UNIVERSITY PARK - Following are the highlights and lowlights from Penn State's 23-18 victory over Purdue on Saturday at Beaver Stadium:
Play of the game: After Purdue drew within 20-18 midway through the fourth quarter, Chaz Powell returned the ensuing kickoff 92 yards, setting up a field goal.
Offensive player of the game: Despite windy conditions, Lion placekicker and punter Anthony Fera was 3-for-3 in field goals (29, 40, 29) and averaged 44.5 yards on six punts.
Defensive player of the game: PSU linebacker Nate Stupar made two interceptions to go with seven tackles.
Most telling statistic: Of Purdue's 162 rushing yards, just 48 came after halftime.
Hidden statistic: Penn State's 10 completions averaged 18.5 yards.
Best run: The Boilermakers' Ralph Bolden bolted 39 yards through the teeth of the Penn State defense in the second quarter.
Best pass(es): One for Rob Bolden and Matt McGloin. Can't decide. (It's contagious). Bolden threw a fine 19-yard slant to Brandon Moseby-Felder that put the Nittany Lions at the Purdue 1 on the Lions' first drive and set up a 7-0 lead. McGloin threw a 22-yarder underneath to a sliding Justin Brown in the fourth quarter on third-and-15 to get the Lions out of a hole.
Worst pass: Facing third-and-6 from its 36, Robert Marve threw into traffic, and Stupar intercepted. Stupar's return and ensuing personal foul penalty against Purdue set up a PSU field goal to end the half. And let's not forget the errant screen by Rob Bolden, who missed a wide-open Devon Smith with the Lions up 7-0 and trying to establish early momentum. Smith gestured in frustration.
Best catch: Brown pulled in a 30-yarder with one hand in the fourth quarter.
Catch it, will ya: Andrew Szczerba, who seemingly leads the nation in dubious plays, struck again, dropping a perfectly-thrown slant from McGloin that would/should have been a 12-yard touchdown in the waning seconds of the first half. The Lions settled for a field goal and a 10-6 lead.
Hold it, won't ya: Bolden and Smith both recovered their own fumbles.
Best call: Liked Penn State's decision to go for it on fourth-and-1 at the Purdue 10 with 1:39 left - and the Boilermakers out of timeouts - rather than kick a field goal with a 23-18 lead. McGloin surged for 5 yards and ended the game.
Worst call: Penn State's reverse to Brown from the Purdue 12 with 14 seconds left in the first half, which gained nothing. How about throwing the ball to the end zone?
Best block: Drew Astorino and Malcolm Willis helped spring Brown's 31-yard punt return in the third quarter.
Best tackle: On third-and-short from the PSU 15, Lion defensive tackle Devon Still bolted through and dumped Akeem Shavers for a 1-yard loss, forcing a short field goal that pulled Purdue within 7-6 in the second quarter.
Best hit: PSU safety Nick Sukay drilled Purdue receiver Antavian Edison in the third quarter, resulting in an incompletion.
Best kick: Leading 23-18 with three minutes left, Fera boomed a 69-yard punt that was downed at the Purdue 2.
Worst kick: Purdue's Carson Wiggs clanked an extra point off the cross bar in the third quarter, missing an opportunity for the Boilers to tie the game at 13.
Best effort: Check out the replay of Shavers' 1-yard touchdown plunge that cut Penn State's lead to 20-18 in the fourth quarter. He leaped over the pile and landed on his feet like a gymnast.
Unsung hero: This isn't usually the spot for the game's leading rusher, but Silas Redd racked up 131 yards on 28 carries, averaged 4.7 per try, and kept the chains moving.
