There is usually nothing about the 2020 NCAA football regular season. It was not certain if the teams would play or not a few months ago, but Ben State finished all eight games they had planned. There may be two more games for fans to enjoy if things go right. For now, let’s say goodbye to the 2020 regular season. A conference slate that looked like a battle for Penn State, weathering dislocations and injuries, ended with a 3-game winning streak. The first five matches of the ‘regular’ season are a mixed bag. All but one are competitive games that have gone to losses, which is disappointing, but still entertaining. Now we go to Championship Week. With the exception of the winner of the Northwest and Ohio state games, the rest of the league has to say what its purpose is in calling it a championship. We’re all champions in some way, aren’t we? This is how Michigan State led the majority of the game, but the Lions slowly closed the gap. Ben State trailed 24-18 late in the 3rd quarter to take the lead in just 2 seconds on the clock. Until then the Lions had not been a sharp game on either side of the field, but it was clear that the team’s intensity was increasing. In a crucial third fall at the start of the fourth quarter, the Penn State defense got a grip when the team needed one. After taking a 1-point lead, it took the ball back to offense with a chance to extend it. Hakeem Beaman (51), defensive end Adisa Isaac (20) and Jonathan Sutherland (0) were sacked for the charge. Linebacker Lance Dixon (10) also got his hands on the quarterback. Brent Brye often had underclassmen on the field, which illustrates the bright future that the program has on the defensive side of the ball. Three plays later Sean Clifford Parker extended Washington’s lead to eight points when he struck out for a 49-yard touchdown. The team began to relax a bit with the collars on the Ben State fans ’collective shirts and the breathing room on the scoreboard. Following a touchdown from Jordan Stout’s leg, the Lions gained protection from the field after three plays. On the next ball Jahan Dodson took the ball 81 yards for a punt return touchdown, which was one of the highlights of the team’s season on the field. The play was an outstanding physical achievement when the team needed it to be the final 15-point cushion for a 39-24 victory. If you do not watch the play it will be easily available on the internet. Instead of showing the proceeds, watch the video of the celebration sidelined directly after the play. As we enter the holiday season in a year that no living person will soon forget, it is a pleasure to see the joyous celebration following the play. There are plenty of smiling bodies, all of which Dodson touches and tries to share this time around. The joy on the faces of players and coaches is a rare picture these days, but we hope this strange era will soon be behind us. James Franklin assisted in bringing Totson off the field. It was the biggest and most spontaneous celebration for the players during a game this year, following all three of their victories. In a season where we enjoy football, tailgate with fellow fans, and 107,000 family members, packed into a stadium with mass team warm-ups, we can live badly with the joy of the team. We can experience these parts of our lives that were lost when the team returned for the next fall. For now, coach James Franklin and his team are waiting for their next move. Every Big Ten team will play a Championship Week final, but it remains to be seen when or where it will be. The Lions have another chance to win, and that team has a chance to win a cup game, winning the losing season 5-5. With so much suffering in the world in these last months, it is hard to put too much weight on a football win or loss. Winning is always good, but it’s not the only important part of the game. Without the community of people we meet at games or in public, supporting a team is not the same experience. On a crisp fall on a Saturday afternoon we can all celebrate together, hug strangers and think about anything other than football. Quick wins The Lions did not run the ball as well on most days as they had in previous wins. Outside Sean Clifford’s 31-yard touchdown run, the team accelerated to less than 3 yards per car. Kiwon Lee received a good amount of caries early in the game and moved the pile forward as he has all season, but production fell after the first quarter. Will Lewis led the team with 15 carries, not bad for a backup quarterback. Jaguan Prisker pulls off another great game. He has proven to be the team’s best defender this year, making it possible for him to choose to return next season, which could be the best for the team, and allow Brisker to show that he has NFL talent. He led the team with 9 blocks, 6 solo, interceptions to go, two quarterback emergencies and 1.5 blocks to loss. He’s not around the frantic line, he’s making in the background. Recipients didn’t have much of a chance, but they took advantage of it as much as possible. Jahan Dodson and Parker Washington each made an impact that we have become accustomed to seeing. Brendan Strange appeared much softer when he caught the ball than once earlier this year, allowing the yards to get in after the catch, which became a threat that should have been due to security. Andre Lambert-Smith continues to produce plays, dragging on all 3 passes he came up with.