The Penn State defense steals the show in Wisconsin win

The ability of the Penn State defense to hold a late lead in big games has been the source of frustration for fans over the past several years, but Saturday was not one of those occasions. The Nittany Lions held off two late fourth-quarter Wisconsin drives to seal a bruising 16-10 win in Madison.

A look at some of the stars and key plays in the effort:

Safety Jaquan Brisker (Gateway) came into the 2021 season being named as an Associated Press second-team All-American. He did not disappoint. The fifth-year senior made a huge interception on a fourth-and-goal play with a little around 2 minutes, 30 seconds left in the game, returning the pick 41 yards to set the Nittany Lions up in good field position. Brisker did all this after being helped off the field three times in the game and battling back to be there at the end.

Temple transfer Arnold Ebiketie was a huge factor from the first series to the last. The defensive end finished with seven tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack and a huge pressure on Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz in the final drive of the game forcing an intentional grounding penalty. He also blocked a field goal attempt in the second quarter. Not a bad debut.

Linebacker Ellis Brooks had his best game as a Penn Stater, finishing with 11 tackles (eight solo) and a sack before being ejected late in the fourth quarter for a targeting penalty on Mertz.

Penn State outside linebacker Brandon Smith was all over the field Saturday logging eight tackles, including six solo and one tackle for loss on a second-and-goal from the PSU 7-yard line. Smith busted through to knock Wisconsin running back Isaac Guerendo backward, forcing the Badgers to throw on the next two downs.

Perhaps the biggest play of the game was the final one where Penn State safety Ji’Ayir Brown lept high and intercepted a pass from Mertz which sealed the deal. Brown also had five tackles.

Defensive end Nick Tarburton finished with two tackles but contributed a huge play in the second quarter. Tarburton jumped on a Mertz fumble on a third-an-goal at the 8-yard-line, ending a Badger scoring threat.

Senior Jesse Luketa played most of his time on the defensive line, switching from his old spot at middle linebacker. Luketa responded with five tackles and one quarterback hit but became even more valuable when he switched back after Brooks was ejected.

Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (North Allegheny) registered six tackles and a huge pass break up on a third-and-goal on a pass in the end zone to Wisconsin wide receiver Jack Dun, setting up Brisker’s interception on the next play.