Penn State’s running attack was too much for Nebraska as the Nittany Lions defeated the Huskers, 37-10, Saturday in University Park, Pa. Penn State rushed 239 yards on 39 carries, averaging 5.9 yards per attempt. Katron Allen rushed for 160 yards on 25 carries with two touchdowns on a night where Allen took over as the Nittany Lions’ (5-6) all-time leading career rusher. Nicholas Singleton ran for two touchdowns as well, running for 44 yards on seven attempts.
The game started decently enough for Nebraska (7-4). The Huskers got the ball at their 28. On third and two, Emmett Johnson surged 52 yards down the field, giving NU a first down at the PSU 11. Johnson ran it four times, but was stuffed at the two, turning the ball over on downs to Penn State at its two. The Nittany Lions quickly swept up the field, with Ethan Grunkemeyer hitting Trebor Pena for a 32-yard gain to move to the PSU 47. Kaytron Allen followed with a 51-yard run to take the ball to the NU two. Two plays later, Grunkemeyer hit Andrew Rappleyea for a four-yard touchdown to give Penn State a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter.
The Huskers punted it back to the Nittany Lions and the Penn State possession started at the 10. After picking up a first down, a Grunkemeyer to Nicholas Singleton pass gained 50 yards to the NU 28. PSU picked up one more first down on the drive, but had to settle for a 26-yard field goal by Ryan Barker to boost the lead to 10-0 early in the second quarter. On the ensuing kickoff, Jacory Barney, Jr., returned 40 yards to give Nebraska good field position at its 40. A third-down TJ Lateef scramble picked up a first down, then Lateef hit Nyziah Hunter for a 19-yard gain to the PSU 30. A personal foul penalty pushed the ball to the 15, but the Husker drive stalled, and Nebraska had to settle for a 31-yard field goal from Kyle Cunanan to cut Penn State’s lead to 10-3 with 8:31 to go until halftime.
But on the ensuing possession, the Nittany Lions got a pass interference penalty on the first play of the drive to take the ball to the 40. After three straight Allen runs gained another first down, Grunkemeyer hit Devonte Ross for a 28-yard gain to move the ball to the Nebraska 19. After Allen gained one yard on a first-down run, Singleton ran first for 14 yards to the four, then ran in for a touchdown to boost the lead to 17-3 with 4:09 to go until halftime.
The Huskers went three-and-out on their next drive and Penn State got great field position after a good return augmented by a Archie Wilson late hit penalty pushed the ball to the NU 14. Three plays later, Singleton ran a 10-yard touchdown to push the Nittany Lions’ lead to 23-3 with 1:14 to go in the first half, and that would be the score at halftime.
Penn State got the ball to start the third quarter, and marched down the field, scoring on an 8-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. Allen ran five of the eight plays for 35 yards and capped the drive with a three-yard touchdown run to push the lead to 30-3 PSU with 10:07 to go in the third quarter. The Huskers assembled a long drive, but on the fourth down from the 31-yard line, Lateef was sacked and Nebraska turned it over on downs. The Blackshirts turned in a three-and-out on Penn State’s next drive, and the Huskers took over at their 41. Lateef hit Johnson for a 22-yard gain to move the ball to the Lions’ 37, then scrambled on third down on the ensuing series of downs to move the sticks. Three plays later, Lateef ran for an 11-yard touchdown to cut Penn State’s lead to 30-10 with 55 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
The Nittany Lions drove the ball from their 25 to their 46. Facing a fourth-and-four, Penn State faked the punt with tight end Luke Reynolds running 26 yards to the Nebraska 28. After a pass interference penalty on the next play, Allen ran his second touchdown in from 14 yards out to push the Nittany Lions lead to 37-10 with 11:10 remaining, and that would be the final score.
Lateef was 21-for-37 for 187 yards while also running for a touchdown. Johnson rushed 19 times for 103 yards while also making eight catches for 48 yards. DeShon Singleton led NU with 10 tackles, including two for loss. Grunkemeyer, Penn State’s quarterback, was efficient, throwing 11-for-12 for 181 yards and a touchdown.
Nebraska will look to close the regular season with a victory Friday against Iowa, with the Heroes Trophy on the line. Kickoff is slated for 11 a.m. at Memorial Stadium, with pregame coverage beginning at 7 a.m. on KLIN and Froggy 98.