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Penn State Escapes From Indiana 33-24

Written by: on Saturday, October 28th, 2023. Follow Bruce Badgley on Twitter.

It is understandable that a team might come out a bit flat after an emotional loss the week before.  There is never an easy game in the Big Ten.  Couple a tough loss with an emotional opponent and you have the opportunity for a big time upset.  No quit Indiana came into Beaver Stadium and fell behind by 10 midways through the third quarter. The Hoosiers (2-6, 0-5) then fought back to lead Penn State by 3 with 2:58 remaining.  Then Drew Allar did what he was brought to Penn State to do.  Drew led a gut check final drive hitting KeAndre Lambert-Smith in stride for a go ahead 57-yard TD with 1:46 left.  The defensive forced a late safety to give Penn State (7-1, 4-1) an exciting hard fought 33-24 win over Indiana.

Indiana outgained Penn State 349-342 in this back-and-forth battle.  Penn States ability to grind out a running game proved to be the difference in this one.  The Nittany Lions had a 35 minute to 24-minute time of possession edge.  Keytron Allen squeezed out 81 yards to lead Penn State in rushing.  Needless to say, KeAndre Lambert-Smith with his 96 yards and the game winning TD grab paced the receiving Corp for Penn State.

Coach James Franklin called the win “Awesome” Coach Franklin called Drew Allars performance as “Awesome” James mentioned that Drew Allar set an NCAA record in the game for the most completions without an interception.  Unfortunately, the streak was broken by Indiana late in the fourth quarter.  The Hoosiers turned the INT into an important game leading Indiana field goal.

Indiana played an outstanding first quarter.  Two long TD passes from QB Brenden Sorsby of 90 and 69 yards had the Hoosiers up 14-7.  Quarter two belonged to Penn State.  A rushing TD by Nick Singlton and a 50 yard field goal put the Nittany Lions up 17-14 at the break.

Drew Allar and Theo Johnson extended the lead to 10 in quarter three.

There was no backing down for the Hoosiers.  Indiana drew within three with 10:54 remaining. Allar threw his first INT of the season to give Indiana the ball deep in the Penn State end.  The Hoosiers would tie it up!

Penn State and Allar got the ball back and capitalizes quickly.  The game winner came with 1:46 left on a bomb to Lambert-Smith.  KeAndre tight roped down the sidelines and tumbled into the end zone for the game winning score. As Beaver Stadium came unglued the defense forced a safety to make the final 33-24.

Penn State has another road Big Ten test at Maryland next week.  The Hoosiers stagger back home to face Wisconsin.


 

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