In a sloppy, rainy, turnover-filled game with a lot of penalties on both sides, Penn State managed to survive and avoid the upset and beat Northwestern by the score of 17-7 on Saturday afternoon at Beaver Stadium.
After two Penn State first-quarter turnovers, a fumble by Nicholas Singleton, and an interception by Sean Clifford. Penn State got one back when Ji’Ayir Brown intercepted a Ryan Hilinski pass.
Penn State capitalized on the turnover when Brenton Stange caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Clifford that capped off a five-play, 60-yard drive to put Penn State up 7-0, which was the score at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Hilinski mishandled a shotgun snap which was recovered by Nick Tarburton. Penn State capitalized again on a seven-play 45-yard drive which was capped off by a two-yard touchdown run by Singleton in which he powered past two Northwestern defenders at the goal line to give Penn State a 14-0 lead.
Penn State averted disaster in the second quarter when Tarburton recorded a sack-strip-fumble recovered by Curtis Jacobs. This came after Singleton fumbled for the second time in the half, recovered by Cameron Mitchell in field goal range.
Penn State led Northwestern 14-0 at halftime.
On the first drive of the third quarter, Keyvone Lee fumbled on a hit by Garrett Hollis Jr., recovered by Nwest Greyson Metz.
Northwestern finally got on the board late in the third quarter when Jacob Gill scored on a 47-yard pass from Hilinski to cut the deficit in half. That play capped off a nine-play, 82-yard drive.
Penn State led 14-7 at the end of the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Jake Pinegar connected on a 38-yard field goal to put Penn State up 17-7 to cap off a seven-play, 54-yard drive that was highlighted by a 43-yard completion to Parker Washington.
On Northwestern’s next possession, they drove down the field, and Penn State had an incredible stop on the goal line on a fourth and goal at the one-yard line with a stop by Brown. Northwestern passed on an opportunity to kick a field goal to make it a one-score game with over ten minutes left in the game.
Penn State had to make one more stand on defense after Kaytron Allen fumbled in the fourth quarter and forced a turnover on downs.
Penn State will have their bye week before traveling to Michigan Stadium and that on Michigan on Oct. 15, while Northwestern will host Wisconsin next Saturday at Ryan Field.
Twitter: @bwalkerdadon
