Highs & Lows: Penn State controls Bruins to wrap up homestand

By Nate Bauer

Penn State wrapped up its stretch of four games in five weeks, all at Beaver Stadium, with a 27-11 win over UCLA on Saturday afternoon. Here are the highs and lows from the Nittany Lions’ win.

Highs & Lows: Penn State controls UCLA in home slate finale

PLAYER OF THE GAME Even in a 0-0 game by the end of the first quarter, Penn State controlled much of the action. Only once Liam Clifford hauled in a 26-yard reception on a key third down early in the second quarter did the game truly swing in the hosts’ favor, though. it was one of three catches for the receiver on the day, and all three were on third down, keeping alive possessions that would lead to points. On the whole, he finished with 107 yards out of the Nittany Lions’ 237 total pass yards for the day.

PLAY OF THE GAME With Penn State holding onto a 7-3 lead late in the first half, Allar connected with tight end Tyler Warren to give the Nittany Lions a 14-3 advantage that wouldn’t be threatened the rest of the way.

Offensive superlatives

BEST PASS Set back by an untimely holding penalty on a converted third-and-1 nearing midfield, Penn State quarterback Drew Allar didn’t let the occasion deter him. Instead, locked in a 0-0 game at the start of the second quarter and facing a third-and-11, he unloaded a 26-yard connection along the seam for a critical first down. The Nittany Lions would later score their first points of the afternoon on the possession.

BEST RUN Facing an uphill climb on the scoreboard, his Bruins trailing 24-3 early in the fourth quarter, running back Keegan Jones sliced through the heart of the Nittany Lion defense. His carry up the gut yielded 22 yards and a first down for UCLA into the Penn State red zone.

BEST CATCH An unfettered path to the end zone was in front of UCLA running back T.J. Harden on UCLA’s first-and-10 late in the first half. But first, he’d need to reel in the reception. Slipping into the open field, Harden wrangled the pass from Justyn Martin and worked his way along the sideline for a 53-yard gain. The Bruins would get stopped by the Nittany Lions over three plays in the red zone, though, and were forced to settle for a 25-yard field goal.

WORST DROP Drew Allar’s missile in front of the Nittany Lion sideline was the picture of precision. The target, junior receiver Omari Evans, couldn’t hold up his end of the equation, though. Unable to reel in the excellent pass, the result was a drop and, soon after, a third down.

Defensive superlatives

BEST SACK Armed with a 14-3 lead, then backing UCLA up in its red zone, Penn State primed itself to pin its ears back defensively to open the second half. With defensive coordinator Tom Allen sending Jaylen Reed on a blitz of Bruins quarterback Justyn Martin, the results matched the intention. Reed unloaded on Martin, forcing the ball flying for a sack-fumble, resulting in a 14-yard loss and a fourth-down punt. 

BEST HIT Penn State’s first crack at getting UCLA off the field on fourth down during its opening possession was unsuccessful. Granted a second opportunity later in the same possession, the Nittany Lions took advantage. Safety Zakee Wheatley did so by unloading on Bruins running back T.J. Harden, who was stopped in the backfield for a 1-yard loss on the fourth-and-1 try. 

BEST EFFORT Penn State’s reliance on an in-motion Vega Ioane generated some of the most impactful blocks of the afternoon. Particularly on the Nittany Lions’ first scoring possession of the day, the offensive lineman unloaded on outmatched Bruins to open holes for the offense’s ballcarriers.

Wrapping up

BEST KICK Making a change at placekicker following a two-miss performance from Sander Sahaydak last weekend, Penn State turned to Ryan Barker for its first field goal try of the afternoon on Saturday. The walk-on drew cheers from the Beaver Stadium crowd, easily sending home a 25-yard attempt midway through the third quarter.

BEST DECISION The Nittany Lions’ change at the field goal kicking spot proved effective on Saturday. Barker later hit from 40 yards midway through the fourth quarter, fully capitalizing on his opportunity. 

MOST TELLING MOMENT By the time Penn State gained its second offensive possession of the afternoon, one reality became clear. Nicholas Singleton, the Nittany Lions’ leading rusher thus far this season, would not be participating. Absent his helmet, standing behind assistant coach Ja’Juan Seider as Quinton Martin subbed in, Singleton missed his first game for the first time after playing in all 30 to this point.

---

Talk about it with our premium members in the Lions Den, here!