Penn State gets back in win column, dispatches Washington comfortably

UNIVERSITY PARK – Challenge accepted and completed.

Penn State coach James Franklin had stressed the importance of “flushing” last weekend’s frustrating loss to Ohio State, instructing his players to move on and focus on achieving the team’s long-term goals by getting back in the win column.

The sixth-ranked Nittany Lions did just that Saturday at Beaver Stadium, pummeling the visiting Washington Huskies, 35-6, in front of 110,223 fans to move to 8-1 (5-1 Big Ten) on the year.

Granted, Washington (5-5, 3-4) is an opponent of significantly lower caliber than the Buckeyes, but the Nittany Lions can be pleased with their effort, having led 28-0 at halftime while keeping a second-half Huskies rally attempt well in check.

“I think we just played really good complementary football in the first half,” said quarterback Drew Allar. “Second half could have been better, for sure. It just came down to little things on the first two drives, but I think we did a good job of bouncing back after that.”

Allar completed 20-of-28 passes for 220 yards and a touchdown, while Kaytron Allen led the way on the ground with 20 carries for 98 yards and a score.

The Nittany Lions racked up 486 yards of total offense a week after Ohio State held them to 270.

Washington coach Jedd Fisch, unsatisfied with his team’s 71 total first-half yards, made a quarterback switch to begin the third quarter, replacing Will Rogers with Demond Williams.

Williams orchestrated a pair of field goal drives, representing Washington’s only points of the evening, but Penn State’s defense did not allow the Huskies to get anywhere close to striking range of making the game competitive.

In the end, Rogers was held to 59 yards through the air while Williams finished with 60.

On the ground, the Huskies ran the ball 33 times, gaining only 74 yards, while Penn State posted five sacks and nine tackles for loss.

“Got to give Washington credit,” Franklin said. “I think that’s a talented football team and a good football team. Coach Fisch will do a great job there, but tonight, our guys played exceptionally well and specifically in the first half.”

All of Penn State’s first-half drives resulted in touchdowns.

After Washington missed a field goal on its opening possession, the Nittany Lions traveled 72 yards downfield in nine plays, with Beau Pribula scoring an 8-yard rushing touchdown, putting Penn State up 7-0 with 3 minutes, 54 seconds left in the first quarter.

On its next drive, Penn State went up 14-0 about six minutes into the second quarter, with a Tyler Warren direct-snap rushing touchdown capping a 14-play, 80-yard drive.

A Rogers interception gave the Nittany Lions got the ball back and they soon took a 21-0 lead with 3:24 left before halftime, as Warren scored on another direct-snap rush up the middle.

Penn State got one final possession before halftime with 1:53 left.

That proved to be a sufficient amount of time for Allar to lead a 68-yard drive, resulting in a 28-0 lead after Julian Fleming caught a short touchdown pass.

The Nittany Lions provided a breath of life to Washington in the third quarter, as a holding call negated Singleton’s kickoff return touchdown to start things.

Then, Warren lost a fumble, resulting in the Huskies’ first points of the night, a field goal with a bit under 10 minutes left in the quarter, making the score 28-3.

Another Washington field goal with 13:33 left in the fourth quarter made it 28-6, but from there, Penn State embarked on its longest touchdown drive of the game, going 70 yards in 16 plays while eating 8:39 of game clock.

Allen punched it in from the goal line, putting his team ahead 35-6.

From there, Washington did manage to advance deep into Penn State territory on its final drive of the game, but Audavion Collins recorded Penn State’s fifth and final sack of the night to help quell the late-game touchdown threat.

“I’m proud of our guys. I really am,” Franklin said. “I thought they played well tonight.”