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Neil Rudel's Commentary

Rudel’s Oregon Highs & Lows

By Neil Rudel 3 min read

INDIANAPOLIS -- Following are the highlights and lowlights from Penn State's 45-37 loss to Oregon on Saturday night in the Big Ten championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium:

Play of the game: With 2:00 left on second-and-1 from the Nittany Lions' 46-yard line, Drew Allar lofted a ball up the right sideline for Trey Wallace, and Oregon's Nikko Reed intercepted. One first down sealed the game for the Ducks.

Offensive player of the game: Oregon receiver Tez Johnson caught 11 passes for 181 yards and a touchdown.

Defensive player of the game: Reed made three tackles, broke up two passes and intercepted another.

Most telling statistic: Penn State committed two turnovers (both interceptions) and Oregon did not turn the ball over.

Most deceiving statistic:

The Lions rolled up 518 yards.

Hidden statistic: Penn State averaged 8.3 yards on 35 rushes but threw 39 times.

Best run: Kaytron Allen broke several tackles and lugged defenders for a 24-yard gain in the second quarter.

Best pass: Allar zinged a 22-yard touchdown to Omari Evans, cutting Oregon's lead to 28-17 with 6:49 left in the first half.

Worst pass: On second-and-10 from the Nittany Lions' 11, already down 21-10, Allar was intercepted by Dontae Manning, who returned it to the PSU 1. One play later, with 10:05 remaining in the second quarter, Oregon's lead was 28-10.

Best catch: Wallace's 14-yard touchdown catch in traffic, despite taking a shot, cut the Oregon lead to 45-37 with 3:41 remaining.

Hold it, won't ya: Liam Clifford dropped a first-quarter pass that contributed to the Lions settling for a field goal. Tyler Warren dropped one, too.

Best block: Nick Dawkins helped spring Nick Singleton's early 41-yard run.

Best tackle: On third-and-9 with less than a minute left in the first half, Abdul Carter decked Traeshon Holden at the PSU 19, forcing a field goal.

Best hit: Zion Tracy blew up Noah Whittington on Oregon's first drive.

Best kick(s): Both Oregon punters made key boots -- Ross James a 55-yard boomer in the second quarter to pin the Nits at their 11 and Luke Dunne's 42-yarder that the Ducks downed at the Lions' 3 in the third quarter.

Worst kick: Good as he's been, Ryan Barker pulled a 40-yard field goal in the third quarter, keeping the Ducks' lead at 31-24.

Worst penalty: Vega Ioane was hit with a personal foul penalty in the second quarter, wiping out a 6-yard gain and costing the Lions 15 yards and a loss of down in the second quarter. It was one of four PSU personal foul penalties in the first half.

Best call(s): Anytime Oregon got the ball to Johnson.

Worst call: James Franklin decided to go for two points after cutting the lead to 38-30. A run to Warren was blown up.

Best effort: Penn State's offensive line escorted an effective run game and allowed just one sack.

Unsung hero: With Oregon winning 38-30 early in the fourth quarter, Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel fumbled at his own 25 but alertly recovered, costing the Lions a short field they needed. Gabriel completed 22-of-32 for 283 yards and four touchdowns.

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