Drew Allar threw for 240 yards and four touchdowns and the defense forced three turnovers as Penn State defeated Maryland 51-15 Saturday afternoon.
After a stop by Jaylen Reed on fourth down on Maryland’s opening possession, Drew Allar hit Dante Cephas on a six-yard touchdown pass that concluded in an eight-play, 44-yard drive, which was highlighted by a run of 15 and eight yards by Kaytron Allen.
On Maryland’s next possession, they were moving the ball toward Penn State’s red zone until Adisa Isaac forced a fumble on Tai Felton which was recovered by Zane Durant, however, Penn State couldn’t capitalize.
After an exchange of punts, Drew Allar connected With Theo Johnson on a two-yard touchdown pass that dealt with Beau Pribula taking a direct snap and flipping it to Allar then he found Johnson on a shovel pass. The play capped off an eight-play,-79-yard drive that was highlighted by a 38-yard reception from KeAndre Lambert-Smith.
Penn State led 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Maryland responded on a Taulia Tagovaiola seven-yard touchdown pass to Roman Hemby, which capped off a 12-play, 75-yard drive which was highlighted by a 28-yard reception by Kaden Prather and aided by a roughing the punter penalty on Liam Clifford and an unnecessary roughness penalty.
Tagovaiola started the game by completing 17 consecutive passes.
Penn State answered on an Allar found Tyler Warren for an eight-yard touchdown reception that capped off a 12-play, 75-yard drive that included a 21-yard scramble by Allar and 14-yard receptions by Cephas and Warren.
Penn State led 21-7 at halftime.
Penn State took the second-half kickoff and methodically marched the ball down the field and converted a 4th on a 16-yard pass to Khalil Dinkins, however, Maryland tightened up its defense, and Alex Felkins kicked a 30-yard field goal.
Both teams exchanged punts the rest of the quarter, and Penn State led 24-7.
On a drive that lapsed between the third and fourth quarter, Penn State continued to grind out Maryland’s defense as Allar found Cephas for a 19-yard touchdown reception on a drive that took 13 plays, 88 yards when he connected with Warren on an 11-yard reception, and Allen ran for two first downs.
Maryland continued to fight when Tagovaiola connected on a one-yard touchdown pass and converted a two-point attempt that completed a seven-play, 75-yard drive.
Penn State clinched the game on a 10-yard run by Allen in which he carried several Maryland defenders into the end zone. The score was set up by a Nicholas Singleton 51-yard kickoff return.
After an interception by Dom Deluca that was returned it to the Maryland red zone, Felkins connected on a 35-yard field goal. He also added 39-yard field goal.
Penn State will return to Beaver Stadium to host third-ranked Michigan next Saturday, while Maryland will travel to Lincoln to take on Nebraska.
