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By Neil Rudel
nrudel@altoonamirror.com
UNIVERSITY PARK -- Following are the highlights and lowlights from Penn State's 63-0 victory over Massachusetts on Saturday at Beaver Stadium:
Play of the game: Daequan Hardy's 68-yard punt return for a touchdown -- his second of the day -- made history as the first Nittany Lion with two punt returns for TDs in the same game.
Offensive player of the game: Drew Allar completed 16-of-23 for 162 yards and three touchdowns and was not intercepted. He also scored on a QB sneak.
Defensive player of the game: Adisa Isaac led the Nittany Lions with 3.5 tackles for loss (as a team, the Nits had 14 TFLs).
Most telling statistic: The Minutemen punted 10 times.
Hidden statistic: Penn State converted 7-of-9 third downs and 1-on-1 on fourth down.
Most deceiving statistic: UMass won time of possession, 32:58-26:25.
Best run: Kaytron Allen dragged half of UMass' defense for an 18-yard gain late in the first quarter.
Best pass: This wasn't a great day for passing so we're going with the side judge, Steven Verbridge, who uncorked a flag 25 yards in the second quarter.
Best catch: Hardy made a tough catch of a punt in traffic in the third quarter.
Catch it, will ya: Need an extra column. Tyler Warren dropped a touchdown pass in the third quarter. Fellow tight end Theo Johnson dropped a pass in the red zone and KeAndre Lambert-Smith did the same in the third quarter.
Hold it, won't ya: Trey Wallace fumbled away the Lions' first possession.
Best block: Dom DeLuca helped spring Hardy's 56-yard punt return for a touchdown that opened the scoring.
Best tackle: UMass cornerback Isaiah Rutherford coaxed the fumble out of Wallace.
Best hit: Isaac drilled Mass QB Taisun Phommachanh in the second quarter.
Best call: Zzzzz ....
Worst call: UMass, down 56-0, punted on fourth-and-7 at the Penn State 36. (Actually, it was penalized and then kicked from the 41.)
Worst penalty: Dani Dennis-Sutton's roughing the passer flag gifted UMass a first down in the second quarter.
Best effort: Johnson hurdled his way to an 18-yard touchdown reception that gave the Nits a 42-0 lead with 5:12 left in the third quarter.
Unsung hero: The alumni band braving the elements at halftime on this soggy homecoming.