(College Park, MD) It’s never easy in the Big Ten, especially on the road. Penn State needed late game heroics to dispatch an undermanned Indiana squad last week in Beaver Stadium. Next for the Nittany Lions came a road test against a reeling Maryland squad. After a promising start to the season, the Terps were in nothing to lose mode at home after three straight conference losses. Again, Penn State (8-1, 5-1) had a lackluster first half. But in this contest PSU poured it on in with 30 second half points and came away with a 51-15 win over the Maryland Terrapins (5-4, 2-4).
Penn State QB Drew Allar was at his best all game long. Allar was 25-34 for 240 yards with 4 TDs. The offensive line provided Drew a clean pocket all game long. Allar looked sharp and confident throwing every route in the offense. The running game had a tough time all day against a stout Terrapins defensive line. Kaytron Allen did manage 91 yards. The defense again came up with some eye-popping numbers. The Nittany Lions D forced 4 turnovers and held Maryland to -49 yards rushing thanks to 6 sacks.
Marland’s QB Taulia Tagovalica started the game with 17 straight completions and a TD. TT finished with 286 yards passing and 2 TDs on a 29-39 afternoon.
“We won and we got better this week” said Penn State Coach James Franklin following the victory. Coach Franklin liked the fact that the Nittany Lions were able to grind out a running game against a Maryland D stacked against the run. Coach Franklin was exceptionally pleased with the special team’s performance of Kicker Alex Felkins. Felkins was 3-3 on field goals all between 30 and 39 yards.
Penn State finally got going mid-way through quarter one. A favorable outcome on a review gave Penn State a TD pass from Allar to Dante Cephas. As the first quarter ended Penn State unveiled a goal line package featuring both Allar and Beau Pribula. Allar made a fine ad lib play off a reverse from Pribula to get the score to 14-0 on the final play of quarter 1.
@PennStateFball recovers a @TerpsFootball fumble but can’t take advantage 7-0 Nittany Lions 5:56 quarter 1 @B1Gfootball @PremiunSports @EPAFootball pic.twitter.com/kLnnwmXesb
— Bruce Badgley (@BadgleyBruce) November 4, 2023
Can you say “Nittany Special” ? Pribula flips to Allar who add libs a toss to Theo Johnson all for a 2 TD pass. @PennStateFball 14 @TerpsFootball 0 as we end quarter one! Oh my! @EPAFootball @PremiunSports @B1Gfootball pic.twitter.com/hTaDpWiZwS
— Bruce Badgley (@BadgleyBruce) November 4, 2023
Maryland made it a ball game in the 2nd quarter with a TD toss from Tagovailoa.
On his 17th straight completion @TerpsFootball QB Taulia Tagovailoa hits Roman Hemby on a 7 yard TD. @PennStateFball still up 14-7 7:59 until halftime @EPAFootball @B1Gfootball @PremiunSports pic.twitter.com/WNrGWREpa5
— Bruce Badgley (@BadgleyBruce) November 4, 2023
Allar took control in the next Penn State drive. It was 21-7 at halftime when Drew hit Tyler Warren on an 8-yard TD toss.
The only scoring in quarter three was an Alex Felkins field goal.
A look at Alex Felkins 30 yard field goal the gave @PennStateFball a 24-7 lead over @TerpsFootball 6:08 left in quarter 3 @B1Gfootball @PremiunSports @EPAFootball https://t.co/a6eVNDDSRU pic.twitter.com/dpVUR2am4U
— Bruce Badgley (@BadgleyBruce) November 4, 2023
Penn State pulled away with 27 fourth quarter points to make the final 51-14.
Penn State is at home next week for a pivotal game with Michigan. Maryland faces Nebraska in Lincoln.
