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Penn State Football

Prugar’s Penn State 3-And-Out: Defense Wins Championships

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — In the final game for the west side of Beaver Stadium, Penn State put on a spectacular display of defense in a 38-10 walloping of SMU Saturday afternoon.

The west side press box is set to be demolished. Stadium renovations begin now that the season has come to a close. It certainly went out in style. Fans were treated to cold temperatures and 28 first half points, including 21 in the first quarter.

Now, Penn State and its stadium are heading to brighter days. PSU clinched its berth in the Fiesta Bowl to face Ashton Jeanty and the Boise State Broncos.

More from the game:

DEFENSE BACK TO DOMINANT

Tony Rojas and the Penn State defense smothered SMU in a 38-10 College Football Playoff win Saturday, Dec. 21 at Beaver Stadium.

Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now: Tony Rojas

It would be hard to find a more perfect way to start a football game defensively than Penn State did against SMU. PSU forced a turnover on downs on the first drive for the Mustangs before two pick-sixes bookended the next two drives for SMU.

The touchdown returns by Dom DeLuca and Tony Rojas respectively marked the first time that had been done since 1998.

Those were simply a microcosm of what was to come from the Penn State defense, which dialed up the pressure and pain all afternoon for Kevin Jennings and the SMU offense.

They racked up 11 tackles for loss, three sacks and seven quarterback hurries over the course of the game. The defensive front made life miserable for Jennings and company for all 60 minutes.

DeLuca led the way defensively in the turnover department with two. Penn State forced three interceptions and turned them all into points.

Dani Dennis-Sutton had 1.5 sacks while Abdul Carter chipped in another and DeLuca added a half sack.

When the season wears on, the defense is relied upon more and more. Saturday afternoon, Penn State’s defense certainly proved why defense wins championships.

TWO-HEADED MONSTER

 

Penn State RB Nicholas Singleton came 10 yards shy of 100 in Saturdayโ€™s win at Beaver Stadium Dec. 21, 2024 against SMU.

Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now: James Franklin

SMU came into the game allowing 93 yards per game to opposing rushing attacks, good for doubt in the country.

All Penn State did was rushed for 189 yards and three touchdowns.

Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen paced the Penn Sate offense. They rushed for 90 and 70 yards respectively both averaging 6.4 yards per carry. Allen notched two touchdowns to Singleton’s one on the day but they were the bright spots for an offense that didn’t ever seem to have a lot of momentum throughout the contest.

Of course, they were also set up with 14 points by the defense and had an average starting field position of their own 30 yard line.

SUNNY DAYS AHEAD

Dani Dennis-Sutton is among many that are happy Penn State is going to the Fiesta Bowl.

Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now: Dani Dennis-Sutton

Penn State doesnโ€™t have to worry about the cold anymore. It will be leaving freezing State College for sunny Arizona.

Penn State got Drew ย Allar out of the game early in the fourth quarter and allow Ethan Grunkemeyer to get the first of his career. The departure of Beau Pribula forced this to happen this week of all weeks, but it’s a good sign they could get Grunkemeyer into the game and get him reps desperately needed for the young quarterback.

It also puts into perspective how dominant Penn State was against the Mustangs and allows them to go into the Fiesta Bowl nearly at full strength.

FUN FACTS

James Franklin earned the 100th win of his career in the win against SMU. The win came on what would have been Joe Paterno’s 98th birthday. Paterno had stated for years that he felt there should have been a playoff system in college football and on his birthday, Franklin and company earned their first playoff victory.

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