The badgers thought they had the perfect game plan to knock off top dog Penn State, but there’s one thing they didn’t account for… The crowd and momentum.
Wisconsin got off to a hot start taking a 21 to 3 lead to start the game, but all it took was one score by Penn State for the floodgates to open!
Penn State took advantage of the 2 for 1 before the half and after scoring to go up 24-21 in the 3rd it was over.
The badgers played a relatively clean game not turning the ball over until they’re very last drive when the game was already out of reach.
“ I just don’t know if there was anything else we could do.” Said coach RB. You get up to a 21 -3 lead and you think you got this and then your defense just forgets how to act..
I blame JD for this loss. He DM’d me saying “my defense forgot how to play today” and from there on they most certainly did not… thanks for the reverse curse man! Haha Jk.
Great game Niddler. An honor to get to play the commish and it was an enjoyable ndl game of course.
Penn State Storms Back to Defeat Wisconsin 45-28 in Thrilling Home Victory
State College, PA – After a rocky start and a competitive first half, the Penn State Nittany Lions used an explosive second half to defeat the Wisconsin Badgers, 45-28, in front of a raucous home crowd at Beaver Stadium. The game saw Penn State’s offense come alive in the third and fourth quarters, while their defense stepped up to shut out Wisconsin in the second half, securing a comeback win.
First Half: Wisconsin Takes Early Lead, Penn State Keeps Close
The game began with both teams showing their ground-and-pound mentality. Wisconsin struck first on their opening drive with a 36-yard touchdown run by running back Chez Mellusi, giving the Badgers a 7-0 lead. Penn State responded with a 33-yard field goal from kicker Sander Sahaydak to trim the lead to 7-3.
As the first quarter wound down, it looked like the teams might settle into a defensive battle, but Wisconsin seized control in the second quarter. The Badgers' ground game was relentless, with HB Tawee Walker punching in two short-yardage touchdowns, one from 1 yard out and another from the same distance, extending Wisconsin's lead to 21-3.
Penn State, however, refused to be put away. Quarterback Drew Allar engineered a clutch drive that culminated in an 11-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Julian Fleming, bringing the Lions to within 11 points, 21-10. Penn State wasn’t done yet, and Allar struck again with a 10-yard touchdown pass to tight end Tyler Warren, cutting the Wisconsin lead to 21-17 as the teams headed into the locker room.
Second Half: Penn State's Defense and Offense Take Over
With the score close, it was clear that the second half would be a battle for control. The Nittany Lions’ defense came out of the break on fire, shutting down Wisconsin's offense and holding the Badgers scoreless throughout the third quarter. Meanwhile, Allar and the Penn State offense went to work.
The Lions took the lead early in the third when Allar connected with Fleming once again, this time on a 21-yard touchdown pass, giving Penn State a 24-21 lead. Moments later, Allar found wide receiver Omari Evans for a 28-yard touchdown pass, extending the Nittany Lions' lead to 31-21. Wisconsin, unable to muster any offense against Penn State’s swarming defense, was held scoreless in the third.
Fourth Quarter: Penn State Closes the Deal
As the fourth quarter began, Penn State's momentum was in full swing. The Lions made it a two-touchdown game when Allar hit TE Khalil Dinkins for a 12-yard touchdown pass, pushing the lead to 38-21.
Wisconsin, to their credit, did not go quietly into the night. Quarterback Braedyn Locke led the Badgers on a 75-yard drive that ended with a 29-yard touchdown pass to WR Will Pauling, narrowing the deficit to 38-28.
However, Penn State quickly answered, sealing the game with a statement play. Running back Nicholas Singleton broke free for a massive 55-yard touchdown run, putting the game out of reach and making it 45-28.
The Final Score: Penn State 45, Wisconsin 28
The victory marked a hard-fought comeback for Penn State, who showed resilience after a slow start. Drew Allar finished with an impressive stat line, throwing for 421 yards, touchdowns and 1 INT, including multiple connections with Fleming, Warren, and Evans. The sophomore quarterback's poise and playmaking ability were on full display as he led the Lions' offense to a dominant second half.
Wisconsin, despite the strong early showing, could not keep pace with Penn State’s explosive offense in the final two quarters. The Badgers were limited to just seven points in the second half, unable to overcome Penn State’s defensive adjustments.
Key Takeaways:
Drew Allar’s Masterclass: The sophomore QB had a stellar performance, finishing with five touchdown passes. His ability to spread the ball around, connecting with six different receivers recording catches in the game and 4 different WRs to score a TD, showcased his growing chemistry with the offense.
Defensive Dominance: Penn State’s defense shut out Wisconsin in the second half, a remarkable turnaround after the Badgers had scored three touchdowns in the first half.
Nicholas Singleton's Big Play: Singleton’s 55-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter put the game away and highlighted his explosive ability as a game-changer.
Resilience Under Pressure: Despite trailing by four points at halftime and facing a tough, physical Wisconsin team, Penn State showed grit, executing when it mattered most.
Looking Ahead:
With the win, Penn State improves to 6-1 on the season and remains in contention for a spot in the Big Ten Championship game. The Nittany Lions will look to build on this momentum as they prepare for a critical stretch of games to close out the regular season.
They will face their toughest challenge yet, next up, in Week 10 as they have to travel to Columbus, Ohio to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes!
For Wisconsin, the loss drops them to 5-3 on the year, but they’ll have a chance to regroup and rebound in their next matchup. Despite the defeat, their physicality in the first half showed they can still be a formidable opponent, especially when their ground game is firing on all cylinders.
As for Penn State, they will look to carry their second-half dominance into their upcoming games as they continue to pursue their championship aspirations.
Good game coach RB and good luck the rest of the way!
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