Penn State may have experienced an offensive breakthrough in its last game. It had an excellent day on the ground for the first time all season against Purdue, rushing for 269 yards and 5.3 yards per carry.
Also, quarterback Rocco Becht, who was inaccurate and prone to turnovers during the four-game Nittany Lions losing streak, had an extremely efficient day. He didn’t turn the ball over and found some synergy in the passing with his tight ends.
Now, against a strong Washington defense, it’s time to see if the potent offensive game was a one-off, or if the Nittany Lions discovered a formula they can use going forward.
Rushing yards
Penn State offense: 148 yards per game
Washington defense: 131.3 yards per game
Penn State doesn’t have the greatest rushing attack
in the world, but thankfully both of these teams are middle of the pack. The Huskies don’t give up a ton of yards on the ground, but it’s not something they’re great at stopping either.
Nittany Lions running back Cam Wallace pumped life into the running game against the Boilermakers. Washington gave up over 200 yards rushing in its last loss, so hopefully Wallace can build on last week’s performance and give Penn State a good chance to win.
Turnovers
Penn State offense: 7 turnovers
Washington defense: 18 takeaways
The Nittany Lions have been great at taking care of the football this season. They only have seven turnovers in eight games, and every single one came during their four-game losing streak.
Washington is averaging more than two takeaways per game, so Penn State will need to be extra cautious with the ball. Winning the turnover battle is clearly a key to its success, so another low-turnover game would put the team in good position for a win.
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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Penn State should be weary of Washington’s ball-hawking defense
