Highs & Lows: Penn State bullies Huskies in White Out romp

By Nate Bauer

Penn State took a week’s worth of pent-up frustrations out on visiting Washington Saturday night at Beaver Stadium. The result, a 35-6 win for the Nittany Lions, wasn’t without a second half of intrigue.

Building up a sizable 28-0 advantage at the half, then following it with what appeared to be a Nick Singleton kickoff return for a touchdown that was ultimately called back on a holding penalty, Penn State fought through a second-half slog with the Huskies.

Here are the highs and lows from the performance for both teams:

Highs & Lows: Penn State bullies Washington in White Out washout

PLAYER OF THE GAME Against a Washington defense that had largely kept opponents’ passing games at bay this season, Penn State quarterback Drew Allar shined. Connecting on 20 of 28 passes for 220 yards and a touchdown, the Nittany Lion junior continued his excellent season. Most notably, seven of his completions were delivered as third-down conversions, helping Penn State finish the evening 10-for-12 on third downs.

PLAY OF THE GAME Tyler Warren won’t take home the top individual honor in this esteemed space this week. But, he will take home play-of-the-game recognition. His 2-yard, over-the-top rushing touchdown helped build the Nittany Lions’ halftime lead and perfectly exemplified the Nittany Lions’ physicality.

Offensive superlatives

BEST PASS Really, there were a few earlier, other third-down connections that likely deserve a spot here. But Allar’s third-and-goal pitch-and-catch with Julian Fleming to put Penn State ahead, 28-0, going into the half, was textbook. Arguably his last consequential attempt of the evening, the score set up the Nittany Lions to enjoy a huge boost going into the half while getting the ball again to start the second.

BEST RUN Looking to take advantage of an early scoring opportunity, Penn State turned to Beau Pribula in the deep red zone on its first possession of the evening. Sprinting left from the 8-yard line, with Nick Singleton as an accomplice, the Nittany Lions’ signal-caller found a path into the end zone to give his side a 7-0 advantage with 3:47 left to play in the first quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Corey Smith bookended the effort. Breaking free on a first-down carry in his side’s red zone, the Nittany Lion true freshman running back cut through the Washington defense for a breakout carry along the Penn State sideline. The burst was good for 78 yards and put a bow on the performance.

BEST CATCH Facing its first adversity of the night midway through the third quarter, Penn State needed a third-down conversion to maintain its momentum offensively. Trey Wallace provided it. Breaking loose down the field for a patient Allar in the pocket, the Nittany Lion receiver snagged a reception for a first down into Washington territory. 

WORST DROP That Warren’s first reception of the second half so closely resembled a critical overturned fumble the week prior against Ohio State was nothing short of poetry. That the officiating crew upheld the on-the-field ruling of a fumble, though, left the Nittany Lion tight end on the hook for a damaging fumble on his side of the field. Also a contender for “worst call” in this space, the official’s decision leaves the responsibility at Warren’s feet.

Defensive superlatives

BEST INTERCEPTION An ill-advised pass into triple coverage didn’t end well for Will Rogers midway through the second quarter. The fluttering pass instead landed in the arms of Jaylen Reed for an interception. Returned to the Nittany Lions’ 42-yard line, the pick presented an excellent opportunity for the hosts to take a commanding lead before the half.

BEST SACK Immediately out of an ill-timed offsides called against Zane Durant, Penn State linebacker Kobe King made up for the setback. Slipping through Washington’s line of scrimmage early in the first quarter, King quickly wrapped up Will Rogers for a 5-yard sack. 

A first-down completion set Washington up with a manageable second down early in its second possession of the evening. A second-down sack from Abdul Carter eliminated it. Turning the corner on the right side of the Huskies’ offensive line, the Nittany Lion defensive end met Rogers’ blindside for a 7-yard sack. At the start of the fourth quarter, Carter did it again to ensure a Washington field goal try. 

BEST HIT With Washington reduced to its last gasps in the final minutes of the fourth quarter, a fourth-and-goal opportunity was literally upended by Audavion Collins. Flying into the open field, Collins blasted Washington’s receiver to secure a turnover on downs.

BEST EFFORT Washington linebacker Carson Bruener had a hand on Allar’s pass over the middle of the field early in the second quarter on Penn State’s second possession of the game. But Bruener’s near-miss was Warren’s opportunity. The tight end maintained his concentration to bring in the third-and-5 completion for 11 yards and a critical first down. Three plays later, Warren went over the top of his offensive line to get into the end zone and deliver a 14-0 lead.

Special teams standouts

BEST KICK Washington’s Grady Gross sent home a 35-yard attempt to pull the Huskies to within three possessions of Penn State, 28-6.

WORST KICK Called upon to cap Washington’s clock-eating, field-spanning first possession of the evening,  Gross lined up for a field goal attempt at the 35-yard line midway through the first quarter. He got plenty of leg on the try, but the football hit the left upright to fall harmlessly to the Beaver Stadium turf. 

BEST RETURN With or without the hold called against tight end Luke Reynolds, Singleton earned his moment in the end zone to begin the second half. Taking the kickoff from the Nittany Lions’ 2-yard line, Singleton raced through traffic, found room along his sideline, and took off for a touchdown that ultimately was called back due to the infraction on the play.

Wrapping up

BEST DECISION After a four-down sequence that will eternally be second-guessed for Penn State’s coaches, players and fans, the Nittany Lions didn’t make the same mistake on Saturday night in relation to their usage of Warren. Putting the ball in his hands early and often, Penn State turned to a physical, bullying attack on Washington that paid off repeatedly.

WORST DECISION The sentiment can hardly be pegged to all Penn State fans in the stands at Beaver Stadium during the team’s pregame warmup. But, for those who chose to express their displeasure with the Nittany Lions’ 20-13 loss to Ohio State last week by booing head coach James Franklin during the video board announcement of the starting lineup, the act was nothing short of silly, misguided, and unproductive. 

A big deal? Hardly. 

But, for a program and fan base that loves to describe itself as classy, the frustrations of the prior week look even more detached from reality in light of the Nittany Lions’ blowout win, top-10 ranking, and driver’s seat position to earn a College Football Playoff berth.

MOST TELLING MOMENT Washington had to feel good taking advantage of its best starting field position of the night coming off Warren’s fumble. Pushing the ball 28 yards over the ensuing seven plays, the Huskies were in a great spot with a first-and-goal from the 10-yard line.

Penn State’s defense didn’t seem to mind. It shut down the run twice, then forced a third-down scramble, to the delirium of the student section enveloping them. The result was a goal-line stand to force a Washington field goal.