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Craig Houtz

Postgame Notes: Penn State vs. Northwestern

TEAM

  • Penn State is now 15-5 all-time against Northwestern.
  • The Nittany Lions have won eight of the last 10 matchups against the Wildcats.
  • The Nittany Lions are 5-0 to start the season for the 32nd time in program history.
  • Penn State had 37:28 of possession, the most for the Nittany Lions since having 40:22 in the 2020 season opener at Indiana.
  • Penn State was 3-for-3 in the red zone today (two touchdowns, one field goal). The Nittany Lions are now 19-for--20 on the season in the red zone (16 touchdowns, 3 field goals).

 
OFFENSE


Team

  • Penn State has surpassed 200 rushing yards 36 times since 2014, including three times in 2022. PSU is 31-5 in those games since 2014.

 
Sean Clifford

  • QB Sean Clifford connected with Brenton Strange for a 20-yard score in the first quarter.
  • Clifford now has 71 career touchdown passes, six behind Trace McSorley (2015-18) for Penn State's all-time record.
  • Clifford is 167 yards shy of 10,000 career total yards. He will be the second Penn State quarterback to reach that mark (Trace McSorley, 2015-18).
  • Clifford's 10 completions give him 692 career completions, one behind Christian Hackenberg (2013-15) for second all-time at Penn State.

 
Nicholas Singleton

  • RB Nicholas Singleton scored on a 2-yard run in the second quarter. It was Singleton's fifth rushing touchdown this season.
  • Since 2000, only Noah Cain (8; 2019), Saquon Barkley (7; 2015) and Ricky Slade (6; 2018) have more rushing touchdowns in their freshman season than Singleton's five scores.
  • Singleton had a career-high 21 carries. His previous high was 12 against Central Michigan.
  • With his 87 rushing yards, Singleton is just 37 yards shy of 500 career rushing yards.
  • Singleton had a career-long 11-yard reception in the second quarter.

 
Kaytron Allen

  • RB Kaytron Allen had a career-high 21 carries. His previous high was 13 against Central Michigan.

 
Parker Washington

  • WR Parker Washington has caught a pass in all 27 games of his career.
  • Washington made a 43-yard grab in the third quarter, a season-long.
  • Washington now has 26 career receptions of 20 or more yards.
  • Washington's four receptions today give him 120 for his career. He moves into 12th place at Penn State, five behind O.J. McDuffie (125; 1988-92) for 11th all-time.

 
Mitchell Tinsley

  • WR Mitchell Tinsley has a reception in 31-straight games.
  • Tinsley surpassed the 2,000 career receiving yard milestone with a 7-yard catch in the fourth quarter. He finished the night with 16 receiving yards, giving him 2,004 for his career.

 
Brenton Strange

  • TE Brenton Strange had a 20-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter for this third receiving touchdown in the last two games.
  • Strange has four receiving scores on the year, which are a career high.
  • Strange now has seven career receptions of 20 or more yards and three this season.

 
DEFENSE
 
Team

  • Penn State held Northwestern to just 31 yards rushing, the fewest rushing yards allowed since giving up (minus-19) yards to Purdue in 2019.
  • Penn State held Northwestern without a first down in the first quarter. It was the first time Penn State held an opponent without a first down in a quarter since Michigan in 2021 (first quarter).
  • Penn State forced a three-and-out on Northwestern's first five drives. This marks the most consecutive three-and-outs to start a game since forcing seven against Idaho (8/31/19).
  • The five three-and-outs to start the game are also the most against a Big Ten foe since holding Illinois to six consecutive three-and-outs in 2011.
  • The Nittany Lions forced three takeaways (one interception in the first quarter, two fumbles in the second quarter). Penn State has forced multiple turnovers 44 times since 2014, including three times in 2022.
  • Penn State has forced 11 turnovers in the last three games, the most in any three-game stretch since forcing 13 in 1996 (five vs. Northwestern, five vs. Michigan, three vs. Michigan State).
  • Penn State held Northwestern to 78 total yards in the first half. The Nittany Lions held a Big Ten opponent to less than 100 yards in a half for the first time since Rutgers in 2021 (93 yards; second half) and held an opponent under 100 yards in the first half since that same Rutgers game (67 yards).
  • Penn State held Northwestern to zero or negative yards on 14 of the Wildcats' 28 rushes.
  • The Nittany Lions notched a goal-line stand in the fourth quarter to force a red-zone stop. It was Penn State's fifth red zone stop of the season.
  • Penn State has forced 12 turnovers this season (seven fumbles, five interceptions)
  • With eight pass breakups, Penn State has 49 pass breakups this season.
  • Nick Tarburton recorded a sack, giving the Nittany Lions 10 players who have recorded at least one sack this season.
  • Penn State has held opponents to seven or less points 24 times (18 of 24 vs. Big Ten) since 2014.
  • Since 2014, Penn State has now held opponents less than 300 total yards 47 times.
  • Since 2014, the Nittany Lions have held opponents less than 100 rushing yards 43 times.

 
PJ Mustipher

  • DT PJ Mustipher tied a career high with eight tackles. He previously had eight against Ohio State in 2020.

 
Curtis Jacobs

  • LB Curtis Jacobs recovered a fumble late in the second quarter. It was his second career fumble recovery.

 
Joey Porter Jr.

  • CB Joey Porter Jr. recorded his 10th pass breakup of the season with one tonight.

 
Ji'Ayir Brown

  • S Ji'Ayir Brown intercepted a pass in the first quarter and returned it 30 yards. It was Brown's eighth career interception and second this season.
  • Brown has had a hand in 11 takeaways as a Nittany Lion and has helped force three takeaways this season.
  • Brown recorded a solo tackle for loss in the third quarter. Brown has recorded a tackle for loss on three previous occasions, the last coming at Auburn.

 
Nick Tarburton

  • DE Nick Tarburton recovered a fumble in the second quarter, his second career recovery. His first came against Wisconsin in 2021.
  • Tarburton had a strip-sack late in the second quarter. It was Tarburton's first career forced fumble and second career sack.
  • Tarburton is the 10th different Nittany Lion with at least one sack this year. Penn State entered the game with the third-most players in the nation to record at least one sack and the second-most among Power Five teams.
  • Tarburton's solo sack tied a career high. He also had a solo sack against Arkansas in the Outback Bowl.

 
Hakeem Beamon

  • DT Hakeem Beamon had a career-high two pass breakups, on consecutive plays in the fourth quarter. He previous high was one, at Purdue, in the 2022 season opener.

 
Abdul Carter

  • LB Abdul Carter recorded a full tackle for loss. He tied a career high, set against Auburn.

 
Jaylen Reed

  • S Jaylen Reed tied a career high with three tackles. He had three tackles on three previous occasions, last against Central Michigan.

 
Chop Robinson

  • DE Chop Robinson matched a career high with four tackles. He had four against Kent State in 2021 while playing at Maryland.

 
SPECIAL TEAMS


Jake Pinegar

  • K Jake Pinegar converted a 38-yard field goal in the third quarter, marking his 41st career field goal. That moved Pinegar into sole possession of sixth place at Penn State.
  • Pinegar's five points on the day raised his total to 281 career points, moving him into fourth place at Penn State.

 
Barney Amor

  • P Barney Amor landed four punts inside the 20, giving him a total of 14 punts inside the 20 this season.
  • Of the four punts inside the 20, three (7-, 4-, 8-yard lines) were inside the 10.
  • On the season, 14 of Amor's 23 punts have landed inside the 20, including 12 punts inside the 10.