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By Neil Rudel
nrudel@altoonamirror.com
Following are the highlights and lowlights from Penn State's 41-13 victory over Northwestern on Saturday at Ryan Field:
Play of the game: On fourth-and-1 in the third quarter, up 17-10, the Nittany Lions' Tyler Eldson stopped NW quarterback Ben Bryant's sneak at the Wildcats' 32 and led to a field goal.
Offensive player of the game: Nobody stood out so we're going with backup running back Trey Potts, who scored two touchdowns, the first on a 13-yard run and the second on a 30-yard reception.
Defensive player of the game: Lion defensive tackle Zane Durant made four tackles, including three for loss.
Most telling statistic: Penn State racked up 12 tackles for loss, including seven sacks.
Hidden statistic: The Lions were 2-for-2 on fourth down and are now 10-of-11 on the season.
Most deceiving statistic: Penn State fumbled three times (losing one).
Best run: Potts broke a tackle on a 13-yard TD that tied the game (10-10) shortly before halftime.
Best pass: On third-and-10, Drew Allar rifled a sideline pass to KeAndre Lambert-Smith, who got loose for 35 yards, setting up a third-quarter touchdown and the Lions' 17-10 lead.
Worst pass: NW backup quarterback Brendan Sullivan threw an interception directly to Daequan Hardy, whose 34-yard return set up the Lions' final TD.
Best catch: Lion punter/holder Riley Thompson did a nice job to snatch a high snap on Alex Felkins' 47-yard field goal that put PSU up 20-10.
Catch it, will ya: There weren't any blatant drops but no great catches, either.
Hold it, won't ya: Nick Singleton fumbled the opening kickoff, and NW recovered, the Lions' first turnover of the season.
Best block: Khalil Dinkins helped "block" Allar into the end zone on the 1-yard sneak that put the Nits up 17-10 in the third quarter.
Best tackle: Freshman Zion Tracy alertly tackled NW's Charlie Mangieri at the Wildcats' 31, blowing up a fake punt with 4:25 left in the third quarter.
Best hit: Northwestern's Braydon Brus jarred the fumble from Singleton.
Best kick: Felkins' 47-yard FG.
Worst kick: NW punter Hunter Renner shanked a 22-yarder in the fourth quarter.
Best call(s): Up 27-10 in the third quarter, Manny Diaz kept the blitzes coming.
Worst call: Didn't like the Franklin/Yurcich play to fake a knee and have Beau Pribula throw a TD for last score with two minutes left. OK to score there but spare the deception.
Worst penalty: After forcing a three-and-out early in the fourth quarter, Cam Miller was hit with an unsportsmanlike flag for taunting when he handed a NW player the football. Instead of having to punt down 27-10, NW took the gift first down and kicked a field goal.
Best effort: Cam Porter turned a third-and-16 into a 17-yard gain during the 'Cats touchdown drive that gave NW a 10-3 lead. Bad tackling helped.
Unsung hero: Thompson averaged 46.8 on four punts and hit two inside the 20.