In a Big Ten matchup in Madison, Penn State beat Wisconsin 28-13. As expected, it was a close and hard-fought game. With Wisconsin coming in having won three in a row, Penn State was able to withstand the hard-nosed approach of the Badgers and remain undefeated. However, it was not all great news for Penn State. Quarterback Drew Allar did not play in the second half because of an apparent knee injury. Additionally, defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton, and right tackle Anthony Donkoh, were injured. These developments put a damper on what was a solid all-around win for Penn State. Still, it was a positive evening for them, as Penn State defeated Wisconsin as Allar was injured.
Despite entering the second half trailing 10-7, Penn State was able to deliver a statement win on the road. The backup quarterback, the defense, and the sheer will to win were all on display for the Nittany Lions. This game had a little bit of everything, including some head-scratching plays. Other than Allar’s injury, Wisconsin’s special teams featured a scramble by the punter to avoid a block. Atticus Bertram picked up a first down on the play to set up the game’s first score.
Key Takeaways: Penn State vs. Wisconsin
The Beau Show
Starting quarterback Allar exited the game right before halftime. After taking a sack, he sailed his next throw and walked (gingerly) to the locker room right before the end of the half. Allar finished the half with 14 completions in 18 attempts, for 148 yards and a touchdown. Starting the second half after Allar’s injury was backup Beau Pribula. The Beau Show was on.
After a bit of a rough start, Pribula started looking more comfortable. Of course, having a leading running back duo like Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen helps. While some handoffs to the backs were clunky, Pribula also kept the ball on some plays and was a successful runner. He is more of a “dual threat” quarterback than Allar and served as a change of pace. Additionally, he was able to gain his footing in the passing game. His third passing touchdown of the season, to Khalil Dinkins in the fourth quarter, extended the lead to 21-13. After the game, head coach James Franklin spoke about Pribula, saying that he is “Proud of him, he’s a winner. He makes plays for us with his feet, his mind, and his arm.”
Despite the injury, Allar remained on the sideline in the second half. He was still vocal, and Primula’s biggest supporter. Allar wasn’t able to be the quarterback in the second half but remained a captain. Heading into a pivotal showdown with Ohio State in the next game, the status of Allar and the quarterback position will be a major storyline. With Pribula’s big game, Penn State was able to defeat Wisconsin despite Allar being injured.
Turning Point Turnover
In the third quarter, Penn State trailed 10-7 with their star quarterback, and offensive leader, out for the game. Defensive coordinator Tom Allen and his defense needed to come up with a big play to spark the team, and they delivered in a big way.
Wisconsin quarterback Braedyn Locke has shown a propensity to throw interceptions as he gains more comfort as the starting quarterback for the Badgers. The string of games with interceptions continued for Locke in the third quarter. He threw an interception to Jaylen Reed that seemed to change the momentum. Reed returned the interception for a touchdown to put Penn State back in front, by a score of 14-10.
Complementary football is key, especially for a team like Penn State which entered the game ranked third in the country. With the offense looking to rediscover its way after losing Allar, Allen’s defense responded. It is not a surprise that it was Reed to deliver the big play, either. A veteran leader on the defense, Reed has been a consistent performer all season. In discussing the performance of the defense after the game, Reed said “Some of the young guys had to step up today. I’m super proud of them.”
By the Numbers: Penn State vs. Wisconsin
Offense
Passing: Penn State threw for 246 yards, compared to 217 for Wisconsin. Allar completed 14 of 18 for 148 yards, with one touchdown and no interceptions. Pribula completed 11 of 13 for 98 yards. For Wisconsin, Locke completed 22 of 42 for 217 yards, with no touchdowns and one interception.
Rushing: Penn State had 173 yards, compared to 81 yards for Wisconsin. Allen led Penn State with 86 yards on 11 carries with a touchdown. Singleton carried 12 times for 49 yards. Tawee Walker led Wisconsin with 59 yards on 22 carries with the only touchdown for Wisconsin.
Receiving: Trey Wallace led Penn State with 67 yards on five receptions. Singleton and Dinkins had receiving touchdowns. For Wisconsin, Will Pauling had a game-high 79 receiving yards on eight receptions.
Defense/Special Teams
Defense: Zakee Wheatley led Penn State defenders with 10 tackles. Reed had five tackles and an interception that he returned for a touchdown. Hunter Wohler led Wisconsin with a game-high 11 tackles, and Jake Chaney had the game’s only sack.
Special Teams: For Penn State, Ryan Barker converted on all four of his extra-point attempts, and did not try any field goals. Riley Thompson had five punts, averaging 43.8 yards per punt. For Wisconsin, Nathanial Vakos made both of his field goal attempts, and his only extra points try. Bertrams punted five times, averaging 51,4 yards per punt.
