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By Neil Rudel
nrudel@altoonamirror.com
UNIVERSITY PARK -- Following are the highlights and lowlights from Penn State's 21-7 over Illinois on Saturday night at Beaver Stadium:
Play of the game: With 5:50 remaining, with the Nittany Lions up 14-7, A.J. Harris intercepted Luke Altmeyer at the Penn State 48 and returned it 52 yards for a touchdown. A penalty brought it back to the Illinois 41, but the play sucked the life out of the Illini.
Offensive player of the game: Lion tailback Kaytron Allen rushed for 102 yards on 18 carries -- a 5.7 average -- and a touchdown.
Defensive player of the game: Abdul Carter made seven tackles, including 3.5 for loss, and forced a fumble.
Most telling statistic: Penn State's defense held Illinois to 34 rushing yards on 32 carries.
Hidden statistic: Illinois gained just 59 yards in the second half.
Best run: Allen bulled for 14 angry yards in the second quarter.
Best pass: Drew Allar gunned an early 20-yarder over the middle to Trey Wallace.
Worst pass: Allar missed an open Wallace in the flat late in the third quarter, forcing a field-goal attempt.
Best catch: Nick Singleton made a leaping catch out of the backfield that he turned into a first down.
Catch it, will ya: Tyler Warren dropped two passes.
Hold it, won't ya: Penn State didn't fumble.
Best block: Julian Fleming helped seal the edge for Singleton's 4-yard TD that boosted the Lions' lead to 14-7.
Best tackle: Zane Durant broke through to sack Luke Altmeyer for a 7-yard loss early in the fourth quarter.
Best hit: Kobe King drilled Altmeyer early in the second quarter.
Best kick: Illinois punter Hugh Robertson flipped field position early with a 36-yard pooch to the PSU 4.
Worst kick(s): Sander Sahaydak missed a pair of 40-yard field goals.
Best call(s): Warren scored a diving touchdown and picked up first down out of the wildcat.
Worst call: Illinois had first-and-goal from the PSU 2 late in the second quarter, got in the shotgun and muffed the snap, which led by a missed field goal.
Worst penalty: Zion Tracy's needless block-in-the-back penalty wiped out Harris' Pick-6.
Best effort: Penn State's offensive line led a ground game that averaged 5.4 yards on 44 carries.
Unsung hero: Backup guard JB Nelson stepped in for injured Sal Wormley.