Allen Robinson timed this catch perfecty to save Penn State against Michigan. Photo: USA Today Sports
Penn State scored a wild four overtime victory over Michigan Saturday night before one of the largest crowds in Beaver Stadium since the supposed unraveling of the program in 2011. Robinson has often been one of the bright spots for the program and ended up being the top wide receiver in the Big Ten in 2012. He could very well still be the best receiver in the Big Ten and he showed why in the clutch against Michigan.
With less than a minute to play and no timeouts, Penn State needed to drive the length of the field for a touchdown. Against all odds, it looked bleak for Penn State. But Robinson came to the rescue with two of the catches of the year. It's sort of funny that nobody will be talking about his first catch because his leaping snag of a Hail Mary from freshman quarterback Christian Hackenberg was so phenomenal.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=DW0eCjm9KqU
The execution of the catch was a thing of pure beauty, and demonstrates why Robinson is viewed as the top receiver in the Big Ten. He timed the jump perfectly to get above his defender, and he got some serious air to haul in the ball. Then, of course, he maintains control to the ground just shy of the end zone.
Robinson did have what looked to be a costly turnover when he fumbled a handoff from Hackenberg to start the third overtime, but because Penn State won, his late game heroics in regulation deserve praise for sure. But the Hail Mary may have never occurred if a video review did not overturn an incomplete pass. A few plays earlier Robinson toed the sideline and held on for a catch sailing out of bounds. The call was initially ruled incomplete, but video review showed Robinson kept his toes in play and had control of the football. The call was overturned. If it had not, would the Hail Mary play have ever happened?
