PSU-Purdue Highs & Lows
Trending
UNIVERSITY PARK --- Following are the highlights and lowlights from Penn State's 31-17 victory over Purdue on Saturday at Beaver Stadium:
Play of the game: PSU safety Jamison Patton timed his third-quarter interception well, returning it 13 yards to the Purdue 41, which set up a field goal (and 24-14 lead).
Offensive player of the game: Nittany Lion tailback Cam Wallace, previously fourth string, rushed for a career-high 135 yards on 22 carries and a TD. He also caught three passes.
Defensive player of the game: PSU defensive end Yvon Kemajou was a presence with three tackles, including one for loss and a sack.
Most telling statistic: State outrushed the Boilermakers 269-33.
Hidden statistic: The Lions ran a season-high 77 plays and kept Purdue's offense off the field by controlling time of possession by a staggering 43:27-16:33.
Best run: Carson Hanson busted a 42-yard run -- PSU's longest of the year in a Big Ten game until Wallace's 48-yarder -- in the first quarter.
Best pass: Purdue's Ryan Browne threw a pretty 38-yarder up the right sideline to Asaad Waseem in the first quarter.
Worst pass(es): Rocco Becht had chances to connect with Ben Brahmer in the red zone in the first quarter. Twice, he missed.
Best catch: Purdue's Xavier Townsend was interfered with by Josiah Zayas but still managed to come up with a 33-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter.
Catch it, will ya: Daryus Dixson dropped an interception in the third quarter.
Hold it, won't ya: Penn State didn't fumble.
Let it go, please: Zay Robinson fair caught two Purdue punts at the 5.
Best tackle: Up just 21-14, Zayas and Armstrong Nnodim combined to stop Fame Ijeboi on third and short at midfield, forcing a punt.
Best block: Andrew Rappleyea and freshman receiver Amarion Jackson combined to spring Hanson's run.
Best hit: Kemajou lit up Browne but was called for a borderline roughing-the-passer penalty.
Best kick: Ryan Barker's 44-yard field goal came with 2:11 left in the third quarter and gave the Nits a 24-14 lead.
Worst kick: Barker missed from 42 with 2:49 remaining.
Worst penalty: In the fourth quarter, Zion Tracy was flagged for taunting, which gave Purdue a first down.
Best call: While lining up for a 37-yard field goal on fourth-and-7 in the first quarter, PSU holder Nathan Tiyce flipped a shovel pass to Ben Brahmer for a 13-yard gain that set up the Nits' first touchdown.
Worst call: Third-and-1 to open the third quarter, despite having success on the ground, the Nits dropped back Becht, who was pressured into an incompletion and forced a punt. Huh?
Best effort: Purdue's Bisi Owens blocked Penn State's second-quarter punt, and Jalil Hall returned it 31 yards for a touchdown that tied the game at 14. Otherwise, the Boilers had one TD drive the entire game.
Best moment: Ki-Jana Carter, set for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in December, was honored in the first quarter.
Unsung hero(es): Penn State's offensive line.