Game Coverage

PSU-Wisconsin highs & lows

UNIVERSITY PARK -- Following are the highlights and lowlights from Penn State's 24-20 loss to Wisconsin on Saturday at Beaver Stadium:

Play of the game: Colton Joseph found Jacob Harris wide open for a 72-yard pass that put the Badgers up 24-20 with 1:13 remaining.

Offensive player of the game: Joseph was only 18-of-38 and was intercepted three times. But he threw for 235 yards and two touchdowns in the second half to come back from a 17-0 deficit on the road.

Defensive player of the game: Tony Rojas made six tackles, including two for loss, intercepted a pass and was credited with a quarterback hurry.

Most telling statistic: Wisconsin outgained Penn State 208-52 in the fourth quarter.

Most deceiving statistic: The Badgers were penalized nine times --- four on their game-winning drive.

Hidden statistic: Penn State went four straight three-and-outs in the second half.

Best run: On third-and-9 from the Wisconsin 43, and the Lions' offense struggling, Rocco Becht scrambled 19 yards for a first down, which helped set up a field goal and a 20-10 lead with 3:53 left in the third quarter.

Best pass: Joseph's 11-yard touchdown pass to Eugene Hilton Jr., pulling the Badgers within 20-17 with 3:31 left, was perfect.

Worst pass: Fresh from his pick-6, Joseph was way off near the Penn State sideline. Daryus Dixson intercepted and returned it 24 yards to the Badger 11. Three plays later, the Lions went up 17-0.

Best catch: Freshman cornerback Josiah Zayas pulled in an interception with one hand in the first quarter and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 PSU lead.

Catch it, will ya: No obvious drops, but Brett Eskildsen could have come down with two 50-50 balls in the fourth quarter.

Hold it, won't ya: Becht fumbled twice but recovered both.

Best tackle: On first down at the Badgers' 33, up 24-20, Wisconsin's Sebastian Cheeks broke through to sack Becht for a 4-yard loss.

Best hit: Yvan Kemajou drilled Joseph, contributing to a second-quarter incompletion.

Best kick: Wisconsin punter Sean West boomed a 58-yarder that the Badgers downed at the Nits' 5 in the first quarter.

Worst kick: Still up 20-10 midway through the fourth quarter, from midfield, PSU punter Nathan Tiyce chunked one 31 yards to the Badgers' 25 when a coffin-corner was in order.

Worst penalty: Anthony Donkoh's false start late in the first half wiped out an 8-yard completion on first down with 1:07 and three timeouts left and became an empty series.

Best call: On third-and-2 from the Wisconsin 3, Taylor Mouser emptied the backfield for Becht, who scored on a QB draw to put the Lions up 17-0 with 10:29 left in the second quarter.

Worst call: On third-and-12 from the Nits' 10, the Lions tried James Peoples up the middle, which UW stuffed, cueing some boo birds.

Best effort: Wisconsin linebacker Mason Posa made 12 tackles, including eight solos, both game highs.

Unsung hero: West averaged 47.5 yards on six punts with three over 50 and also put three inside the 20.