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Penn State’s imperfect survival keeps playoff dreams alive

UNIVERSITY PARK

Penn State players paced back and forth on their sideline, while Appalachian State’s mascot used a hat to cover his eyes. They couldn’t bear the wait of overtime.

Four quarters in the books, Penn State’s 2018 season — and perhaps its College Football Playoff chances — hung in the balance. And the Mountaineers were poised to do what they did exactly 11 years prior: Slay a giant. But 12 minutes after overtime began, the Nittany Lions flooded the Beaver Stadium grass, and the typically stone-faced security guards cracked a smile. The same can’t be said for Yosef, the Mountaineers mascot.