Penn State Throttles Villanova 52-6, Defense Headlines Again | Game Balls, MVP
No. 2 Penn State football, a 48-point favorite, took care of business at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, steamrolling Villanova 52–6 to move to 3-0 on the season heading into their bye week.
The outcome was never in doubt, but it wasn’t without its awkward moments, including yet another brutal, gut-wrenching backdoor cover that had Beaver Stadium groaning on the game’s final play.
We’ll get to the game balls, and the Nittany Lions‘ MVP, but there are some key lessons to take away from PSU’s latest victory before kicking off Big Ten Conference play in two weeks.
Drew Allar – Still a Question Mark
Penn State quarterback Drew Allar’s afternoon was a microcosm of his career so far – flashes of brilliance mixed with bouts of hesitation.
Allar missed open throws early and looked stuck in his progressions, only to uncork his best throw of the year, a laser to Trebor Peña between two defenders for a touchdown late in the first half.
When he plays in rhythm, Allar looks like a quarterback who can lead his team to a national championship.
But, when he overthinks things, the offense sputters with a splash of inaccuracy and uncertainty.
The bye week, with the specter of the Oregon Ducks looming on the horizon, should be the perfect time for head coach James Franklin and offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki to get their senior quarterback into more no-huddle situations where he can play free, fast, and in rhythm.
The Backdoor Heartbreak
Of course, no Penn State blowout is complete without some late-game drama for the bettors.
Just like Week 1 against Nevada, the Nittany Lions watched a sure cover vanish in the final ticks.
On the game’s final play, Villanova quarterback Tanner Maddocks rolled all the way to his right, buying time before lofting a desperation pass to the back of the end zone. Brandon Binkowski somehow snatched it one-handed, tapping a toe inbounds as the crowd collectively gasped. What looked like a 52–0 shutout turned into a 52–7 final, and Penn State fell to 0-3 against the spread on the year.
The crowd roared at the snap, knowing the cover was on the line.
But when Binkowski morphed into Odell Beckham Jr,, Beaver Stadium went eerily silent.
That sudden hush said everything you needed to know about the backdoor heartbreak in Happy Valley.
Penn State Game Balls, MVP
No. 1 – The Backfield Boys
The running back tandem of Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton gets a game ball for their steady efforts on Saturday.
The one-two punch in Penn State’s backfield continues to be the heartbeat of James Franklin’s offense.
The head coach made it clear from the opening drive that he wanted to get Singleton rolling, feeding him eight times on the first possession and letting him cap off the opening drive with a touchdown.
Singleton never broke the game open, but he finished with 84 yards on 20 carries and two scores. Allen was the more efficient of the two, going for 86 yards and a touchdown on just 10 carries. Together, they combined for 170 yards and three touchdowns, giving the Lions their offensive foundation.
No. 2 – TE Luke Reynolds
The redshirt freshman tight end is beginning to separate himself in a deep position room.
Reynolds hauled in four catches for 73 yards, flashing reliable hands and the athleticism to stretch the field. On a day when wideouts were inconsistent, he was Drew Allar’s most dependable option.
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Penn State MVP: The Nittany Lions’ Defense
The real stars wore navy and white. For the third straight week, Jim Knowles’ defense completely suffocated it’s opponent, holding Villanova to just seven points, all of them coming on a miracle, one-handed catch as time expired.
Through three games, Penn State has surrendered just 17 total points. Linebackers Amare Campbell (three tackles-for-loss and a sack) and Tony Rojas (two sacks) were everywhere, while freshman cornerback Jahmir Joseph added a pick-six, and defensive end Chaz Coleman flashed pressure up front.
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It was at PRISM where Staszak produced live games and began his career as an on-air reporter.
After a couple of brief stints with CBS-3, WB-17 and WGAL-8 in Lancaster, PA, Staszak began a 12 year stretch at FOX 29 where he became the lead sportscaster in 2007. It was there that Staszak found himself in the middle of Philadelphia Phillies World Series Championship coverage that earned him an Emmy nomination for best sports reporter in 2008.It was one of five Emmy nominations that Staszak earned over the course of his career.
All told Staszak covered three World Series, two Stanley Cup Finals, an NBA Finals and one Super Bowl during his television run.
Staszak left the TV business for 97.5 The Fanatic in 2013, where he enjoyed eight years bloviating his beliefs on how a professional football team should be run.In 2018 when he fortunate enough to be the first sports talk host in the city, along with cohort Zach Gelb, to provide post-game coverage of the first Super Bowl Championship for the city’s beloved Philadelphia Eagles.
Staszak was also a writer for 97.5 The Fanatic along with 4 Philly Sports and now covers Penn State athletics for NittanyCentral.com.
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