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By Neil Rudel
nrudel@altoonamirror.com
UNIVERSITY PARK -- Following are the highlights and lowlights from Penn State's 33-14 victory over Central Michigan on Saturday at Beaver Stadium:
Play of the game: Central Michigan's Jordyn Williams fumbled a punt, and Penn State's Curtis Jacobs recovered at the Chippewas' 7 early in the third quarter. Two plays later, Sean Clifford hit Brenton Strange for a 3-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 27-14.
Offensive player of the game: Clifford completed 23-of-34 passes for 217 yards and three touchdowns. He was not intercepted. He also scored a rushing TD.
Defensive player of the game: Zakee Wheatley made five tackles (four solo) and returned an interception 34 yards to set up the Lions' second touchdown.
Most telling statistic: Penn State allowed 275 yards and 12 first downs through the air.
Hidden statistic: Central Michigan made eight penalties for 80 yards and had two touchdowns called back.
Most deceiving statistic: State scored touchdowns on five of six trips to the red zone.
Best run: Kaytron Allen's 37-yard rush to the Chippewas' 14 to close the third quarter.
Best pass: Central Michigan quarterback Daniel Richardson threaded a 14-yard touchdown pass to Joel Wilson, tying the game at 14 with 6:25 left in the first half.
Worst pass: Clifford had Mitchell Tinsley open over the middle late in the second quarter and missed him.
Best catch: With 1:05 left in the first half and PSU leading 21-14 but Central Michigan driving, Lion cornerback Johnny Dixon went up to pick off a pass at the PSU 20 and stayed inbounds.
Catch it, will ya: Harrison Wallace III and Tinsley dropped passes on consecutive plays inside the Chippewas' 25. Each would have given the Lions a first down. Nit tight end Tyler Warren dropped a third-quarter pass. Joey Porter missed another chance for a Pick-6.
Hold it, won't ya: Penn State didn't fumble.
Best block: Marquis Wilson did his best to help spring Parker Washington's punt return to the Central Michigan 34 late in the second quarter.
Best tackle: Central Michigan defensive tackle John Wesley Whiteside broke through to dump Nick Singleton for a 3-yard loss on Penn State's first possession.
Best hit: Lion defensive end Nick Tarburton drilled Lew Nichols III, throwing him for a 1-yard loss in the second quarter.
Best kick: Barney Amor checked up a 48-yard punt at the Central Michigan 3 in the second quarter, giving the Lions some field position after they squandered a 14-0 lead.
Worst kick(s): Jake Pinegar missed a 38-yard field goal in the fourth quarter and had an extra point blocked in the third.
Best call: On fourth-and-goal from the Nits' 2, Central Michigan could have gone for a field goal in the second quarter, but Richardson lofted a nice pass to Finn Hogan for a touchdown.
Worst call: On third-and-13 from the Central Michigan 42, the Lions threw underneath to Tinsley that wound up far short of a first down.
Worst penalty: Ja'Ayir Brown's personal foul (face mask) out of bounds on Nichols got the Chippewas into the PSU red zone in the third quarter.
Best effort: Strange leaped a Chippewas' defensive back during a 15-yard run after a reception in the first quarter. Strange caught five passes for 42 yards and two TDs.
Unsung hero: Amor averaged 44.5 on four punts. He put three inside the 10.
Best moment: The halftime introduction of PSU's 1982 national championship team, which included about 40 players. Shane Conlan, Massimo Manca and Michael Zordich, currently a Central Michigan assistant, received the biggest ovations.