, Falmouth, Helston, Penzance, Redruth and St Ives.
BFI Distribution has confirmed big screen showings in another 70-plus cinemas a little later. The spread is from the Shetland Islands in the North, to Jersey (Channel Islands) in the South, to Triskel in Eire in the West to Broadstairs in Kent in the East.
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Nevada
Special Olympics Nevada’s Vegas Plunge returns with superhero theme at Cowabunga Bay
LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — Special Olympics Nevada invited community members to make a splash for inclusion at the Vegas Plunge at Cowabunga Bay on Saturday.
Organizers encouraged people to “hop, skip, run, jump, or dive” into the Henderson waterpark to support Special Olympics Nevada’s sports, education, leadership, and athlete health programs. While polar plunges are typically associated with colder climates, the event puts “a Vegas twist on this classic event.”
This year’s theme is “superheroes,” with participants encouraged to wear costumes. All plungers received a Vegas Plunge T-shirt, breakfast, tickets to Cowabunga Bay for the day, and the chance to support Special Olympics Nevada athletes.
The event was hosted by JayBee Beasley and included the fifth annual Rubber Duck Derby presented by Columbia Bank. Hundreds of rubber ducks raced around the lazy river, and attendees had a chance to win items including staycations, sporting events, golf packages, and jewelry.
Liz Volpe is the Developmental Director for Special Olympics Nevada and says the Vegas Plunge is their signature event and, “We create inclusive opportunities for individuals with intellectual needs.”
Proceeds from the Polar Plunge are expected to support year-round sports training and competition for more than 3,978 Special Olympics Nevada athletes statewide.
Organizers said contributions and involvement also help athletes achieve their goals, live healthier lives, and feel included in the community.
Gold sponsors included Greenberg Traurig and The Raiders. Silver sponsors were Columbia Bank and MoneyTree. Bronze sponsors included David and Gail Bowman, Jomsom Staffing Services, and Renewal by Andersen.
Nevada
1 dead after crash on Interstate 15 in Las Vegas; northbound lanes closed
A pedestrian was killed in a fatal crash on Interstate 15 just north of Washington Avenue in Las Vegas on Friday night, the Nevada Highway Patrol said.
The crash, which happened just before 9:30 p.m. Friday, involved a pickup truck and a pedestrian the Highway Patrol’s trooper Shawn Haggstrom said in an email. The pedestrian, who was identified as a man, was confirmed dead at the scene.
The driver of the pickup truck stayed at the scene and was cooperating with investigators, the Highway Patrol said.
The crash has closed down all travel lanes of the northbound I-15 at Washington. The Interstate 11 ramp to the I-15 is also closed, Haggstrom said. All northbound I-15 traffic was being diverted off at the D Street off-ramp.
It wasn’t known how long the closures would last, Haggstrom said.
Contact Brett Clarkson at bclarkson@reviewjournal.com
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