For a Penn State team that has described the last six weeks as being in the middle of a storm, the clouds finally parted — figurative, if not literally — on Saturday in East Lansing.
The Nittany Lions (4-6, 1-6) snapped their first six-game losing streak in 21 years and earned their first Big Ten win of the season with a 28-10 victory over struggling Michigan State (3-7, 0-7).
Senior running back Kaytron Allen had his biggest game of the year with 25 carries for 182 yards and two touchdowns, marking his 11th career 100-yard performance and pulling him within 138 yards of the Penn State career rushing record held by Evan Royster.
While the Nittany Lions exploited the Spartans’ poor rush defense to the tune of 243, quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer didn’t throw much but was efficient in his fourth start since replacing the injured Drew Allar. The redshirt freshman failed to see a couple of open receivers, but was eight of 13 for 127 yards and two touchdowns, including a 75-yard strike to Devonte Ross.
Penn State’s defense, meanwhile, kept Michigan State to 229 yards (128 passing, 101 rushing) and sacked Spartan QB Alessio Milivojevic five times, including one that resulted in a fumble recovery. Dani Dennis-Sutton had two of the Nittany Lions’ sack, as well as his third blocked punt of the season.
After winning for the first time in two months, Penn State returns home next Saturday to face Nebraska. Kickoff time has not yet been announced
HOW IT HAPPENED
1st Quarter
Penn State went three and out on the game’s opening drive and Michigan State immediately took advantage. Running back Elijah Tau-Tolliver found a hole off the right side and went 57 yards for a touchdown on the Spartans’ first play from scrimmage as Michigan State took a 7-0 lead just over two minutes in.
The Nittany Lions answered with a nearly seven-minute drive. After quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer hit Trebor Pena on a short timing route to convert a fourth-and-2 from the Spartan 45, the two hooked up again for a 25-yard gain to the 13. Running back Kaytron Allen took care of it from there with a 5-yard carry and an 8-yard touchdown run off of a direct snap. The 12-play, 75-yard drive tied the game at 7-7 with 5:50 remaining in the first.
After both sides traded punts, Michigan State failed to convert a fourth down from the Penn State 38. A pair of Allen carries picked up a first down and moved the Nittany Lions near midfield as the first quarter expired.
End 1Q: Penn State 7, Michigan State 7
2nd Quarter
Allen picked up 8 on the first play of the quarter but Penn State would come away empty-handed. On fourth and 1 from the Spartan 42, Michigan State stopped Nick Singleton for no gain.
Spartan QB Alessio Milivojevic connected with Tau-Tolliver on third down for a 32-yard completion to the Penn State 19, and Tau-Tolliver carried for 11 to the 8. Linebacker Keon Wylie, though, got a tackle for loss on first down and sacked Milivojevic on third down, to hold the Spartans to a 24-yard Martin Connington field goal and a 10-7 lead with 8:40 remaining in the half.
On the first play of the ensuing possession, Grunkemeyer went deep down the middle to an open Devonte Ross for a 75-yard touchdown, Penn State’s longest play of the season and longest pass play in two years. The Nittany Lions had their first lead of the day at 14-10.
The Penn State defense held Michigan State to a three and out, and defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton notched his third blocked punt of the year — tying Jack Ham and Andre Collins for the program single-season record — to give the Nittany Lions the ball at the Spartan 41 with six minutes left in the half.
Penn State drove to the 22, but on fourth and 2 Grunkemeyer was sacked, and neither team could do much offensively in the final two minutes.
End 2Q: Penn State 14, Michigan State 10
3rd Quarter
Defense and punting were the story for most of the third quarter. Michigan State’s Ryan Eckley’s two boots pinned Penn State inside the 20, while Penn State’s Gabe Nwosu boomed a 68-yarder and another 41-yarder downed inside the Spartan 5.
After the latter, Michigan State moved out to its own 40, but a Dani Dennis-Sutton sack and a false start penalty had the Spartans with a second-and-22 at its own 28 as the third came to an end.
End 3Q: Penn State 14, Michigan State 10
4th Quarter
Dennis-Sutton opened the final quarter by sacking Milivojevic for the second consecutive play and an 8-yard loss and the Spartans were forced to punt.
The Nittany Lions then embarked on a punishing 76-yard drive that took a season-long 9:05 off the clock. Penn State rushed 12 times for 72 yards (Allen six for 36, Grunkemeyer three for 23 and Singleton three for 13) to get to the 4. On the final play of the drive, Grunkemeyer flipped the ball to Ross who got the edge and ran in for the score. Penn State led 21-10 with 4:32 remaining.
A 16-yard completion and consecutive roughing the passer penalties suddenly had the Spartans in the red zone. But on on first and 10 from the 20, Zion Tracy and Daryus Dixson sacked Milivojevic and forced a fumble that was recovered by Dixson at the Penn State 30.
Allen put the game away on Penn State’s next possession. The senior back broke off a 42-yard carry, then found a big hole for a 26-yard touchdown run as Penn State extended its lead to 28-10 with 2:07 remaining.
A sack of Milivojevic by King Mack and Amare Campbell on fourth down put the finishing touches on the Penn State victory.
Final: Penn State 28, Michigan State 10
