Penn State got on the win column for the first time since September. The Nittany Lions, losers of six straight, put together a game plan that worked to near perfection against a team on their level. The gauntlet
over, the Lions can now focus on keeping their bowl hopes alive.
It almost looked like disaster early, as Michigan State took the first play from scrimmage to the house, a 57-yard run by Elijah Tau-Tolliver that left the Penn State faithful feeling like the team had left everything on the field against Indiana a week ago.
The team, however, was not phased. Penn State tied it with a 12-play, 75-yard drive of their own, with a heavy dose of Kaytron Allen and Trebor Peña.
A turnover on downs in the second quarter gave Michigan State their second and last score of the day, as Penn State tried to keep the foot on the gas, but Nicholas Singleton, who had a quietly good day, did not get enough for the first down.
From there, Penn State one play to gain the lead for good. Ethan Grunkemeyer found Devonte Ross, one of two such instances, for a 75-yard bomb that set the tone for the rest of the game. Penn State would be aggressive, and that aggressiveness would come back to bite them at times, but it signaled that the Lions were not going to play conservative.
After a number of punts, and failed fourth down conversions, by both teams, we went into the fourth quarter looking to see who would take over the game for good. After Penn State had elected for the knockout punch in the firs half instead of taking the three points to make it a 7-point game, tensions were high. Then it happened.
The Nittany Lions took Michigan State’s punt with 13 minutes and 37 seconds left in the fourth quarter, clinging to a 4-point lead. 9-yard run. 2-yard run, first down. 6-yard run. 4-yard run, first down. 12-yard run, first down. 4-yard run, 6-yard run, first down. 8-yard run. 6-yard run, first down. 10-yard run, first down. 4-yard run, 1-yard run, 4-yard pass, touchdown. Nine minutes. Five seconds. Michigan State, now down 11, was forced to pass the ball in order to have a prayer.
And then the defense feasted. Having learned his lesson, Jim Knowles let a defense that thrives on being aggressive be aggressive, and it worked all game long. The climax came as Daryus Dixon recovered Michigan State’s fumble, on a drive where the Spartans were threatening to score. Three plays and 62 yards later, it was 28-10 and the game was officially over.
Stats and Storylines
3,794 – Kaytron Allen’s career rushing yards. That’s good for third on the all-time list at Penn State. He sits behind Saquon Barkley (3,843) and Evan Royster (3,932) for the record. It’s quite possible he’ll take the record without needing a bowl game.
Not that far behind – Singleton sits a 5th on the all-time list after today, and he has a good shot at Curt Warner’s 3,398 yards, especially if the Lions make a bowl game. He obviously won’t catch Barkley’s record, but being solidly in the top 5 is still a good feat.
How many is that? – Dani Dennis-Sutton had yet another blocked punt in this game. How many is that now?
