Ex-Medina standout quarterback Drew Allar comes up short in Orange Bowl

 

(Akron Beacon Journal File Photo 2021- Phil Masturzo)

By Gene Simmons | X.COM

MIAMI, Florida--Former Medina football quarterback and 2021 Ohio Mr. Football winner Drew Allar, playing in perhaps the biggest game of his college career, inaugural 12 team playoff and semi-final game, could not advance the Nittany Lions to the National Championship game after a late game interception losing 27-24.

Allar whose stat line for the game threw 12 of 23 for 143 yards and one interception, that one interception was only number 10 on the season.

That one interception would be the dagger with the game being tied with Penn State driving, Notre Dame in a man press defense would not give any receiver any space as Allar would check down twice before trying to hit junior wide receiver Omari Evans would end up in the hands of sophomore Christian Gray.

Notre Dame picks off Drew Allar late in the fourth 😳 pic.twitter.com/F0SZvM5fFa

— ESPN (@espn) January 10, 2025

With that mistake and the game tied 24-24 with just under a minute to play, it would put Notre Dame in prime position to win the game, putting them about 10 yards away from field goal range.

Notre Dame takes the lead with less than 10 seconds to go‼️ pic.twitter.com/0uIC19YAEZ

— ESPN (@espn) January 10, 2025

Notre Dame would run a play to put the ball between the hashes leaving just about 10 seconds on the clock as Mitch Jeter would knock down a 41 yarder to send Notre Dame to the National Championship game.

"It is an honor and I hope all coaches, minorities, Black, Asian, white, it doesn't matter, great people continue to get opportunities to lead young men like this."

Marcus Freeman on becoming the first Black and Asian American head coach to make the FBS national championship 👏 pic.twitter.com/KHMksJUNdK

— ESPN (@espn) January 10, 2025

"Yeah I was going through my progression uh got to the back side and honestly I was just trying to throw it at his feet but it just, I should of thrown it away," said Allar during post game press conference. "We didn't win the game so it wasn't good enough, I think it's plain and simple I'll learn from it, um just do everything in my power to get better for me and grow from it."

With the loss Penn State finishes the season 13-3, Notre Dame will move on awaiting the winner of the Cotton Bowl winner between Ohio State and Texas.