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Neil Rudel's Commentary

Rudel’s Rutgers Highs and Lows

By Neil Rudel 3 min read
Defensive end Chop Robinson (44) and linebacker Kobe King (41) chase a fumble by Rutgers QB Gavin Wimsatt during the second half Saturday at Beaver Stadium. The Associated Press

UNIVERSITY PARK -- Following are the highlights and lowlights from Penn State's 27-6 victory over Rutgers on Saturday at Beaver Stadium:

Play of the game: With the Nittany Lions up 13-6, Chop Robinson decked Rutgers quarterback Gavin Wimsett late in the third quarter, causing a fumble that Robinson recovered at the RU 42 and setting up a Penn State TD.

Offensive player of the game: Beau Pribula came off the bench to rush for 71 yards on eight carries, including a touchdown.

Defensive player of the game: Robinson made five solo tackles, including two for loss.

Most telling statistic: Penn State outrushed the Scarlet Knights, 234-99, and averaged 6.0 yards on 59 attempts.

Hidden statistic: In its last five games at Beaver Stadium, since joining the Big Ten, Rutgers has not scored a touchdown.

Most deceiving statistic: Rutgers ran five more plays (58-53) and owned time of possession, 32:00-28:00.

Best run: Pribula entered in the third quarter after an injury to Drew Allar and raced 39 yards up the right sideline.

Best pass: Wimsett hit Isaiah Washington in stride over the middle for a 19-yard gain to the PSU 12 late in the second quarter. Washington fumbled but recovered.

Worst pass: Not counting Allar's errant throw at the sideline in the third quarter because he was injured on the previous play.

Best catch: Omari Evans pulled in a contested catch for 25 yards in the second quarter.

Catch it, will ya: Penn State actually dropped two passes on its first possession as intended receiver Dante Cephas missed and Tyler Warren dropped the catchable deflection. Cephas also dropped a pass in the

second quarter.

Hold it, won't ya: Nick

Singleton fumbled away a PSU possession on first down at the Rutgers 36 with the Lions up 10-3 in the second quarter. Pribula fumbled but recovered in time to score a 1-yard TD.

Best block: Evans sealed the edge to spring Pribula's big run.

Best tackle: See play of the game.

Best hit: Rutgers' Flip Dixon drilled Allar in the third quarter, knocking him out of the game.

Best kicks: Alex Felkins nailed a 48-yard field goal in the third quarter to give the Lions a 13-6 lead.

Worst kick: Was a good day for the kickers.

Best call: With the Lions clinging to a 10-6 lead in the third quarter, on third-and-6, Manny Diaz sent two linebackers, Abdul Carter and Kobe King, on a blitz that hurried Wimsett and forced a punt.

Worst call(s): Down 27-6 with 3:35 left, Rutgers used five straight rushes to run out the clock. Translation: Let's get out of here.

Worst penalty: Rutgers got a bit of a gift late in the first half when Washington was ruled to have recovered his fumble at the PSU 6 (which appeared to be an incompletion). Faced with first-and-goal, the Knights' Gus Zilinskas was promptly called for holding, which forced a field goal and made RU settle for a 10-6 halftime deficit.

Best effort: Wimsatt completed 10-of-16 for 130 yards and rushed 17 times for 31.

Unsung hero: Lion safety Kevin Winston made six tackles and an interception.

Starting at /week.