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INDIANAPOLIS -- Penn State quarterback Drew Allar has made a living out of being a terrific game manager, rarely committing turnovers and taking what defenses give him.
When it was time to take a risk late in the game on Saturday evening in the Big Ten championship, Allar threw an interception on a short-yardage play on second down on the first play out of the two-minute timeout. Oregon ran the ball on three straight plays for a first down to seal the game, 45-37, at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Allar was throwing a deep ball to Trey Wallace, but was intercepted by Ducks' defensive back Nikko Reed. A completion would have given the Lions a first down in the red zone with two timeouts at their disposal.
"I've got to do a better job of him or nobody," Allar said. "I just have to see the leverage with the DB and give him more of a back shoulder, around the body where it's going to be him or nobody and move on in the progression."
"Give their kid credit. He made a heck of a play," PSU coach James Franklin said.
Despite the interception, Allar still turned in a solid effort with a 20 for 39 night with three touchdowns and two picks.
"We played the No. 1 team in the country and had a chance to win the game at the end," Franklin said.
Despite the costly turnover in crunch time, there were still plenty of mistakes made in the game. PSU was flagged five times for 65 yards, including four 15-yard penalties -- two for face masks and two more for unnecessary roughness.
"We can't make mistakes against a team like that," PSU running back Nicholas Singleton said. "Turnovers, penalties, whatever. You can't do that against that team. It's going to cost you."
PSU's best player in Tyler Warren was largely held in check despite still finishing with seven catches for 84 yards.
"They tried to take him away as much as they could. He still had a phenomenal game in the pass game and the run game," Allar said.
With a first round playoff game looming, PSU will use a bye week to get prepared for another huge test.
"I'm proud of our guys," Franklin said. "We're going to learn from it. We're going to flush it. We're going to move forward. We're going to get better because of it."