Michael T. Mondak speaks: Small Battles, Big Victories Chapter 7: The Road to Indianapolis

In the earlier post today I talked about Jackson and the Nittany Lions picking up momentum during the month of October.  As November begins, the story continues.

The cool November air swept across Beaver Stadium as the band’s final notes echoed through the night sky. The Land Grant Trophy was already safely back in Happy Valley — a memento of the hard-fought Homecoming win over Michigan State. But now, the mission was clear: finish the job.

Penn State had clawed through every test — from a narrow road win at Iowa to the monumental upset at evil Ohio State — and now stood undefeated. Jackson Pryts and the defense had become the story of the season, stifling opponents, while the offense found its rhythm behind a balanced attack that seemed unstoppable.

Cassie Day, still in and out of the hospital but showing remarkable strength, followed every moment. Nurses at Sharon Regional made sure the games were always on. Her room had become a sea of blue and white — jerseys, pom-poms, and posters — and every Saturday, she wore her lucky Penn State hoodie, just like Jackson had given her.  One of Jackson’s friends back home even dropped by to check on her after school.  Jackson was happy to hear that all was going well with his little friend Cassie.

Two days before the team traveled to Piscataway to play Rutgers, Cassie got an unexpected phone call.

"Hello?” she said.

"Hi, kiddo!” said a familiar voice.

"Jackson!” Cassie exclaimed.  “It’s you!”

"How’s my little lion cub doing?” Jackson wanted to know.

"I’m getting better,” said Cassie, “and maybe I might get to spend Thanksgiving at home if I keep getting better.”

"That’s awesome!” Jackson said happily.  “Oh, by the way, we are 8-0.  We just shellacked Northwestern on their turf.  We ruined their Senior Day.”

"WOW!” Cassie exclaimed.  “What was the score?”

"You were watching, were you?”

"Oh, I was, but I lost count of how many takeaways you and the defense got.”

"Six of them!  And we scored 33 points off of them.  It wasn’t even close.  60-3.”

"How many did you get?”

"I almost had a scoop and score, but the dreaded turf monster got me.  But it led to a touchdown.”

Cassie chuckled.  “One day you’ll score a touchdown.  And it will be in a big game.”

"And it will be for you, Cassie.  You’re the reason why I play.”

"Aww,” mused Cassie.  “You’re a great friend indeed.”

"And always will be,” said Jackson.  “I will always play for you.”

"Remember,” said Cassie, “every tackle, every game.”

"Thank you.  Got to get to class.  Love you.”

"Love you too, Jackson.  Bye!”

The next test came under the bright lights of SHI Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. The Big Ten Network cameras panned across the crowd as Brandon Gaudin and J Leman welcomed the audience.

“Penn State,” Gaudin said, “has the look of a team bound for Indianapolis — but Rutgers would love to play spoiler.”

In the locker room, as Jackson and his teammates prepared, coach Terry Smith addressed the team.  “There’s two games every year where we guarantee the win:  Blue/White and Rutgers.  They want a rivalry.  But this ain’t no rivalry.  We’re on a business trip!”

It didn’t take long to silence the home fans. Jackson led the defense in suffocating fashion, forcing three turnovers before halftime. By the fourth quarter, the score was out of reach.  As the final seconds ticked down, Jackson jogged to the sideline, chest heaving, eyes locked on the Penn State fans behind the bench, some of whom even initiated a hostile takeover of the Rutgers student section.

They were chanting, “We Are… Penn State!”

A week later, Beaver Stadium hosted Indiana, and this one carried emotion. The game aired on ESPN, with Mike Patrick and Todd Blackledge on the call. Todd, a proud Penn State letterman from the 1982 Penn State national championship team, smiled on-air as he spoke of what this team had come to mean.

“This is a team that plays for something bigger than football,” he said. “For kids like Cassie Day, watching from a hospital bed in Sharon, Pennsylvania, they play with heart.”

Penn State never trailed. Touchdown after touchdown, the Nittany Lions rolled to victory. As the postgame fireworks burst above the stadium, Jackson raised his helmet toward the student section — a quiet salute to the unseen friend who inspired him to keep fighting.

Senior Day came next against Nebraska, with Brian Custer and Greg McElroy calling the game for ESPN2. It was an emotional afternoon. Families filled the field for pregame ceremonies, but as Jackson’s name was announced, the loudest cheer came from the student section — and the camera cut to Sharon Regional, where Cassie watched, tears in her eyes and a Penn State blanket around her shoulders.

Nebraska hung around early, but by the third quarter, it was over. The defense dominated, the crowd roared, and Penn State stood one win away from perfection.

The final test of the regular season came at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore — a neutral-site showdown with Maryland. The setting was electric. Half the crowd wore red, the other half blue and white. The national spotlight was back on Penn State.

From the opening kickoff, it was clear the Nittany Lions meant business. Jackson recorded 14 tackles, including a pair of sacks that crushed Maryland drives. The final whistle brought chaos — fans chanting, players embracing, coaches weeping.

The scoreboard read: Penn State 38, Maryland 10.

And just like that, it was official.

They were headed back to Indianapolis.

That night, back in Sharon, Cassie whispered to her mom, “He promised he’d do it.”

And he had.

The team that started the season on Labor Day weekend now stood one game away from the Big Ten title — and one step closer to destiny.