No. 6 Penn State overcomes slow start to topple Northwestern on the road: Final updates, key stats, analysis (2024)

No. 6 Penn State got off to a sluggish start, including a lost fumble on the opening kickoff, and trailed Northwestern in the second quarter before finding its stride for a 41-13 road win.

The Lions went on a run scoring 24 straight points to take command in the second half, take care of business, and improve to 5-0 going into their bye week. It wasn’t the dominant win many expected, but Penn State hung in the game and eventually took over for the win.

Here’s a look at key stats from the game and running commentary on key moments from the contest:

KEY GAME STATS

Penn State leaders

Drew Allar 18 of 33, 189 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT

Nick Singleton 21 rushes, 80 yards, 1 TD

KeAndre Lambert-Smith 4 receptions, 86 yards, 0 TD

Northwestern leaders

Ben Bryant 14 of 25, 122 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT

Ben Sullivan 7 rushes, 25 yards, 0 TD

Cam Johnson 6 receptions, 81 yards, 0 TD

Team stat summary

Total plays-yards: PSU 73-353, NU 63-175

Rushing: PSU 39-134, NU 32-45

Passing: PSU 19-34-2-0 for 219, NU 16-31-0-1 for 130

PRE-GAME

For the third straight game, Penn State wide receiver Harrison Wallace III is listed as questionable. He missed the Delaware game with an unspecified injury and played a very limited role in last week’s win over Iowa. Read more

FIRST QUARTER

12:47 – Northwestern 3, Penn State 0

Penn State committed its first turnover of the season without the offense ever touching the ball, as Nick Singleton fumbled on the opening kickoff. Northwestern took over inside the Penn State 15-yard line, but went four yards in reverse and had to settle for a 33-yard field goal attempt by Jack Olsen. The kick was good and the Wildcats jumped out to a 3-0 lead, but the Penn State defense also stole back some momentum with an impressive red-zone stand.

2:37 – Penn State 3, Northwestern 3

Penn State mounted an 11-play drive, sticking with its methodical theme from last week’s win over Iowa, and picked up a key 4th-and-6 conversion to march deep into Wildcats territory. But on 3rd-and-goal from the NU 3-yard line, quarterback Drew Allar overthrew tight end Theo Johnson by a hair in the back right corner of the end zone and the Lions were forced to settle for a 20-yard field goal by Alex Felkins to tie the game.

SECOND QUARTER

5:46 – Northwestern 10, Penn State 3

Penn State’s first-half nightmare continued on Northwestern’s best drive of the game, which quarterback Ben Bryant capped with a 1-yard keeper for a touchdown. The Wildcats started once again with good field position on a strong punt return by A.J. Henning and marched 10 plays for 59 yards, the key to which was a 17-yard catch and run to convert a 3rd-and-16. The Penn State defense struggled to get Northwestern ball carriers to the ground, especially late on the drive to give the home team even more momentum late in the half. Remember, the Wildcats also get the ball to open the second half.

1:16 – Penn State 10, Northwestern 10

Penn State mounts a terrific – and necessary – response to tie the game at 10-10 late in the first half, as Drew Allar made a couple big plays through the air and Trey Potts took advantage when his number was called to cash in a 13-yard touchdown off the right side. In all, the Lions went 63 yards on six plays in 2:15 to score their first touchdown of the game.

HALFTIME – Penn State 10, Northwestern 10

Penn State rallied to get Northwestern’s off the field on a three-and-out, got the ball back with 54 seconds to play, but couldn’t muster a scoring drive to try and take a halftime lead. The Wildcats were feeling all kinds of positive energy and good vibes running into the home tunnel with a crowd that was matching that energy. The Lions will be tasked with making adjustments at the half, particularly on offense, and matching Northwestern’s energy.

THIRD QUARTER

8:40 -- Penn State 17, Northwestern 10

Penn State lined up with a big formation on four straight plays, the final two of which were Drew Allar quarterback sneak attempts. On 4th and goal from right at the goal line, Allar crossed into the end zone to cap a 12-play, 68-yard drive for the go-ahead score. Allar appeared to get into the end zone on third down, but officials reviewed and couldn’t find irrefutable evidence to overturn the call on the field. So, the Lions went right back to that well and got six for their first lead of the afternoon.

6:03 – Penn State 20, Northwestern 10

Penn State’s defense comes up big with a fourth-down stuff on a Ben Bryant keeper to give the Lions offense terrific field position at the Northwestern 31. But while Penn State couldn’t get much going with a short Nick Singleton run, a pass for no gain and an incomplete pass, Alex Felkins delivered with his longest field goal of the season, a 47-yarder from the middle of the field to help Penn State stretch its lead to 10 points.

1:24 – Penn State 27, Northwestern 10

Make it 24 consecutive points for the Lions as they take command in Evanston. Northwestern once again took a big risk with a fake down that was stopped short on a terrific play by true freshman Zion Tracy. Penn State cashed in with hefty contributions from running backs Nick Singleton and Trey Potts, including a short touchdown pass from Drew Allar to Singleton for the team’s second touchdown of the quarter. That was also Allar’s first touchdown of the contest after getting off to a bumpy start in the first half.

FOURTH QUARTER

12:01 – Penn State 27, Northwestern 13

A promising Northwestern drive came to a discouraging halt when Zane Durant broke through the line and drove Wildcats quarterback Ben Bryant to the ground on 3rd-and-goal. Bryant faked a handoff and by the time he got his eyes up and down the field, Durant was already bearing down on him and sacked him for a 9-yard loss. Jack Olson converted the 28-yard field goal to bring Northwestern back to within two scores, but at the same time Bryant was seen visiting the injury tent on the sideline. His health will be worth watching in the final 12 minutes.

4:07 – Penn State 34, Northwestern 13

Penn State was methodical again with a 40-yard drive that spanned 12 plays and featured plenty of Nick Singleton, who plowed across the goal-line from one yard out. That stretched the Lions lead to three field goals (with Northwestern on its backup quarterback) and also pushed Penn State beyond the 30-point threshold for a national-best 12th straight game.

2:20 – Penn State 41, Northwestern 13

Through all the first-half adventures, Penn State got back on its horse and opened up a four-touchdown lead that currently has the Lions covering the Vegas point spread. Backup quarterback Beau Pribula got in on the act there, faking a quarterback draw and throwing a dime to Trey Potts out of the backfield for a 30-yard touchdown pass. That was Potts’ second touchdown of the game, this time on a nice angle route that had him all alone in the Northwestern secondary.

FINAL – Penn State 41, Northwestern 13

Penn State’s second and third-stringers didn’t give Northwestern any relief on the Wildcats’ final drives of the game, badgering backup quarterback Ben Sullivan and keeping Northwestern out of the end zone in the final two minutes. The Nittany Lions surged to cover the Vegas point spread after a less-than-ideal start and improve to 5-0 going into their bye week. UMass follows at Beaver Stadium when Penn State returns to action on Oct. 14.