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By Neil Rudel
nrudel@altoonamirror.com
Following are the highlights and lowlights from Penn State's 45-14 victory over Indiana on Saturday at Memorial Stadium:
Play of the game: Kaytron Allen took a swing pass, zipped up the left sideline and cut across the field for a 45-yard gain to the Indiana 21 in the third quarter.
Offensive player of the game: Allen rushed for 86 yards on 18 carries and scored three touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 72 yards.
Defensive player of the game: Linebacker Kobe King led the Lions with eight tackles, including 2.5 for loss.
Most telling statistic: Penn State had eight tackles for loss -- in the first quarter alone -- and finished with a school-record 16 for the game.
Hidden statistic: Indiana's 196 yards was a season-low against the Lions.
Most deceiving statistic: The Hoosiers completed their first six passes for 66 yards.
Best run: It wasn't that long, but Allen eluded four tacklers on his 6-yard touchdown that gave the Lions a 21-7 lead with 5:04 left in the second quarter.
Best pass: Drew Allar rolled right and rifled a 1-yard touchdown pass into a tight window to Harrison Wallace with 14:09 remaining.
Worst pass: Sean Clifford had KeAndre Lambert-Smith open for an early touchdown on a post pattern and short-hopped him.
Best catch: Brenton Strange reached over Noah Pierre for a 25-yard catch in the third quarter, trumping Mitchell Tinsley's 27-yard gem that set up the Nits' first score.
Catch it, will ya: Theo Johnson dropped a touchdown pass (from Clifford) late in the second quarter. Johnny Dixon had a shot at an early interception and dropped it.
Hold it, won't ya: Parker Washington fumbled a second-quarter punt return, but Dom DeLuca alertly pounced on.
Best block: Johnson did a good job downfield to escort Allen's 27-yard gain on a jet sweep that set up a second-quarter TD and a 14-7 lead.
Best tackle: On third-and-23 from the PSU 38, Ji'Ayir Brown sacked Jack Tuttle for a 7-yard loss, forcing a punt after Indiana intercepted Clifford in the first quarter.
Best kick: Jake Pinegar nailed a 50-yard field goal with 50 seconds left in the first half, upping the Nits' lead to 24-7. Kudos to Indiana's James Evans on a 69-yard third-quarter punt.
Worst kick: Didn't see anything bad.
Best call: Liked the jet sweep that Allen busted for 27 yards in the first quarter.
Worst call: Not starting Allar in the second half.Spare the excuses.
Best effort: Adisa Isaac had consecutive tackles for loss with the game tied 7-7 and Indiana inside the Lions' 20.
Unsung hero(es): Pressed into service due to injuries, Drew Shelton made his first start at left tackle, and J.B. Nelson played long stretches in place of Hunter Nourzad at left guard.