Penn State beat Illinois 21-7, in a matchup of Top 20 teams in Happy Valley. It was a hard-fought game between two teams vying to establish themselves in a crowded Big Ten. After a first half that ended with the score tied at seven, the game was still up for grabs into the fourth quarter. Then, Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer threw his first interception of the season, with AJ Harris being the beneficiary. The Penn State offense capitalized on the turnover, by scoring a touchdown to set the final score of 21-7. While Illinois scored the first points of the game, Penn State scored 21 unanswered to win the matchup.
This was Penn State’s first Big Ten game of the season, and as expected it was a different feel than the first two games. Coach James Franklin asked for “white out energy,” and the fans responded. Franklin, after the game, said “It was phenomenal.” Despite Penn State’s struggles early on, the crowd stayed loud and made things difficult for the Illinois offense. Similar to other games this season, the second half was much better for Penn State than the first half was. The experienced coaching staff continues to show its ability to make the necessary halftime adjustments.
Key Takeaways: Penn State Beats Illinois 21-7
No Offense, but the Line is Pretty Good
The Penn State offensive line proved to be a major differentiating factor for the team. While they surrendered two sacks to the Illinois defense, their presence was felt more in the running game. Penn State was able to eat up clock when it needed to, and significantly out-gained Illinois on the ground.
For the first time this season, quarterback Drew Allar did not throw a touchdown pass. On the surface, that would be cause for concern. However, with Penn State’s offensive line and talent at running back, it was not an issue at all. Walking off the field after the game, Allar said “I always tell the O-line, we go as they go.”
Both Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen had great games. Franklin said after the game, “I can’t imagine there is a combination of better backs in the country.” Both Singleton and Allen had a rushing touchdown. Allen had a season-high 102 yards, going over 100 yards for a second time this season. While Singleton fell short of the 100-yard milestone in the game, he did gain 94.
Tight end Tyler Warren was involved in the rushing attack again, in a much more direct way than a normal tight end. After throwing a passing touchdown in last week’s win against Kent State, Warren ran for a touchdown in this game. His rushing touchdown was the first score for Penn State, tied the game at seven, and set the tone for the rest of the offense.
Defensive Details
Defensive coordinator Tom Allen called another good game for the Penn State defense. Similar to prior games, he made the necessary adjustments at halftime. Illinois only gained 39 yards in the second half and did not score after a touchdown on their first offensive drive. The defensive squad forced two turnovers, an interception, and a fumble.
The defense held its own in a multitude of ways. First, against the pass. Harris was the first opposing player to intercept an Altmyer pass this season. In addition to that, the defense only allowed 185 yards passing. They sacked the quarterback seven times. No Illinois wide receiver produced over 49 yards. Second, against the run, Penn State only allowed 34 yards. When it became a two-score game in the fourth quarter, the defense really shined, as it knew a pass was coming, and was able to provide a lot of pressure on Altmyer.
Always Room for Improvement
Penn State has now entered its Big Ten schedule. Consequently, games should be expected to be tough, closer, and potentially down to the wire. In those cases, it is important to have a trusted kicker. Special Teams need to play well, and that part of the team has not pulled its weight. Specifically, kicker Sander Sahaydak continued to struggle. He missed his only field goal attempt to start the year, in the win against West Virginia. Then, Sahaydak made both of his field goal attempts against Bowling Green, before not attempting one against Kent State. Facing Illinois, he missed two more field goals, both from 40 yards. The misses were in the second quarter and the fourth quarter. Coordinator Justin Lustig and Franklin will have some decisions to make on what to do at kicker. Ryan Barker made his only extra point attempt, while Sahaydak converted both of his.
Penalties were a talking point again in this game. On the way off the field at the end of the game, Franklin said, “We have to clean up the penalties.” Penn State was called for six penalties, covering 63 yards. The timing of Penn State’s penalties was impactful. For example, on the first drive of the game, Abdul Carter was flagged for being offsides. When the quarterback saw that he had a free play, he took a chance downfield, and it was complete. Illinois scored a touchdown on that drive. Additionally, Penn State could have also taken a two-score lead earlier than it ultimately did. Harris returned the Altmyer interception to the end zone. However, the score was negated because of an illegal block call on Penn State.
By the Numbers: Penn State Beats Illinois 21-7
Penn State beat Illinois by a score of 21-7. Here are some of the key statistics that underpinned the Penn State win.
Offense
Passing: Penn State threw for 135 yards, compared to 185 for Illinois. Allar completed 15 of 21 for 135 yards, with no touchdowns and no interceptions. For Illinois, Altmyer completed 16 of 25 for 185 yards, with one touchdown and no interceptions.
Rushing: Penn State had 239 yards, compared to 34 yards for Illinois. Allen led all players with 102 yards on 18 carries. Singleton ran 16 times for 94 yards. Both Allen and Singleton scored rushing touchdowns, as did Warren. Kaden Feagin led Illinois with 64 yards on 13 carries.
Receiving: Trey Wallace led all players with 50 yards, on four catches. Warren was second on the team, with 34 yards on four receptions. For Illinois, Zakhari Franklin had four receptions for 49 yards, and Carson Goda’s only reception was a four-yard touchdown.
Defense/Special Teams
Defense: Jaylen Reed led Penn State defenders with nine tackles. Carter had two sacks to lead the team. Matthew Bailey led Illinois with 9 tackles. Gabe Jacas had a full sack for Illinois, to lead the team.
Special Teams: No field goals were successful in the game. For Penn State, Sander Sahaydak missed both of his 40-yard field goals, while he converted two extra points, and Ryan Barker also had an extra point. Riley Thompson had one punt, for 48 yards. For Illinois, David Olano missed his only field goal attempt but converted an extra point. Hugh Robertson had four punts, averaging 43.5 yards per punt.
