Jahan Dotson, Sean Clifford etch their names in Penn State record book in win over Indiana

STATE COLLEGE — Sean Clifford smoothly navigated the pocket and started to roll to his right toward the line of scrimmage late in the third quarter Saturday night. The Penn State quarterback needed 4 yards for a first down, and an Indiana defender was waiting between him and the marker.

As Clifford approached the line of scrimmage, Indiana linebacker Aaron Casey stepped up, which left a void behind him. Nittany Lions wide receiver Jahan Dotson stepped into the empty space, so Clifford flicked him the ball, and Dotson was off for a 30-yard touchdown to give No. 4 Penn State a three-touchdown lead that proved insurmountable.

In that touchdown, Clifford and Dotson not only showed off the chemistry that has been the backbone of the Penn State offense this season, but they also made history. The score marked the 18th time Clifford and Dotson had connected for a touchdown, which is the most of any quarterback-wide receiver combination in program history.

“I don’t really know about all the records, kind of just out there playing, just having fun,” Dotson said. “It’s pretty cool to hear when you break some sort of record, definitely coming from a historic program like Penn State. It’s literally what I came here for. Just have fun, have fun with the guys, break records. It’s all fun.”

Dotson and Clifford broke the previous record of 17, which was set by former Lions quarterback Todd Blackledge and wide receiver Kenny Jackson in the early 1980s. Blackledge was in Beaver Stadium as the analyst for the national television broadcast on ABC, and Dotson said the record had come up when he was recording a television interview.

“He was sitting right there, and he told me I was one away or we were one away,” Dotson said. “And he said, ‘Get the job done,’ and we got it done.”

Dotson finished Penn State’s 24-0 victory with eight catches for 84 yards and two touchdowns. Clifford threw for 178 yards and three touchdowns. For Dotson, the success is continued. He was Penn State’s top offensive performer during a lost 2020 season. Clifford, though, struggled, and there were questions about whether he was the answer at quarterback.

It’s clear the two trust each other. Clifford’s first touchdown pass to Dotson, an 8-yarder in the second quarter in the back of the end zone, was thrown where only Dotson could get it. And on the 30-yarder in the third quarter, Dotson kept his eyes on the backfield on Clifford and went with him to give him a target and keep the play alive.

In five games, Dotson has 35 catches for 446 yards and six touchdowns.

“I think the first thing is, Jahan’s good. That helps,” coach James Franklin said after the game. “That helps. And then I think the combination of Jahan’s talent and the time that Sean and Jahan have spent together, whether it’s on the practice field, whether it’s watching film, whether it’s in meetings, and then they’ve played a lot of games. … That helps.”

Clifford pointed to their relationship on and off the field. Off the field, the quarterback and wide receiver are friends, and that leads to success on the field. Dotson watched as a freshman and sophomore when former Nittany Lions standout KJ Hamler and Clifford would go to Holuba Hall late at night to throw and work on the intricacies of the game.

When covid-19 protocols were lifted enough for Dotson to do the same with Clifford, the duo started putting in the extra hours.

“It’s like some people, they like to go out, have a beer or whatever you do at late night,” Clifford said. “But some people like to go throw. That’s what I like to do. I like to throw. I like to watch tape.”

Dotson has been a bona fide star through the first five games of the season. Clifford has looked completely different from the quarterback he was a year ago. And Penn State will need both players to continue to play at their high levels if the team wants to realize the trajectory it has put itself on through September and into October.

The next challenge is at No. 3 Iowa next week.

“He’s playing on a different level, and we need him to,” Clifford said. “I need him to, this team needs him to. I’m super proud of him, and I know he’s not even satisfied, and I’m not either. So we still have a lot of work to do.”