#12 Penn State Nittany Lions[7-2] defeat Unranked Rutgers[6-5] 27-6. Next week, Penn State travels to play Michigan State while Rutgers hosts Maryland.
1st Quarter: Rutgers Kicker Jai Patel kicks a 35-yard field goal.
2nd Quarter: Penn State Running Back Kaytron Allen runs in a 2-yard touchdown. Rutgers has a bad exchange between their Quarterback and Running Back resulting in a fumble recovery by Penn State Defensive End Dani Dennis-Sutton at the Rutgers 32-yard line. Penn State Kicker Alex Felkins kicks a 21-yard field goal. Penn State Running Back Nicholas Singleton fumbles the ball and Rutgers Defensive Lineman Mayan Ahanotu recovers at their own 36-yard line. Jai Patel kicks a 28-yard field goal for Rutgers to end the half. Penn State leads at halftime 10-6.
3rd Quarter: Alex Felkins makes a 48-yard field goal. Rutgers Quarterback Gavin Wimsatt is strip-sacked by Penn State Defensive End Chop Robinson and Robinson recovers for the Nittany Lions at the Penn State 42-yard line.
4th Quarter: Kaytron Allen runs in a 3-yard touchdown. Gavin Wimsatt throws an interception to Penn State Safety Kevin Winston Jr. which gives the Nittany Lions the ball at their own 27-yard line. Penn State backup Quarterback Beau Pribula runs in a 1-yard touchdown after a bad snap. Penn State wins 27-6.
Nittany Lions Notes:
It is hard to get excited now that the season is over. Penn State could get a New Year’s Six Bowl Game but that is the best we can hope for. This was the first game following the firing of the offensive coordinator. The offense was handled by multiple people calling plays which sounds like a mess but it was slightly better than what we had. Quite a bit of no huddle plays which was missing a little more this year than any other year. Drew Allar got hurt and Beau Pribula came in only to run all over Rutgers. The Nittany Lions ran for over 200 yards, 3 touchdowns, and averaged 6 yards per carry. The defense struggled at first against a Quarterback who played a lot of options but eventually they adjusted and dominated the game. If there is anything that could have improved from this game it is the pass offense. With Allar out, the horrible route concepts were blatantly obvious. If this team wants to contend for a championship next year, they need to get a better offensive coordinator. I am sure there are people who think Pribula should start over Allar because there was explosiveness in the offense but this is Rutgers people. Pribula is supposed to be explosive because of his significant athletic advantage over Allar. The final game of the regular season is against Michigan State on Black Friday. Let’s not blow a chance at a New Year’s Six Bowl Game.
-Jordan Burden