Penn State is finally on the win column. The Nittany Lions, down both Chase Sowell and Koby Howard, managed to use the run game to actually beat a Purdue team that quite a few folks thought would give Penn State problems, if not win outright.
The Nittany Lions used the bye week to make adjustments to the offense, and Cam Wallace seems to have taken full advantage of those adjustments, to the tune of 135 yards on the ground.
Both teams scored in the first quarter. Rocco Becht threw a 4-yard touchdown
pass to Andrew Rappleyea. Ryan Browne answered with a 33-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Townsend, and the game was tied 7-7. Becht then ran for a 6-yard touchdown. Replay review upheld the call. Penn State led 14-7 after one quarter.
The second quarter featured a special teams play for Purdue. Bisi Owens blocked a Penn State punt, and Jalil Hall recovered it and scored. The game was tied 14-14. Carson Hansen then ran for a 1-yard touchdown with 1:50 left in the half. Penn State led 21-14 at halftime.
The third quarter had one score. Ryan Barker kicked a 44-yard field goal, and Penn State led 24-14 heading into the fourth.
Penn State closed out the game in the fourth quarter. Cam Wallace ran for a 2-yard touchdown, which made it 31-14. Purdue’s Jacobo Echeverria Lozano kicked a 49-yard field goal for the final score of 31-17.
Penn State, moving forward, has a chance to redefine their season. They could use this win as a springboard for the remaining four games, having a win under their belt and the experience of taking over a game.
Next up, a trip to Washington. Good luck.
Stats and Storylines
269 – Rushing yards against Purdue. That’s good for second most on the season, behind the 304 against Buffalo.
175 – Yards allowed by the defense. What a difference a bye week makes!
1:14 – Amount of time Purdue possessed the ball in the second quarter. Oof!
