Mark Schlabach, senior writer for ESPN
MIAMI GARDENS, FL – Our Lady quarterback Riley Leonard started the second half of Thursday’s College Football Playoff semifinal against Penn State after reviewing concussion protocol at halftime as he left the locker room, coach Marcus Freeman told ESPN’s Molly McGrath.
After being cleared by his doctor to return to play, Leonard led the No. 7 Fighting Irish on an eight-play, 75-yard touchdown run on the first possession of the second half. He scored on a three-yard run to put the Irish within 10-10 with 10:46 left in the third quarter.
Leonard, a senior transfer from Duke, was injured after throwing an incomplete pass Jordan Faison with 1:35 left in the second quarter. He was hit on the Nittany Lions defense Dvon J-Thomas. The back of Leonard’s helmet appeared to bounce off the Hard Rock Stadium turf.
Backup quarterback Steve Angellsophomore from Westfield, New Jersey, finished the half for the Irish. On the drive, he completed 6 of 7 passes for 44 yards.
Mitch Jeter he kicked a 41-yard field goal on the final play of the half, cutting Penn State’s lead to 10-3. The highlight of the scoring drive was Riley’s 36-yard pass down the right sideline to the back Aneyas Williams.
While Leonard returned, his best defender was on the blind side, starting at left tackle Antoni KnapMcGrath announced that he was ruled out for the rest of the game with a sprained ankle. After being rolled up, Knapp left the field and immediately went to the locker room. After the break, he came out wearing walking shoes.
Senior Tosh Baker replaced Knapp on the left wing.
Knapp, a true freshman who earned several All-America honors, moved into the starting lineup after projected starter Karol Jagusa he tore his pectoral muscle at the beginning of the training camp. Jagusah returned to training in December and entered Thursday’s match as a substitute, replacing him Rocco Spindler and making a key block after Leonard’s touchdown.
