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By Neil Rudel
nrudel@altoonamirror.com
UNIVERSITY PARK --- Following are the highlights and lowlights from Penn State's 30-0 victory over Maryland on Saturday at Beaver Stadium:
Play of the game: On fourth-and-1, Nick Singleton exploded through a hole, shed a couple tacklers and raced 27 yards for a touchdown that upped the Nits' lead to 21-0 with 7:46 left in the second quarter.
Offensive player of the game: Singleton rushed for 122 yards on 11 carries and two touchdowns.
Defensive player of the game: Freshman linebacker Abdul Carter led the Lions with seven tackles, including three solos and a sack. He also forced a fumble and was credited with two quarterback hurries.
Most telling statistic: Penn State outrushed the Terps, 249-60.
Hidden statistic: Maryland ran 27 plays in the first half and gained 27 yards. By that point, the Lions had 296 yards.
Most deceiving statistic: The Lions only converted 5-of-15 third downs.
Best run: Singleton looked like a jockey whipping his horse (himself) on his second TD run.
Best pass: Sean Clifford made a nice play in the second quarter by rolling left and throwing back to Mitchell Tinsley for 25 yards. Not an easy play for a right-handed QB to make.
Worst pass: It wasn't his fault because he was under heavy pressure, but Taulia Tagovailoa dumped the ball off to Aric Harris, who gained 6 yards in the first quarter. The problem? Harris is No. 66, an offensive guard and thus ineligible.
Best catch: The Terps' C.J. Dippre deflected a pass to himself in the third quarter.
Catch it, will ya: Singleton dropped a high but catchable pass from Clifford in the first quarter.
Hold it, won't ya: Christian Veilleux couldn't reel in a high late snap so the Nits were charged with a team fumble.
Best block: Brenton Strange helped open the right side for Singleton's 45-yard TD run for a 14-0 lead with 1:25 left in the first quarter.
Best tackle: Carter shot through and sacked Tagovailoa for an 11-yard loss in the second quarter.
Best hit: Kalen King rocked Rakim Jarrett at the sideline in the second quarter.
Best kick: Jake Pinegar nailed a 50-yard field goal for the second-straight week that put the Lions up 27-0 at halftime.
Worst kick: Barney Amor shanked one 15 yards in the first quarter.
Best call: The Lions aggressively hustled into a fourth-and-1 play that Singleton broke for a 45-yard TD in the first quarter.
Worst call: Allar could have been inserted at least three series earlier than he was.
Worst decision: Why was Maryland's Octavian Smith bringing out the opening kickoff on a wet day? He was snowed under at the 11.
Worst penalty: Ji'Ayir Brown's unsportsmanlike penalty on the sideline in the second quarter lacked self-control.
Best effort: Penn State's offensive line didn't allow a sack.
Unsung hero: Chop Robinson led the Lions with two sacks against his former teammates.
Best moment: Dvon Ellies, whose father served in the military for 24 years, carried out the flag on Military Appreciation Day.