No. 12 Penn State runs over and through Memphis in a fast and furious Cotton Bowl

ARLINGTON, Texas — It took No. 12 Penn State some time to commit to its strategy of controlling the game and winning the afternoon.

And even when it was working like flames running through dry timber, the Nittany Lions still seemed unwilling to fully unleash their startling advantage on Saturday afternoon.

Thankfully, for the Lions, their running game blasted enough dynamite and linebacker Micah Parsons turned in a Superman effort to prop up a gasping defense.

Two points are worth ruminating over after Penn State's 53-39 breathless track meet victory over the inspired No. 15 Memphis Tigers in AT&T Stadium:

First, when was the last time the Lions dominated with their running game in a high-profile stakes game quite like this? They rotated three tailbacks and ran up more than 396 yards on the ground.

Secondly, has a linebacker at Linebacker U. ever turned in a performance quite as dominating as Parsons in a bowl? He filled every stat category and elevated himself into a game-changer when his team absolutely needed it. 

All of it enabled the Lions to finally pull away in a bowl game just as fast and furious as the Rose Bowl against Southern California three years ago.

The reward was the Lions' second program-rising New Year's Six bowl game in three years. It completed the third 11-win season under coach James Franklin.

All of it came because they were able to crush the smaller and speedy Tiger defenders at the line of scrimmage and run the ball at will.

And it didn't really matter who was in at tailback.

From Journey Brown to Noah Cain, from Devyn Ford to Ricky Slade, all of the Nittany Lions runners ripped through easy-to-read holes up front and then raced fast and free.

Of course, that was needed because the Lions could barely hold off Memphis' impressive athletes on offense who ran up and down the field, just in a different manner.

Strangely enough, it actually took the Lions until their fourth drive of the game, and trailing 13-7, to begin working over their opponent on the ground. That's when interim playcaller Tyler Bowen began to find his stride from the coaching booth.

Mixing in just enough quarterback keepers, Penn State quickly took over the game at the line of scrimmage on offense. The biggest blows came from Brown but his three running mates got plenty of work, too.

It started with Brown running through four defenders, carrying the last one into the end zone on a 32-yard scoring run to ignite an early salvo.

By the time he truly got back into the party by sprinting untouched down a clear freeway in the second quarter, the tide of the game had been turned.

That second long touchdown run by Brown put an exclamation on a story line that hung in the background of this match-up ever since it was announced. How thoroughly would Penn State's improving group of blockers be able to win the day over the less-equipped Tiger defensive linemen and linebackers?

By halftime Penn State had blasted through the Tigers for a 209-48 rushing advantage. It had scored a Cotton Bowl-record 35 first-half points — only the Tigers' skill and speed from its playmakers kept then hanging on by their claws.

Sean Clifford and the Lions' passing game wasn't particularly effective, but didn't have to be.

Memphis stayed in this until deep in the fourth quarter because of gutsy quarterback Brady White who ran and dodged and threw for 450 yards — somehow without a passing touchdown.

And, of course, kicker Riley Patteron. The certain NFL prospect bombed away from beginning to end, making a bowl-record six field goals, all of them with distance to spare.