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By Neil Rudel
nrudel@altoonamirror.com
UNIVERSITY PARK --- Following are the highlights and lowlights from Penn State's 17-7 victory over Northwestern on Saturday at Beaver Stadium:
Play of the game: On fourth-and-goal from the PSU 1 with the Nittany Lions up 17-7, P.J. Mustipher stuffed a Ryan Hilinski quarterback sneak with 11:51 remaining. The play symbolized Penn State's defensive effort.
Offensive player of the game: Parker Washington caught four passes for 73 yards and a returned a punt for 12.
Defensive player of the game: Lion safety Ji'Ayir Brown made six tackles (five solo) and one for loss. He also intercepted a pass that he returned 30 yards.
Most telling statistic: The teams combined for eight turnovers -- five by the Nits.
Hidden statistic: Penn State has forced 11 turnovers in the past three games, the Lions' most in a three-game stretch since 1996.
Most deceiving statistic: The Lions dominated the clock, 37:28-22:32.
Best run: Nick Singleton kept his legs churning and slipped into the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown in the second quarter, bumping the lead to 14-0.
Best pass: Sean Clifford found Washington on a post pattern for 43 yards to the Wildcats' 30 in the third quarter.
Worst pass: Clifford, throwing off his back foot, was intercepted in the first quarter by Cameron Mitchell. He was shooting for Harrison Wallace III.
Best catch: Northwestern's Malik Washington made a nice over-the-shoulder reception for 24 yards to the Nits' 9 in the fourth quarter.
Catch it, will ya: Keyvone Lee dropped a pass in the second quarter. Washington also didn't catch a second-quarter punt that put the Nits at their 8.
Hold it, won't ya: Lion tailbacks combined for four lost fumbles -- two by Singleton and one each by Lee and Kaytron Allen.
Best tackle: On second-and-12 at the PSU 30 in the second quarter, Nick Tarburton popped Hilinski, who fumbled, and Curtis Jacobs recovered.
Best hit: NW's Rod Heard drilled Singleton in the second quarter, forcing his second fumble.
Best kick: Barney Amor pinned Northwestern at its own 4 in the second quarter.
Worst kick: There weren't any, impressive given the weather.
Best call: Trailing 14-0 in the third quarter, Northwestern executed a QB sneak on fourth-and-1 from its own 27. It scored a TD later on the drive.
Worst call: Would be splitting hairs.
Worst penalty: With PSU leading 17-7, Dani Dennis-Sutton was hit with a roughing the passer penalty in the fourth quarter.
Best effort: Lion tight end Brenton Strange continues to impress. He leaped the last couple of yards of a 20-yard touchdown that opened the scoring.
Unsung hero: Tarburton only had one tackle but recovered a fumble that led to Penn State taking a 14-0 lead and caused another fumble in the third quarter.