Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford (14) looks for the signal from the officials for a touchdown after scoring during an NCAA football game against the Purdue on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022, in West Lafayette, Ind. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler) (Doug McSchooler/AP)

Thursday night again had it all for the Penn State football team and its fans.

Sudden twists. Scary dips. Exhilarating highs.

It was another chance to ride the Sean Clifford Experience. Dare to do so at your own risk.

The beginning of Clifford’s sixth year with the Nittany Lions epitomized his up-and-down career. He made brilliant plays to put them ahead, a boneheaded one to put them behind and then a few excellent ones in the final minutes to help Penn State beat Purdue 35-31 at Ross-Ade Stadium.

That was all in the fourth quarter of a ridiculous and riveting season opener.

“The guy has had a roller-coaster career,” Lions coach James Franklin said about Clifford. “He’s had unbelievable games. We as a program have had some adversity (11-11 record in 2020-21) as well.

“I’m proud of him. Experience matters. It counts. It showed there at the end of the game. He made some big plays. He showed some toughness.”

No one has questioned Clifford’s mental or physical grit. He absorbed a pounding last year when Penn State ranked among the worst teams nationally in sacks allowed. He again was under duress often against Purdue.

He stayed in after a potentially season-ending hit in the second quarter when Purdue defensive tackle Lawrence Johnson went low and made a direct hit on his left knee. Fortunately, he decided to wear a knee brace to protect it. He quickly got to his feet and gave a thumbs-up to the sideline.

“Kudos to that knee brace,” Clifford said. “I was really glad I had it on.”

Penn State wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley (5) makes a catch while being defended by Purdue defensive back Reese Taylor (1) during an NCAA football game on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022, in West Lafayette, Ind. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler) (Doug McSchooler/AP)

A few minutes later, after a Purdue turnover created by safety Zakee Wheatley, the Lions had the ball at their own 18 with 30 seconds left in the half. Instead of settling for a 14-10 halftime lead, Franklin was aggressive.

Clifford found tight end Brenton Strange at the Purdue 45. Strange broke two tackles inside the 40 and sprinted into the end zone for a 67-yard play with two seconds to go.

“I was really proud of our players and our staff,” Franklin said. “At the end of the half and at the end of the game we were able to have all of our timeouts. The turnover by Zakee was big. That was a big part of the game.”

But when Clifford jogged back to the locker room right before the third quarter, memories of Penn State’s loss at Iowa last year, when Clifford left with an injury, surfaced.

Highly touted Drew Allar played one series before Clifford returned to the field. Franklin said Clifford was “cramping” and needed fluids. By then, so did Penn State fans. Just different kinds.

The Boilermakers took a 24-21 lead, one of seven lead changes of the night. In the fourth quarter, though, Clifford completed three straight passes, the last a 29-yarder to KeAndre Lambert-Smith for a touchdown that put the Lions up 28-24. Then his inconsistency reared its ugly head.

After a defensive stop, Penn State had a first down near midfield. Clifford dropped back, received excellent protection, had Mitchell Tinsley open down the middle and airmailed it 10 yards over his head.

Purdue’s Chris Jefferson intercepted and returned it 72 yards for a touchdown to give the Boilermakers a 31-28 lead with 8:29 left. Penn State’s Twitter universe lost its mind, to put it mildly.

“The guy knows that he made a mistake,” Franklin said. “You don’t need to come to the sideline and get your head ripped off. He’ll grow from this as well, even though he’s a 38-year-old eighth-year senior.”

Franklin could joke afterward because of what happened the rest of the way. Penn State’s defense made three stops and Purdue coach Brian Brohm chose not to run time off the clock by passing on almost every down.

The Lions got the ball back one last time at their 20 with 2:22 left. Clifford delivered, completing 5-of-6 passes for 72 yards, including a 27-yarder to Tinsley to the Purdue 30.

He then found running back Keyvone Lee on a wheel route for a 10-yard touchdown with 57 seconds to go.

“With Sean’s experience and confidence we were able to make some plays and get it going,” Franklin said.

The Lions held on, much to the delight and relief of Clifford and many others.

“No,” he said when asked if he had any doubt. “The guys trust me. The coaches trust me. It was a nasty win. It’s one that I’ll remember forever. Up and down game. Made a lot of mistakes. It was crazy.”

Clifford finished 20-for-37 passing for 282 yards, four touchdowns and at least four drops by receivers. He also scored on a 2-yard run. It was the type of performance that Trace McSorley often had and that was celebrated.

If Penn State fans were satisfied with the win, they were unfulfilled by another four hours on Clifford’s thrill ride.

“The last drive says everything about him,” left tackle Olu Fashanu said. “He’s just a natural-born leader. After the pick six, no one on the offense was fazed at all. We were all just hungry to get back out there.

“Sean played a big part in that. Not to say anyone on the sideline was down, but all he was saying was, ‘All we need is one more opportunity.’ "

Welcome back to the Sean Clifford Experience. Climb aboard if you dare.

Rich Scarcella is a reporter for The Reading Eagle