Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton each ran for two touchdowns as Penn State smashed visiting Nebraska 37-10 on Saturday in University Park, Pa.
Allen rushed 25 times for 160 yards, while Singleton (44 yards) made the most of his seven carries. Ethan Grunkemeyer wasn’t asked to do much, but he was efficient (11-of-12 for 181 yards with a TD) as the Nittany Lions (5-6, 2-6 Big Ten) won their second straight following a six-game skid.
Nebraska’s TJ Lateef went 21-of-37 for 187 yards in addition to a rushing score. Emmett Johnson led the Cornhuskers (7-4, 4-4) with 103 yards on the ground and 48 more as a receiver.
Penn State’s defense set the tone early by stopping Johnson on fourth-and-1 from the 2-yard line on the game’s opening drive.
On the ensuing possession, Allen’s 50-yard run set up Grunkemeyer’s 4-yard TD pass to Andrew Rappleyea to make it 7-0.
Penn State had another 50-yard play on its next possession, this time a pass to Singleton that eventually led to a 26-yard field goal.
Nebraska responded with a field goal of its own, but Penn State created some separation with two touchdowns in the final five minutes of the half.
First, Singleton rushed for 14 yards to the 4-yard line and then hammered it home on the next play to make it 17-3.
Then, following a quick three-and-out by Nebraska, the Nittany Lions started at the Cornhuskers’ 14-yard line, thanks to Trebor Pena’s 21-yard punt return, combined with a personal foul on Nebraska.
Three plays later, Singleton ran for a 10-yard score to send Penn State into the locker room with a 23-3 advantage.
Early on the Nittany Lions’ first drive of the second half, Grunkemeyer found Pena for 29 yards to move the ball into Cornhuskers territory. Shortly thereafter, Allen rushed for a 3-yard TD to make it 30-3.
Nebraska responded with a productive drive before Zane Durant sacked Lateef on fourth down.
Lateef’s 11-yard TD run late in the third quarter and Allen’s 13-yard rushing TD early in the fourth completed the scoring.
