DUBLIN — Two years ago, some Penn State fans urged Sam Fickento give up football after he missed four field goals, including one at the final gun, in a loss to Virginia.
If he were any closer to State College on Saturday, those same fans may have carried Ficken back to his apartment on their shoulders.
The senior kicker had a day for the ages for Penn State, drilling four field goals, including the game-winner from 36 yards as time expired in the Nittany Lions’ 26-24 win over Central Florida in the Croke Park Classic.
Trailing 24-23 after having just surrendered the lead, the Nittany Lions marched from their 26-yard line to the Golden Knights’ 19 in 1:05. That set up Ficken for a shot at redemption from not only that infamous road loss against Virginia in 2012, but an up-and-down 2013, too.
“I’m unbelievably happy for the team,” Ficken said. “It’s a great team win.
“I was fortunate enough to be able to come through for the guys and knock off a great team.”
Ficken couldn’t miss Saturday. He bailed out a stalled Nittany Lions drive inside the 5 in the first half, punching a 22-yarder through with 6:20 left to hand the Nittany Lions a 10-3 lead. A 33-yarder in the third quarter pushed that lead to 13-3, and with 3:30 to go in the fourth, a 24-yarder handed Penn State a 23-17 edge.
“That guy’s had as consistent of a spring and summer as anybody on our team. He has been money,” coach James Franklinsaid.
For Ficken, kicking has always been as much a mental battle as a physical one.
He said during his sophomore season, when he took over as the kicker after the steady and seasoned Anthony Fera transferred to Texas, that he didn’t have the poise to be able to handle the biggest situations. Sometimes he converted. Sometimes he didn’t. This season, he hopes he can attack the big spot with more consistency.
“When you’re presented an opportunity as a kicker, you have to seize that moment,” Ficken said.
After he sealed the win in his first game as coach, Franklin praised Ficken for taking that next step in what has been a roller-coaster ride of a career.
“I’m just happy for him because he’s had an interesting career,” Franklin said. “He really has, and it’s probably the best way to describe it. But it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. And he’s a perfect example in this life, in this program, if you just stay positive and you persevere and you keep working, good things will happen.”
Records fall
Penn State played 1,254 football games in their program’s history in the United States, and no quarterback had ever thrown for more than 399 yards in a game.
First time Christian Hackenberg got on international soil, that changed.
Hackenberg threw for 454 yards, passing the elusive 400-yard plateau on his third-quarter, 79-yard touchdown pass to Eugene Lewis.
“He’s what a college quarterback should look like,” Central Florida coach George O’Learyraved. “He was the difference in the game, I thought, with his efficiency as far as attacking the coverage.”
Typically, Hackenberg didn’t take much of the credit for establishing the standard for himself.
“I think it’s a testament to a lot of pieces in the puzzle,” he said. “The offensive line, which everybody was doubting, played a very good game.”
Nowhere to run
Before the offense’s late efficiency set up Ficken’s winner, the Penn State defensive line established itself as the star of the game early. Defensive tackle Anthony Zettel and end Deion Barnes created consistent pressure, and they helped the line and linebackers stuff the Central Florida rushing attack, which gained just 24 yards on 29 carries.
“We have a very experienced defensive line,” said linebacker Nyeem Wartman, who had six tackles. “They do a great job. It’s funny, because they’re big guys. But at the same time, they’re speedy guys who can move really well. So when they get moving, it really messes up offensive lines. It’s comfortable (for linebackers), knowing you won’t have linemen up in your face every play.”
Nittany notes
Central Florida played without two of its most accomplished offensive players. Running back William Stanback (toe) and WR Rannell Hall (elbow) both missed the game. O’Leary, however, insisted their absence had no effect on the game. “When you don’t practice, you don’t play,” he said. “That’s how we do it here.” ... Penn State’s running game managed just 57 yards on 28 carries, with Zach Zwinak leading the way with 32 yards. ... TE Jesse James set a career-high with seven catches. ... Lewis and DaeSean Hamilton became the first pair of Penn State receivers to gain more than 150 yards apiece in the same game. ... The game drew 53,304 fans to Croke Park, making it the most-attended American football game in Ireland. Notre Dame and Navy drew 48,820 when they played at nearby Aviva Stadium in 2012.