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By Andy Stine
astine@altoonamirror.com
UNIVERSITY PARK -- Following are the highlights and lowlights from Penn State's 34-27 victory over Bowling Green on Saturday at Beaver Stadium:
Play of the game: The defense struggled in the first half but really started to take control afterA linebacker Tony Rojas' interception with 6:36 to play in the game.
Offensive player of the game: Tyler Warren made eight receptions for 146 yards, which was a PSU record for a tight end.
Defensive player of the game: With his playing time significantly ramped up because of an injury to Kevin Winston Jr., Zakee Wheatley contributed six tackles, an interception and a pass break-up.
Most telling statistic: Of Bowling Green's 375 total yards, 286 came in the first half.
Most deceiving statistic: PSU controlled the ball for 12:34 of the third quarter.
Hidden statistic: Bowling Green's TD to open the game was the first opening drive touchdown PSU has allowed in 28 games.
Best run: Bowling Green's Jaison Patterson shedded one tackle and trucked Rojas on his way to a 9-yard gain in the second quarter.
Worst run: Drew Allar needed to throw the ball away, rather than giving up a sack of 23 yards in the third quarter.
Best pass: Allar's 14-yard TD pass over the middle to Nicholas Singleton to give the Nits a 27-24 lead in the third quarter was right on the money.
Worst pass: Allar's pass intended for Trey Wallace was thrown into double coverage and was picked by Jacorey Benjamin to end the third quarter. Honorable mention to BGSU QB Connor Bazelak's on Wheatley's INT.
Best catch: BG's Malcolm Johnson Jr. hauled in a pass that was off the mark for a first down in the first quarter.
Catch it, will ya: Omari Evans had a ball bounce off his chest on third-and-18 that would have converted a first down.
Hold it, won't ya: Kaden Saunders fumbled a punt return in the third quarter that went out of bounds but could have been disastrous.
Best block(s): Sal Wormley and Anthony Donkoh made a huge hole on Kayton Allen's 26-yard gain in the first quarter.
Best tackle: Zane Durant shed a blocker and leveled Jamal Johnson early in the fourth quarter.
Best kick: Sander Sahaydak badly needed a big kick to boost his confidence and finally got one with a 43-yard field goal.
Worst kick: Gabriel Nwosu had a fourth-quarter kickoff go out of bounds.
Best call(s): Bowling Green going with the air attack to expose PSU's pass defense with a solid QB in Bazelak was the right game plan by coach Scot Loeffler.
Worst call: The Falcons should have punted up 17-14 from their own 45 in the second quarter. Instead, Abdul Carter batted a Bazelak pass down, and PSU got a short field.
Worst penalty: Omari Evans' offensive pass interference wiped out a touchdown on a nice find by Allar.
Best effort: Bazelak was very good in the game, especially in the first half when the Falcons had a top-10 team on upset alert.
Unsung hero: Offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki has the offense looking better than it did at any point last season.