UNIVERSITY PARK — The final score was 35-6 over Washington on Saturday, Nov. 9, at Beaver Stadium, and it was exactly the kind of gritty comeback Nittany Lion fans were hoping for after last week’s loss to Ohio State. Some part of it was likely due from fixing the mistakes made against OSU, part perhaps from another wild White Out crowd, but there is no substitute for scoring touchdowns on all four first half possessions and taking a 28-0 lead going into the locker rooms.
Which is what the Lions did with the most confidence and precision we’ve seen this year.
First there was an 8-yard run by Beau Pribula late in the first quarter, and that was followed by two drive-capping runs by Tyler Warren that put the Lions ahead 21-0.
Then, with time running out in the half, Drew Allar hit Julian Fleming on a perfect slant pattern for an 8-yard score with 23 seconds to play in the quarter.
Fleming’s touchdown — along with another shutout performance by the defense — completed the best first half of the season for Penn State.
Then, after two field goals by Washington in the second half, Kaytron Allen finished the scoring with a 1-yard run with just under five minutes left in the game.
The 29-point win, in a game that many thought would go down to the wire, gave the Lions their eighth win in nine outings and moved them up to the No. 4 ranking in the country.
“Tonight, our guys played exceptionally well and specifically in the first half,” Penn State head coach James Franklin said. “Tyler Warren continues to make plays in a ton of different ways, and I’m proud of him there. Jaylen Reed continues to make plays for us. Abdul Carter continues to make big plays in critical moments. So it was just really cool. And then, the last thing I’d say is that their defense was one of the top passing defenses in the country. I think they were the No. 2 pass defense in the country, and we threw for over 220 yards. They were giving up 142 per game this season. And then obviously we were able to protect the football. I think that’s one of the things that Drew has done a phenomenal job of in the last two years. He doesn’t get enough credit for that, but being able to protect the football, make great decisions and be accurate is impressive. So, I’ve got a list here of about 35 records that Tyler Warren has broken. I’m not going to get into all of them, but he’s a really good football player. I can’t see how this guy doesn’t win the Mackey Award and the Paul Hornung Award.”
There are still three increasingly more important games still to be played.
The first will be in West Lafayette on Saturday, Nov. 16, against Purdue.
The Boilermakers are 1-8 on the season, but not many teams have had to play the likes of Notre Dame, Oregon, Ohio State, Oregon State, Nebraska, Wisconsin and now Penn State this week and Indiana in two weeks. They won their opener against Indiana State, 49-0, but since then it has been all losses, although some very close.
Illinois won 50-49 in overtime, and Northwestern escaped with a narrow 26-20 win, but against the biggies, it has been all double-digit losses. The Boilers stood up last week early against Ohio State, but the Buckeyes eventually pulled away for a 45-0 win. Purdue averages 18 points per game, and the Boilermakers can move the ball with an average of 288 yards per game and 20 touchdowns. The problem is they give up 445 ypg — 200 on the ground — and 38 points.
Quarterback Hudson Card is 101 for 168 this season for 1,113 yards and eight touchdowns and five interceptions.
Running backs Devin Mockobee, Reggie Love and Ryan Browne have run for a combined 1,139 yards with five touchdowns, while the top receivers are Max Klare (475 yards), Jaron Tibbs (232) and Jahmal Edrine (230).
Against Ohio State, Purdue was held to 206 yards of total offense with two turnovers, four sacks and two missed field goals.
This Saturday at Purdue will be Senior Day, and the Boilers will be psyched for one last stand at home in 2024 before going on the road to Michigan State and Indiana. This is a team this season that has faced the No. 1, No. 2, No. 4 and No. 6 teams in the country before it is all over.
Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. in West Lafayette, Indiana.
