Postgame_Notes_photo_vwMrSPostgame_Notes_photo_vwMrS

POSTGAME NOTES: Penn State vs. Central Michigan

TEAM

  • Penn State is now 2-0 all-time against Central Michigan.
  • The Nittany Lions are 32-2 all-time against MAC opponents.
  • This is the 39th 4-0 start in program history.
  • Penn State has won 16 consecutive games against teams that are not members of a Power Five conference.
  • Penn State has won 16 consecutive games over non-conference opponents during the regular season.
  • Penn State has won 21-straight non-conference home games.
  • Penn State has scored 30+ points in four straight games to start the season for the first time since 2018 (45 vs. Appalachian State, 51 at Pittsburgh, 63 vs. Kent State, 63 at Illinois).
  • Penn State forced four opponent turnovers for the second consecutive game, the first time that the Nittany Lions have forced at least four turnovers in two straight games since forcing four by both Virginia and Navy early in the 2012 season.
  • Penn State has forced nine turnovers this season and only turned the ball over once, a margin of +8.
  • S Cristian Driver, S Mehki Flowers and LB Keon Wylie all made their collegiate debuts. Twenty-five Nittany Lions have made their collegiate debut this season.
  • Driver, Flowers and Wylie are among 15 true freshmen who have played this season.

 
OFFENSE


Team

  • With RB Kaytron Allen's 111-yard rushing performance, Penn State has had two true freshmen running backs post 100-yard games in a single season for the first time since 2019, when Devyn Ford (once) and Noah Cain (twice) each eclipsed the 100-yard plateau.

 
Sean Clifford

  • QB Sean Clifford completed 22-of-34 passes for 217 yards and three touchdowns.
  • Clifford connected with Mitchell Tinsley for a 5-yard touchdown pass on Penn State's opening drive.
  • Clifford added a 4-yard touchdown pass to Brenton Strange in the first quarter and a 3-yard touchdown toss to Strange in the third quarter.
  • Clifford scored on a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter.
  • With two touchdown passes in the first quarter, Clifford has thrown multiple touchdown passes in a half on 19 occasions and has thrown multiple touchdown passes in a quarter on 11 occasions.
  • Clifford recorded his 28th career game with multiple touchdown passes and 14th career game with three or more touchdown passes.
  • With 217 passing yards, Clifford earned his 22nd career game with 200 passing yards. He broke a tie with Christian Hackenberg (2013-15) to move into sole possession for second all-time at Penn State. He is six away from the all-time record held by Trace McSorley (2015-18).
  • Clifford's three touchdown passes raised his career total to 70 touchdown passes. He is seven behind Trace McSorley (2015-18) for the all-time record at Penn State.
  • Clifford's 1-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter was his 14th career rushing touchdown. On the day, he broke a tie with John Hufnagel (1970-72) for fourth all-time at Penn State in rushing touchdowns by a quarterback.
  • Clifford recorded his 10th game with both a passing and rushing touchdown. Penn State is 9-1 in those games.

 
Nicholas Singleton

  • RB Nicholas Singleton had a 21-yard rush in the third quarter. It was his sixth rush of 20 or more yards this season.
  • Singleton's 42 rushing yards today give him 376 rushing yards in his first four games, the most rushing yards by a Penn State freshman running back ever in the first four games of a season. Saquon Barkley had 373 rushing yards in the first four games of his 2015 freshman year.

 
Kaytron Allen

  • RB Kaytron Allen rushed for 111 yards on 13 carries marking the first 100-yard rushing game of his career.
  • Allen scored on a 14-yard run in the second quarter. It was his third career touchdown, which have all come in the last two games.
  • Allen had a career-long37-yard run in the fourth quarter.
  • Allen has yet to have a negative-yard rush in his career.

 
Parker Washington

  • WR Parker Washington has caught a pass in all 26 games of his career.
  • Washington had a 27-yard reception in the first quarter and a 20-yard catch in the third quarter, giving him 25 career receptions of 20 or more yards.
  • Washington's 64 receiving yards move him to 1,521 career receiving yards, the 18th best mark at Penn State. He moved past Mike Gesicki (1,481; 2014-17) and Freddie Scott (1,520; 1993-95) today.
  • With six receptions, Washington has 116 career receptions, one behind Jack Curry (117; 1965-67) for 12th all-time.

 
Mitchell Tinsley

  • WR Mitchell Tinsley hauled in a 5-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter. It was his 21st career touchdown reception and third as a Nittany Lion.
  • Tinsley made a 29-yard grab in the second quarter, giving him 29 career receptions of 20 or more yards.
  • Tinsley has a reception in 30-straight games.

 
Brenton Strange

  • TE Brenton Strange recorded his first career game with multiple receiving touchdowns, grabbing a 4-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter and a 3-yard TD pass in the third stanza.
  • Strange has three receiving touchdowns this season and nine in his Penn State career.

 
KeAndre Lambert-Smith

  • WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith has a reception in 20-straight games.

 
Harrison Wallace III

  • WR Harrison Wallace III hauled in a career-long 26-yard reception in the second quarter.

 
Liam Clifford

  • WR Liam Clifford grabbed a career-long 20-yard reception in the third quarter.

 
DEFENSE
 
Team

  • The Nittany Lions recorded two interceptions, including one each by S Zakee Wheatley and CB Johnny Dixon and two fumble recoveries, by LB Curtis Jacobs and CB Kalen King, marking the second-straight game where Penn State has forced four turnovers.
  • The Nittany Lions have forced multiple takeaways in a game on 44 occasions since 2014 and twice in 2022 (four takeaways at Auburn).
  • Penn State registered 9 pass breakups in the first half and 13 in the game.
  • The Nittany Lions recorded double-digit pass breakups in a game for the second time this season. Penn State had 16 pass breakups at Purdue.
  • Penn State has registered 41 pass breakups through four games this season. Penn State totaled 41 pass breakups all of last season.
  • Penn State forced a Central Michigan turnover on downs at the PSU 5 in the third quarter. Kalen King's forced fumble in the fourth quarter resulted in a second red zone stop. Penn State has four red zone stops this season.
  • Penn State held Central Michigan to 88 yards rushing, the 42nd time that the Nittany Lions have held an opponent to less than 100 rushing yards since 2014.

 
Joey Porter Jr.

  • CB Joey Porter, Jr. eclipsed the 100-career tackle mark with five tackles today. He now has 103 career stops.
  • Porter recorded three pass breakups.

 
Kalen King

  • CB Kalen King forced and recovered a fumble in the fourth quarter. It was his second career forced fumble and first career fumble recovery.
  • King registered a career-high four pass breakups. His previous high was two against Rutgers in 2021.

 
 
Zakee Wheatley

  • S Zakee Wheatley intercepted a pass in the first quarter and returned it 34 yards. It was Wheatley's second career interception and third takeaway this season.
  • Wheatley has recorded an interception in back-to-back games.
  • Wheatley had a career-high five tackles. His previous high was two on two occasions, last at Auburn.

 
Johnny Dixon

  • CB Johnny Dixon intercepted a pass late in the second quarter. It was his second career interception and first as a Nittany Lion.
  • Dixon notched a career-best three pass breakups. His previous best was two at Purdue.

 
Dani Dennis-Sutton

  • DE Dani Dennis-Sutton notched a career-high two sacks in the fourth quarter. His previous best mark was one against Auburn.
  • Dennis-Sutton also recorded the first pass breakup of his career in the final stanza.

 
Ji'Ayir Brown

  • S Ji'Ayir Brown had four tackles, leaving him just two tackles shy of 100 career tackles.
  • Brown had two quarterback hurries, giving him three on the season.

 
Nick Tarburton

  • DE Nick Tarburton recorded a solo tackle for loss in the second quarter.

 
Amin Vanover

  • DE Amin Vanover recorded a pass breakup in a third-straight game. He now has three on the season and for his career.

 
SPECIAL TEAMS


Jake Pinegar

  • K Jake Pinegar booted three extra points today, moving him to a tie with Brett Conway (1993-96) for fourth all time at Penn State with 276 career points.

 
Barney Amor

  • P Barney Amor landed three punts on or inside the 10 today, giving him 10 punts inside the 20 this season.
  • In the second quarter, Amor landed a 48-yard punt at the CMU 3.
  • In the third quarter, Amor hit a 51-yard punt to the CMU 10, which was muffed and recovered by Penn State.
  • Also in the third quarter, Amor landed a punt at the CMU 6.
  • Amor also had a 51-yard boot in the third quarter, his seventh punt of 50+ yards this season.

 
Curtis Jacobs

  • LB Curtis Jacobs recovered a fumble on a muffed punt in the third quarter. It was his first career fumble recovery.