Pribula sparks unbeaten Penn State to 28-13 win over Wisconsin
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MADISON, Wis. - Coaches often talk about being able to win with their backup quarterback in case something happens to the starter.
With Drew Allar sidelined with a left knee injury near the end of the first half, Beau Pribula justified that confidence Saturday night.
Pribula entered and played with poise, completing 11-of-13 passes for 98 yards and a touchdown to lead the Nittany Lions to a 28-13 come-from-behind victory over Wisconsin before 76,403 at Camp Randall Stadium.
Pribula also rushed six times for 28 yards.
Though the third-ranked Lions hurt themselves with penalties, fumbles and an uneven first-half performance, they did remain unbeaten at 7-0 heading into next week's game of the season against Ohio State (7-1).
Allar did not appear seriously injured as he played two plays after he was sacked late in the first half.
James Franklin said after the game that Allar tested his knee but didn’t feel he was mobile enough to execute the offense.
The junior completed 14-of-18 for 148 yards and a touchdown before going out.
Kaytron Allen led Penn State ground gainers with 86 yards on 11 carries. Nick Singleton added 49 on 12 tries, including an 18-yarder.
Tyler Warren was the top receiver with seven catches for 46 yards. Trey Wallace added five catches for 67 yards.
Down 10-7, the Lions needed a lift from their defense, and they got one.
Jaylen Reed returned an interception 19 yards for a touchdown with 6:29 left in the third quarter to give the Lions a 14-10 lead.
That play seemed to let the air out of Wisconsin's upset hopes as the Nittany Lions used a pair of long Pribula-led fourth-quarter touchdown drives to put the game away.
Nathanial Vakos' 32-yard field goal pulled the Badgers within 14-13 with 2:44 left in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Pribula found backup tight end Khalil Dinkins on a 1-yard touchdown to push State up 21-13 with 10:01 left in the game and Allen capped it with a 24-yard touchdown with 3:10 remaining.
Wisconsin took a 3-0 lead on Vakos' 50-yard field goal in the first quarter.
The Lions took a 7-3 lead early in the second quarter by going 90 yards on nine plays with Allar hitting Singleton, who made a one-handed catch for a 6-yard touchdown.
Wisconsin regained the lead at 10-7 when it drove 73 yards in 10 plays with Tawee Walker scoring on a 3-yard run with 1:23 remaining in the first half.
The Badgers, now 5-3, visit Iowa next week. The Hawkeyes crushed Northwestern, 40-14, on Saturday.
Ohio State defeated visiting Nebraska 21-17 on Saturday at Ohio Stadium.
Kickoff on Saturday at Beaver Stadium is noon, and Fox will televise.