Caleb Komolafe rushed for the go-ahead, fourth-quarter touchdown Saturday as Northwestern handed Penn State its third straight loss, emerging from University Park, Pa. with a 22-21 victory.
Northwestern’s Preston Stone threw for 163 yards, much of which went to Griffin Wilde (seven catches, 94 yards, TD). Komolafe ran for 72 yards on 19 carries for the Wildcats (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten).
The Nittany Lions (3-3, 0-3) lost Drew Allar to a leg injury late in the game after the veteran quarterback went 13-of-20 passing for 137 yards with an interception. Kaytron Allen contributed 90 rushing yards and a score for Penn State, while Devonte Ross caught seven balls for 115 yards.
Northwestern trailed 21-16 with just under five minutes left when Komolafe broke through the defense for a 9-yard touchdown run, putting the Wildcats up 22-21.
The ensuing conversion attempt failed, but it didn’t ultimately matter as Penn State failed to reach field-goal range on its next possession. Allar was injured on a third-and-4 run in Nittany Lions territory, forcing Ethan Grunkemeyer to come in on fourth down. His scramble attempt fell well short of the sticks.
Northwestern burned the rest of the clock with Joseph Himon II sliding down at the 2 to preserve the victory.
Jack Olsen’s 27-yard field goal accounted for the only points of the first quarter. However, a Penn State drive that began in the opening quarter concluded with Allen’s 11-yard TD run early in the second.
The Wildcats promptly responded with Stone’s 29-yard TD pass to Wilde, who got open in the back corner of the end zone for a 10-7 advantage. Yet, the momentum quickly turned in the Nittany Lions’ favor, as Northwestern muffed a punt that led to Nicholas Singleton’s 2-yard TD run on fourth-and-goal.
Northwestern threw the final punch of the first half, as Olsen drilled a 34-yard field goal in the waning seconds to bring the visitors within 14-13 at the break. He kicked another early in the fourth to put the Wildcats in front 16-14.
On the ensuing possession, Allar’s 67-yard pass to Ross led to a 1-yard TD run by the Penn State quarterback, putting the hosts ahead 21-16 with 10:50 to play.
–Field Level Media
