The famed White-Out atmosphere at Beaver Stadium never disappoints, and Penn State head coach James Franklin made sure to harness that energy for his team’s Big Ten opener. Asking fans to bring that famous fervor into Saturday night’s matchup against No. 19 Illinois, Franklin was not let down as 109,911 fans, clad in white and shaking pom-poms, helped push the No. 9 Nittany Lions to a 21-7 victory.
Led by an electrifying run game and a defense that suffocated Illinois in the second half, Penn State (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) controlled the game after the break. Running back Nick Singleton shined, carrying the ball for 102 yards and a touchdown, while Kaytron Allen chipped in with 94 yards and a score. The Nittany Lions broke a 7-7 deadlock on the first possession of the second half when Singleton barreled in from 4 yards out to give Penn State a 14-7 lead. From there, the defense, bolstered by the raucous home crowd, shut the door on Illinois.
The Illini (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten) had been riding high on a four-game win streak but struggled to get anything going after their opening drive. Quarterback Luke Altmyer connected with Carson Goda on a 4-yard touchdown pass to cap off a methodical 75-yard opening drive, but Illinois’ offense stalled for the remainder of the contest. After amassing 75 rushing yards on their first possession, the Illini managed just 25 more rushing yards the rest of the game and were sacked seven times by Penn State’s aggressive defense. Illinois’ offense was frequently stymied by the Nittany Lions’ relentless pressure, getting tackled behind the line of scrimmage 13 times.
Penn State, meanwhile, found its rhythm offensively after Illinois’ early strike. On their first possession, the Nittany Lions answered quickly, piecing together a balanced drive that saw contributions from Singleton, quarterback Drew Allar, and tight end Tyler Warren, who leapt over the goal line from 3 yards out to tie the game at 7-7.
Though both teams sputtered offensively for the remainder of the first half, it was Penn State who found success after halftime. Singleton’s 4-yard touchdown run was the difference-maker early in the third quarter, giving the Nittany Lions momentum. Kaytron Allen added another score on a 13-yard run, capping off the Nittany Lions’ dominance.
The Illini had a golden opportunity to retake the lead before halftime. Altmyer led Illinois deep into Penn State territory, but a disastrous sequence unfolded at the Nittany Lions’ 2-yard line. A high snap forced Altmyer to retreat, resulting in a loss of momentum, intentional grounding, and a sack. Illinois’ kicker David Olano missed a 45-yard field goal after a penalty pushed the attempt back, and the Illini failed to recover after that.
Penn State’s defense took over in the second half. A.J. Harris sealed the victory with a late interception, and the Nittany Lions’ defense forced four punts and recovered a fumble, consistently frustrating Illinois’ offensive efforts.
With the victory, Penn State remains undefeated and looks poised to make a run in the Big Ten, while Illinois will need to regroup after their first loss of the season.
As the Nittany Lions march forward, one thing is certain: the White-Out energy in Beaver Stadium remains a force to be reckoned with.
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