Penn State notes: Carson Hansen again shows why his coach believes in him
· Yahoo Sports
SEATTLE – Penn State football fans clamored for coach Matt Campbell to replace Carson Hansen in the backfield through the first seven games.
Hansen, however, has shown the last two games why his coach has had such trust and confidence in him.
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He carried 14 times for a season-high 119 yards and one touchdown as the Nittany Lions held off Washington 28-25 Saturday at Husky Stadium.
A week ago, he ran 17 times for 96 yards and a TD in a 31-17 victory over Purdue.
“The offensive line has done such a great job the past couple games,” Hansen said, deflecting praise. “I just really appreciate them, all the work they put in throughout the week and all the sacrifices that they make as a team.
“There’s nothing better than creating memories together.”
On Penn State’s first drive, Hansen gained 20 yards on a cutback run and then made several Huskies miss on a 12-yard TD. He had a 10-yard run before Rocco Becht’s 45-yard TD pass to Chase Sowell in the second quarter.
He capped his afternoon with a 36-yard burst as the Lions ran out the clock on their final possession.
“Carson’s always been a player who the more he goes in a game, the better he gets,” Penn State coach Matt Campbell said. “I think that’s the case with every great running back I’ve coached. He and Cam (Wallace) are playing with a lot of confidence right now.
“I thought the offensive line did a really great job in the running game. I thought the tight ends were really good as well.”
Wallace ran just seven times for 56 yards, including a 46-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. But Hansen received the bulk of the work and finished with his first 100-yard game in a Penn State uniform.
“He took some strides today,” Sowell said. “He played his game. He didn’t try to think too much or be robotic out there. He let things flow and got into his groove.”
Sowell’s catch
Sowell finished with four receptions for 125 yards and a TD, but it was his 36-yard one-handed grab in the third quarter that everyone wanted to discuss.
“I work at it every day,” he said. “There are plenty of times they (defensive backs) have one arm and all you got is one arm. It’s just being savvy, putting myself in those positions beforehand and having the confidence to make those plays.
“No matter what, I’m going to catch it. You have to tackle me or trip me.”
Sowell’s status went from probable to “game-time decision” Saturday on the Big Ten availability report. He’s been dealing with an ankle injury, which kept him out of the Purdue game last week.
“There was a lot of talk about being smart with the future and all those things,” he said. “I’m too competitive. I have to be smart and take care of myself. That’s why I sat out the last game. Even that game I wanted to play. They were telling me I couldn’t go.
“You have to kill me to take me off the field or I have to be dragged off the field. I got a little ankle and some guys are out there playing with messed-up backs and necks.”
Sexton fills in
Redshirt sophomore Garrett Sexton saw the majority of playing time at left tackle for Penn State in place of Malachi Goodman, who started but who’s been dealing with an unspecified injury.
Sexton helped the Lions rush for 174 yards in his most extensive action of the year.
“Malachi has been dinged up,” Campbell said. “We just didn’t know how long he could go. He was not at full strength. We knew he’d be able to give us some. Garrett really had a great week of practice. I’m proud of Garrett. I thought he did a really good job.”