The Penn State defense had been playing well for the past several weeks, but it got off to a rough start in Saturday’s regular-season finale at Rutgers.
It took Rutgers less than three minutes and just five players to score an opening-drive touchdown on a PSU unit that had allowed just two touchdowns over the last previous two games.
PSU had a chance to bounce back offensively, and did. It didn’t look that way initially, but after Penn State was set up with a fourth and two from the Rutgers 47, Ethan Grunkemeyer hit tight end Andrew Rappleyea for a 53-yard touchdown pass, which led to the tying extra point.
This is somewhat similar to the way Penn State started its game last week against Nebraska.
Nebraska started the game on offense and drove the ball to the Penn State 2-yard line, before being stopped on 4th and 1.
Penn State ended up driving the ball 98 yards for the first score and never looked back, romping 37-10.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.On the next drive, Rutgers again moved the ball ball on the Penn State defense, getting down to the Penn State 21-yard line. But a botched fake field goal led to Rutgers scoring no points, and PSU going back on the ball with momentum still intact.
PSU took advantage with another scoring drive.
Both of these teams are playing for their season.
With each squad coming in at 5-6, whoever wins will go to a bowl game, and whoever loses— unless a rare exception occurs— will end is 2025 season at 5-7.
