WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Sean Clifford connected with Keyvone Lee for a 10-yard touchdown to give the Penn State football team the lead with 57 seconds remaining as the Nittany Lions earned a 35-31 win over Purdue at Ross-Ade Stadium to begin the 2022 season.
Clifford completed 20-of-37 passes for 282 yards and a career-high-tying four passing touchdowns, while adding a 2-yard rushing score. Mitchell Tinsley caught seven passes for 84 yards and a touchdown in his Penn State debut, while KeAndre Lambert-Smith had four receptions for 58 yards and a touchdown. Brenton Strange added a 67-yard touchdown reception. The Nittany Lions tallied 406 total yards, including 308 through the air.
Joey Porter Jr. led the Nittany Lions with eight tackles to go with three pass breakups and a fumble recovery. Johnny Dixon and Jonathan Sutherland each had a sack, while Dixon broke up two passes. Keaton Ellis broke up three passes and Zakee Wheatley forced a fumble.
Purdue collected 426 total yards. Aidan O'Connell completed 29-of-58 passes for 356 yards and a touchdown. Charlie Jones hauled in 12 catches for 153 yards and a score, while King Doerue rushed for 57 yards and two touchdowns. Chris Jefferson led Purdue with seven tackles and an interception, which he returned for a touchdown.
The 2022 Penn State football season is presented by PSECU.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Boilermakers got on the board first, finishing a 73-yard drive with a 36-yard field goal by Mitchell Fineran with 3:38 left in the first quarter. O'Connell completed three passes on the drive, including a 30-yard pass to Jones.
Penn State answered with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Clifford to Tinsley with 13:09 left in the second quarter. The Nittany Lions finished a 12-play, 79-yard drive as Clifford found a wide-open Tinsley on a crossing route. The drive was sparked by a 20-yard reception by Parker Washington and a 12-yard catch by Devyn Ford. Penn State took a 7-3 lead.
Purdue responded with a touchdown drive, concluding with a 3-yard run by Doerue. The Boilermakers' 75-yard drive was aided by a pair of penalties. Purdue led 10-7 with 9:43 left in the second quarter.
Penn State re-took the lead on a 2-yard touchdown rush by Clifford with 1:44 left in the first half. The eight-play, 43-yard drive including four runs by Nicholas Singleton and a 10-yard catch by Strange.
The Nittany Lions forced a turnover in Purdue territory with 30 seconds left in the half. On a reverse play, Wheatley knocked the ball loose and Porter Jr. recovered the ball at the Penn State 18.
Penn State took advantage of the turnover with a 67-yard touchdown reception by Strange. The redshirt junior caught the ball along the sideline and fought off multiple Boilermakers to break loose for the score and his longest career reception. Penn State held a 21-10 lead at the break.
Purdue scored on a 2-yard run by Doerue on the opening drive of the second half. A 75-yard drive included a 22-yard pass from O'Connell to Jones and an 18-yard pass from O'Connell to Broc Thompson.
The Boilermakers took the lead on a 7-yard touchdown pass from O'Connell to Jones late in the third quarter. Purdue engineered a 10-play, 81-yard drive, which included a 26-yard reception by Mershawn Rice and a 23-yard catch by Payne Durham. Purdue led 24-21 with 1:11 left in the third quarter.
The Nittany Lions answered with a 29-yard touchdown reception by Lambert-Smith in the fourth quarter. After forcing a three-and-out, Penn State started the drive at their own 45 yard-line. Clifford hit Mitchell Tinsley for a 17-yard reception and Kaytron Allen for a nine-yard pass. Clifford connected with Lambert-Smith on a slant and the sophomore spun out of a tackle and took it to the end zone. Penn State held a 28-24 lead with 10:44 remaining.
Purdue re-took the lead on a 72-yard pick-six by Jefferson to hold a 31-28 advantage with 8:29 to go.
After a key third-down pass breakup by Hardy to force a Purdue punt, the Nittany Lions took over on their own 20 yard-line with 2:22 remaining.
The drive began with an 8-yard completion to Tinsley and a 7-yard reception by Lambert-Smith. Two plays later, Clifford connected with Tinsley towards the sideline for a 27-yard catch-and-run to the Purdue 30. On second-and-five at the Purdue 25, Clifford hit Tyler Warren for a 15-yard gain to the Purdue 10. On the next play, Clifford rolled out to his right and lofted a pass to Lee, who took it into the end-zone for the go-ahead score. Penn State took a 35-31 lead with 57 seconds remaining.
