SEATTLE – Penn State football (5-4, 2-4 Big Ten) earned its second consecutive conference victory with a 28-25 win at Washington (5-4, 2-4 Big Ten). A 21-point second quarter, highlighted by three explosive plays and three-consecutive defensive three-and-outs, powered the Nittany Lions to the road victory.
A balanced effort from the offense and defense allowed Penn State to leave Washington with a win. The Nittany Lions defense kept the Huskies out of the end zone until late in the third frame, while the offense scored four touchdowns, including three 20-plus-yard scores, to build a 28-6 lead. The Penn State offense combined for 414 yards, marking its fifth 400-plus-yard outing of the year.
Redshirt senior Rocco Becht compiled 250 yards of total offense. The Florida native completed 16-of-27 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns and added 10 rushing yards. Becht recorded his fourth game of the season with two-plus passing touchdowns and 25th of his career. He also posted his 36th career 200-yard passing performance and seventh of the season.
Redshirt senior Chase Sowell was Becht’s top target, hauling in four catches for 125 yards and one touchdown. Senior Benjamin Brahmer followed with 36 yards on five catches, junior Brett Eskildsen was right behind with 35 yards on two receptions and redshirt freshman Zay Robinson added 30 yards on two catches, including a 24-yard touchdown grab. Senior Carson Hansen led the Nittany Lions on the ground with a season-high 119 yards on 14 carries and one touchdown. Redshirt junior Cam Wallace tallied 56 yards on seven carries and a score.
Redshirt junior Tony Rojas and senior Kooper Ebel led the charge defensively with eight tackles each. Rojas added one tackle for loss and Ebel contributed a half tackle for loss. Sophomore Alexander McPherson posted four tackles and one tackle for loss, while freshman Josiah Zayas had four tackles and a half tackle for loss. Sophomore Yvan Kemajou and redshirt junior Ty Blanding combined for a sack. Redshirt sophomore Ibn McDaniels recorded his first career interception in the fourth quarter.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Huskies got on the board on their opening drive. Washington capped a 14-play, 65-yard drive with a 29-yard field goal by Tyler Robles. The Huskies moved into PSU territory with the help of a 15-yard run by Jayden Limar and a 10-yard scramble by Demond Williams Jr. However, after Washington moved the ball to the PSU 12, the Nittany Lions clamped down, forcing two incompletions and stopping a run for a one-yard gain.
The Nittany Lions answered with a seven-play, 75-yard drive, capped by a 12-yard touchdown rush by Hansen. Becht connected on all four of his passes for 50 yards, while Hansen added a 20-yard rush. The Nittany Lions picked up five first downs in just seven plays on their opening possession to take a 7-3 lead with 4:35 remaining in the first frame.
After Penn State forced a three-and-out, the Nittany Lions marched down the field again on a drive highlighted by a 32-yard completion to Sowell on third-and-nine and a fourth-and-one conversion on a run by Becht. The drive ended with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Robinson on third-and-10, making it 14-3.
Penn State’s defense notched its third consecutive three-and-out, forcing the Huskies to punt out of their own end zone. Hansen opened the ensuing two-play drive with a 10-yard run, and Becht followed with a 45-yard touchdown pass to Sowell to make it 21-3 with 10:03 remaining in the half.
Washington trimmed the deficit on its next possession. An eight-play, 62-yard drive ended in a 31-yard field goal by Robles. A 27-yard run by Limar helped Washington move the ball to the PSU 9. However, a tackle for loss by Rojas and a key tackle by Zayas were followed by a sack by Blanding and Kemajou to force a field goal. PSU still led, 21-6, with 5:13 to go in the half.
The Nittany Lions answered with an explosive 75-yard scoring drive that included a 24-yard pass from Becht to Brahmer before Wallace broke off a 46-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 28-6.
Washington had an opportunity to put points on the board as time drained from the clock, but the Penn State defense held. Jamison Patton broke up a third-and-two pass to force a Washington punt. The Nittany Lions ran out the final two minutes of the half and were set to receive the second-half kickoff.
Penn State could not convert a first down on its first possession of the second half, forcing Nathan Tiyce to punt. The Nittany Lions defense held the Huskies to a 47-yard field goal on the ensuing drive, narrowing the deficit to 28-9 with 10:27 remaining in the third stanza.
A one-handed 36-yard catch by Sowell on third-and-nine extended Penn State’s next drive, but the Nittany Lions turned the ball over on downs. Washington capitalized, finding the end zone for the first time in the contest. The Huskies capped a seven-play, 60-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown catch, making the score 28-17 with 3:39 remaining in the quarter.
The Nittany Lions did not have a response, punting after just three plays. Washington crossed midfield on the ensuing possession, but a holding penalty pushed the Huskies back into their own territory. McDaniels intercepted a third-and-long throw to give the offense the ball at the PSU 25. Penn State was unable to generate momentum on the ground, triggering Tiyce’s fourth punt of the day.
Washington made use of the opportunity and tacked on its third unanswered score. The Huskies used a balanced attack, consisting of a 23-yard rush and a 21-yard pass, to find the end zone. The drive was finished off with a six-yard pass from Williams to Dezmen Roebuck. Washington converted the two-point try to pull within 28-25.
Hansen’s 36-yard run on the ensuing drive set the offense up at the Washington 22, and a penalty on the Huskies pushed PSU to the 12-yard line. Penn State converted on third and fourth down to run out the clock and seal the 28-25 win.
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