Penn State Football escaped Camp Randall undefeated, despite losing three key starters to injury in the win.
After Saturday nght’s game, Penn State head coach James Franklin called the win “one of the prettiest and ugliest wins we’ve had” and “just a gutsy win.”
With the injuries piling up for Penn State, the Nittany Lions relied on a number of unsuspecting players in the comeback win over the Badgers.
Here are Nittany Central’s two game balls and the MVP for Penn State Football’s win over Wisconsin.
Offensive: Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton
With Drew Allar going down with an injury, Penn State relied on the ground game to will the Nittany Lions to a comeback victory in the second half.
Kaytron Allen led the Nittany Lions backfield with 11 carries for 86 yards and a game sealing touchdown in Penn State’s 28-13 win.
Allen averaged 7.8 yards per carry on the ground, aided by his 24-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Allen also caught four passes for 22 yards in addition in the game.
Nick Singleton, on the other hand, was less efficient on the ground (12 carries for 49 yards, 4.1 yards per carry) but caught three passes for 37 yards, including Penn State’s lone first half touchdown. Singleton’s one-handed catch on a fade route in the endzone was one of the best plays of the game for the Nittany Lions and one of the most impressive connections between him and Allar this season.
Defensive: Jaylen Reed
Jaylen Reed may have had the play of the game for Penn State in the win over Wisconsin Saturday.
In the third quarter with Penn State’s offense struggling to get started under backup quarterback Beau Pribula, Jaylen Reed stepped up and played complimentary football, catching an interception and returning it for a touchdown in the third quarter to give Penn State the lead 14-10.
Reed finished the game with five tackles, a half tackle for a loss, and the interception returned for a touchdown. Once again Reed was one of Penn State’s best players on the field Saturday night and continues to have a spectacular season for the Nittany Lions.
MVP: Beau Pribula
Could it be anyone else after what Pribula was asked to do?
Beau Pribula came into the game in the second half in relief of the injured Drew Allar and put the Nittany Lions on his back to grind out a gutsy win.
Pribula went 11 for 13 passing in the second half for 98 yards and a touchdown. Pribula also ran for 28 yards while helping Penn State outscore Wisconsin 21-3 in the second half. Depending on Allar’s status moving forward, Pribula could be a major factor for Penn State down the stretch. Even if not, Pribula earned his flowers this week with a massive effort to help Penn State stay perfect.
All four of these players played a major role in Penn State moving to 7-0 on the season. With a top-5 matchup at home against the Ohio State Buckeyes looming next week, Penn State may need MVP performances out of each of them again to keep the win streak alive.
The Nittany Lions have firmly entrenched themselves in the playoff hunt with five games to go this season, and everything is on the table for the Nittany Lions entering November.
MORE: Grading Drew Allar, Beau Pribula in Penn State’s Comeback Win Over Wisconsin
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