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Penn State returned to State College, Pennsylvania, looking to bounce back from last week’s surprise loss to the UCLA Bruins. But the Northwest Wildcats had other plans Saturday.
Wildcats running back Caleb Komolafe sprinted 72 yards and scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter to help Northwestern earn a 22-21 victory at Beaver Stadium. The close victory secured Northwestern’s third straight victory, while Penn State lost its third straight victory.
“I honestly believe our football team expected to win today,” Northwestern coach David Braun said. “Ultimately, the message was that you have a football team that has its back against the wall, but also a football team that is maybe wondering who it is.”
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Northwestern quarterback Preston Stone, left, celebrates his team’s win over Penn State on Saturday in State College, Pennsylvania. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
The Wildcats ended their 11-year windless drought at Beaver Stadium.
Penn State got the ball back with just under five minutes left after Komolafe’s touchdown, but quarterback Drew Allar suffered an apparent leg injury on a third down play.
After the game, Penn State coach James Franklin confirmed that Allar would miss the remainder of the season with an unspecified injury. Backup Ethan Grunkemeyer replaced him, was stopped on fourth down and the Wildcats ran out the clock.
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Backup Ethan Grunkemeyer replaced him and was immediately stopped on a fourth down and the Wildcats ran out the clock from there.
Allar finished 13 of 20 for 137 passing yards and added 25 rushing yards and a touchdown. Allar returned for his senior season to make the most of the season-ending interception he threw in last season’s College Football Playoff semifinal against Notre Dame.
Penn State quarterback Drew Allar sits on the field during an injury timeout Saturday at Beaver Stadium. (Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images)
The Nittany Lions committed six penalties for 71 yards in the first half.
Franklin has taken responsibility for Penn State’s recent struggles. “I take full responsibility for all of this,” Franklin said. “I hired all the staff, I recruited all the players. I believe in each of them. But we can’t do it at the moment.”
Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin stands on the field after the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Beaver Stadium Saturday in State College, Pennsylvania. (Matthew O’Haren/Imagn Images)
Iowa hosts Penn State next week and Grunkemeyer is expected to start at quarterback for the Nittany Lions.
