Penn State is rolling again.
Now some of that is because Penn State played the Big Ten – and one of the country’s – worst teams on Saturday.
But Penn State is still charging forward.
One week removed from a sturdy beatdown of Washington, the Nittany Lions continued to roll against Purdue, 49-10, in an impressive effort in spite of the fact they were playing – again making this extremely clear – one of the country’s least competitive teams.
Penn State could have toyed with the Boilermakers. Penn State could have opened to the door to allow them any momentum to get in.
We’ve seen them do that in the past – particularly when Penn State isn’t necessarily supposed to and on the road. While the Nittany Lions typically come out on the other side unscathed, it’s enough to make you question how much progress is being made. Games throughout a season are supposed to build upon one another.
Instead, Penn State played the role of mean parent, never even opening the toy box and kept the door shut repeatedly throughout the evening. Even when playing an unchallenging Purdue team, Penn State took a step forward.
That’s what you’re supposed to see in games like this one.
Penn State started fast — notable because it hasn’t always done so — thanks to Tyler Warren’s 59 yards of receiving on three catches on the game’s opening drive – a drive completed with a short pass to Omari Evans for six.
After just a five play drive by the Boilermakers on their first possession that netted 10 yards, Drew Allar led the Lions on a 10-play, 93-yard drive, hitting Warren in the end zone on a back shoulder throw for a touchdown.
By that point, the game was pretty much over – in the first quarter. That’s what teams competing for bigger picture goals are supposed to do with opponents like that.
Allar finished the game with 247 yards and three touchdowns. He also went 17-for-19 – the highest single game completion percentage for a starting quarterback at Penn State in more than two decades. His play allowed Beau Pribula to get reps in charge — in a non-stressful situation.
Meanwhile, Warren’s impressive season continued with a combined 190 yards from scrimmage, including a 48-yard rushing touchdown in the second half. It was his second play of 30 or more yards in the win, as he and Allar connected on a double pass that nearly went for a touchdown earlier in the contest.
Defensively, Penn State allowed just 85 rushing yards and much of Purdue’s 217 passing yards came in largely garbage time situations. That effort was spearheaded by Abdul Carter once again, leading the team with five tackles and two tackles for a loss.
Penn State’s best players played like its best players and that’s what Penn State is going to need to remain steady down this final stretch of games.
Particularly from Warren, he’s become Penn State’s multi-tool stud, proving that even defensive coaches scheming for him won’t work. His ability to also take direct snaps and carry for short – and long – distances has helped propel Penn State’s third down percentage to the best in the Big Ten. On Saturday, the offense went 9-for-14. With his play, it’s not improbable to think he will end up on at least a few of the 800-plus Heisman ballots – even if it’s for second or third place. At minimum, the senior has played his way into pole position for the Mackey Award, handed to the nation’s top tight end.
Allar has confidently progressed, too – and bounced back since Penn State’s loss to Ohio State. The case can be made that his two best games of the season were played over the last two weekends – even if his stat line isn’t jaw-dropping. From a technical standpoint, he has looked sharp and locked in.
Much the quarterback and tight end, the rest of Penn State is rolling right now.
And with two more wins, it will roll into its first ever College Football Playoff.
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