STATE COLLEGE – You could just feel a collective sigh of relief from the Penn State (4-0) team following a dominant 31-0 win in the “White Out” game against Iowa (3-1) Saturday night. This is still a very young and developing Penn State team. The relief came from this young group handling their first real pressure of this season. The pressure came from playing in and winning the ” White Out” game. Additional pressure came from facing a tough Big Ten West opponent for the first time this season. Needless to say, this young Penn State team is growing up fast and in a big-time way.
The Nittany Lion defense ruled this game from the outset. At no time did Iowa seriously threaten to score in the game. Penn State forced four Iowa turnovers. Iowa finished with 76 total yards and just four first downs. Incredible. Penn State on offense had its issues in the first half but broke the game open in the second half. Using a controlled short passing game, Penn State was efficient on offense. QB Drew Allar was 25-37 for 166 yards, but four went for TDs. Tight end Tyler Warren pulled in two of the four TD passes. Ketron Allen carried the bulk of the rushing load for Penn State and tallied 72 yards.
Head Coach James Franklin lauded his teams’ impressive team performance and statistics. Coach Franklin felt the Nittany Lions played, “really, good, complimentary football.” Coach Franklin pointed out that Penn State has now scored 30+ points in 11 straight games which leads the nation.
Franklin reminded everyone that he Nittany Lions have yet to turn the ball over this season. Penn State had over 45 minutes of time of possession which Coach Franklin said he had never seen before. He was also very proud of a game attendance of 110,832 in less-than-ideal weather conditions. Quarterback Drew Allar said that patience and taking what the defense was giving the offense was part of the Nittany Lion game plan. “This was one of those games where you have to take care of the ball and not force anything, we did a really good job tonight protecting the ball.”
The first quarter was mostly each team probing each other’s defense for some weaknesses. Iowa blinked first with a lost fumble late in the quarter. The Nittany Lions took advantage with a 46-yard Alex Felkins field goal and a 3-0 first-quarter lead. Penn State extended the lead to 10-0 in quarter two with a Drew Allar to Khalil Dinkins 9-yard TD. It ended 10-0 at the break.
Penn Stlly took control in quarter three. Two drives over 70-yard in the quarter ended with Allar to Tyler Warren’s short TD passes and a 24-0 lead after quarter three. In quarter four Iowa gave Penn State a second chance deep in their end on a penalty and Allar made the Hawkeyes pay with a TD to KeAndre Lambert Smith for a 31-0 lead which was the final.
Northwestern is next up for Penn State. Iowa hosts Michigan State next week.
