Penn State Football overcame a huge halftime deficit to pick up a massive road win over USC to stay unbeaten on the season.
While it was not easy, Penn State’s playmakers stepped up and made plays when they had to to push Penn State over the Trojans Saturday. Here are our game balls and MVP for Saturday’s pivotal win:
Offense: Drew Allar and Julian Fleming
Okay, usually this is reserved for one player, but both quarterback Drew Allar and wide receiver Julian Fleming played huge parts of Penn State moving to 6-0 on the season.
Allar threw for a career-high 391 yards pushing Penn State out of a 14-point deficit in the second half to will the Nittany Lions to a gutsy comeback win.
When Penn State needed Drew Allar to step up and make a play, Allar did just that in the second half, consistently making important plays to allow Penn State to keep up with USC.
Allar led the Nittany Lions on a 12-play, 75-yard drive to tie the game at 30 in a masterclass of nerves in the final minutes. On the drive, Allar hit Julian Fleming on two critical fourth downs and longs to keep moving the sticks before hitting Nick Singleton for a 14-yard touchdown to tie the game.
Both players earn our offensive game balls after connecting on those two game-saving clutch fourth down pickups late in the fourth quarter.
Defense: Jaylen Reed
Jaylen Reed gets the defensive game ball for this week for a clutch interception with seconds remaining to take the ball from USC just outside of field goal range, sending the game into overtime for the Nittany Lions.
The senior safety finished second on the team with six tackles (five solo) in the game as well playing both safety and the Lion position for Penn State. In KJ Winston’s absence, Reed has been excellent for the Nittany Lions defensive backfield.
Special Teams: Ryan Barker
Redshirt freshman kicker Ryan Barker had ice in his veins Saturday, hitting all four of his field goals including a game winner in overtime to send the Nittany Lions to 6-0.
After winning the job over Sander Sahaydak after Penn State’s win over Illinois, Barker has been perfect for the Nittany Lions, hitting all four of his field goal attempts and all five of his extra point attempts this season.
MVP: Tyler Warren
It really could not have been anyone else.
Tyler Warren was a man among boys on the field Saturday, breaking Penn State and FBS records left and right. On the day, Warren accumulated nine passing yards, four rushing yards, and 17 catches for 224 receiving yards and a touchdown. Warren’s 17 receptions broke Penn State’s single-game record for receptions by any player and tied an FBS record for most catches in a game by a tight end.
Warren’s 224 receiving yards also broke Penn State’s record for most receiving yards by a tight end, breaking his own record of 146 yards that he set a few weeks ago against Bowling Green. In his most impressive play of the day, Tyler Warren lined up at center, snapped the ball to Penn State backup quarterback Beau Pribula, and then caught a touchdown pass from Drew Allar on a double pass to the endzone.
Penn State TE Tyler Warren’s final line against USC:
17 catches (tied for the most ever by an FBS TE)
224 yards
This insane TD 👇pic.twitter.com/oA0gBOVW6E— Field Yates (@FieldYates) October 12, 2024
Warren was the best player on the field by far for either team and should have launched his Mackey Award (and maybe Heisman Award) campaign if it wasn’t already this season.
MORE: Drew Allar Report Card From Signature Performance vs. USC
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