Penn State found a way to win a heavyweight back and forth matchup with Rutgers in a 40-36 win that secured the program’s 54th bowl game.
The first half saw a heavyweight see-saw battle as both offenses dictated the action and it began on the opening drive as Rutgers had four explosive plays of 15 yards or more that was capped by running back Antwan Raymond’s four-yard touchdown run to go up 7-0.
The Scarlet Knights seemed to have forced a stop on defense but Penn State went for it on fourth down and quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer found tight end Andrew Rappleyea all alone and unguarded for a 53-yard touchdown to tie it up at seven.
Penn State took its turn to try to establish defensive dominance on Rutgers as they forced a 40-yard field goal attempt, but the special teams was aware of the fake and made a key stop to have momentum swing to Penn State.
On the Nittany Lions ensuing possession, Penn State running back Kaytron Allen became the school’s first ever running back to eclipse 4,000 career rushing yards on a 55-yard scamper that set up running back Nick Singleton’s record breaking 44th career rushing touchdown and 54th overall passing Saquon Barkley on both marks to go up 14-7.
Penn State lost their defensive momentum through mental mistakes, notably having 13 men on the field that helped extend a Rutgers drive that was capped by quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis rushing touchdown to tie the game at 14.
On the Nittany Lions ensuing possession, Singleton had his explosive run play of his own going off for an 53 yard rush of his own that set up a 15-yard Allen rushing touchdown to put Penn State up 21-14.
As the second quarter progressed, the defenses were able to make key stops but as the first half began to wind down, Rutgers found some offensive momentum of their own.
Raymond began to exploit Penn State EDGE Dani Dennis-Sutton on the ground through various over pursuits, missed tackles, and even over powering Dennis-Sutton physically on a key third and one with under a minute to go deep in Penn State’s territory.
Penn State seemed to quell Rutgers offensive momentum when linebacker Dom DeLuca had his second sack of the season, but the momentum swung viciously the other way when Kaliakmanis found wide receiver DT Sheffield after defensive back Zion Tracy falls down to cap an 11 play 89 yard drive to tie it at 21 with less than 30 seconds to go.
It was more than enough time for Grunkemeyer to operate Penn State’s fast break attack as he completed three passes for 48 yards to set up a short Ryan Barker field goal to give Penn State a 24-21 lead at the half.
As the second half began, Penn State continued their physicality on the ground, converting on a key fourth down on a screen pass to wide receiver Trebor Pena, Rutgers was able to slow a surging Penn State offense having Barker hit on his second field goal of the day to put Penn State up 27-21.
On Rutgers opening possession in the second half, Kaliakmanis shined after an opening incompletion, he was perfect completing three passes for 53 yards, finding wide receiver KJ Duff for a 13-yard touchdown making history of his own becoming just the third Rutgers quarterback to eclipse 3,000 yards in a season (Mike Teel, Ryan Hart), to give the Scarlet Knights a one-point lead.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Penn State responded on the ensuing possession behind the running of Singleton and Allen as they went up 33-28.
Rutgers inspired play continued with Raymond, who ended the third quarter driving through a Penn State defense on a 12-yard run, then exploited a broken assignment on the wheel route at the start of the fourth quarter on a 46-yard touchdown reception.
The Scarlet Knights opted to go for the two-point conversion and succeeded when Kaliakmanis found Duff to go up 36-33.
The pressure on Penn State began to mount in the fourth quarter when a potential fourth down attempt was negated by a delay of game penalty assessed to Grunkemeyer and on the subsequent play went backwards five more yards.
On Rutgers subsequent possession they began to secure the game behind Raymond’s running but a fatal fumble by Kaliakmanis found its way to linebacker Amare Campbell for a 61-yard fumble return for a touchdown to give Penn State a lead 40-36.
In a game of momentum swings,Dennis-Sutton, who was physically dominated earlier got to Kaliakmanis and a key sack that forced a third and a long, saw it swing back for Rutgers when Kaliakmanis pressured connected with Duff on what could be the catch of the season on a one hand grab 42-yard reception.
Schiano sensing the game is on the line went for it deep on a fourth and one situation. This time Penn State’s pressure from Tracy and Campbell forces the turnover on downs to set Penn State up for a potential game sealing drive.
Penn State’s mental errors continued as wide receiver Pena was penalized for a blind side block that put the Nittany Lions back for a first and 23 situation.
Rutgers returned the favor on the mental miscues when a defensive holding wiped out a potential third and 26.
This time, Penn State attempted their first knockout punch with Kaytron Allen’s 49 yard run. Allen finished with 226 yards.
Penn State was able to move it to the Rutgers 10-yard line, on a fourth and two the Nittany Lions faked it to Allen on a play action where Grunkemeyer hit Rappleyea in the flat to seal the game.
Both teams combined for 1,043 yards of total offense.
Penn State waits until next Sunday to find out where it will be going to a bowl game.
