Northwestern
2-3 , 1-2
#6 Penn State
5-0 , 3-0
Northwestern Hangs Tough In Setback Against No. 6 Penn State
9/30/2023 2:54:00 PM | Football
Wildcats return home next Saturday to host Howard for Homecoming
EVANSTON, Ill. (September 30, 2023) – Northwestern started fast, jumping out to a seven-point second-quarter lead, but No. 6 Penn State ultimately proved to be too much as it handed the Wildcats a 41-13 defeat this afternoon at Ryan Field.
Facing a vaunted Nittany Lions defense, Ben Bryant totaled 122 yards through the air on 14-of-25 attempts.
Cam Johnson enjoyed his top outing in a Northwestern uniform, hauling in six catches for 81 yards, including a 22-yard reception during the second quarter that set the stage for the Wildcats' lone touchdown of the afternoon.
Brendan Sullivan, who entered at quarterback in the second half, accumulated 25 yards rushing on seven attempts.
Bryce Gallagher finished with a team-best seven tackles, while Richie Hagarty racked up a career-best six tackles. Anto Saka posted a tackle for loss, one sack, and forced a fumble.
How It Happened
Northwestern received an early spark from its special teams unit en route to scoring first for the first time in 2023. On the game's opening kickoff, Braydon Brus knocked the ball loose from Nicholas Singleton, with Braden Turner recovering the fumble to set up Northwestern at the Penn State 11-yard line. Jack Olsen went on to boot home a 33-yard field goal shortly after that staked Northwestern to a 3-0 lead with just over two minutes gone.
After seeing its defense force a key stop inside in the five-yard line that forced Penn State to settle for a tying field goal late in the first quarter, Northwestern embarked on a 10-play, 59-yard drive, aided by Johnson's 22-yard catch, in the middle stages of the second frame that saw it take a 10-3 lead following a quarterback keeper by Bryant from a yard out with 5:46 to play in the first half. The drive also included a 17-yard catch and run by Cam Porter that converted a 3rd-and-16 to keep the Wildcats' drive alive.
Penn State answered with a touchdown drive of its own shortly before halftime, knotting the score up at 10-10 on a Trey Potts 13-yard scamper.
Northwestern's defensive unit again looked to stand tall with its back to the wall in the third quarter, forcing Penn State into a fourth-and-goal decision from the Wildcats' one-yard line. Nittany Lions' quarterback Drew Allar went on to find the end zone, pushing through to vault the visitors in front, 17-10, with 8:40 to go in the quarter. Penn State went on to push its lead to 27-10 before Olsen drilled a 28-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter to trim the gap to 27-13. Northwestern would unfortunately get no closer, as the Nittany Lions dealt the 'Cats their first home loss of the season.
» Penn State outgained Northwestern by a 353-175 margin this afternoon.
» Bryant's rushing touchdown in the second quarter was he second of the season on the ground and sixth of his career.
» Brus, Saka, and Rod Heard II all forced fumbles in the contest.
» The recovered fumble on the opening kickoff marked Penn State's first turnover of 2023.
» Penn State's 10 first-half points were its fewest in a first half since the 2022 Outback Bowl back on January 1, 2022.
» Penn State's three first-quarter points were its fewest in a quarter in its last nine games.
» Allar led the Nittany Lions through the air, completing 18 of his 33 attempts for 189 yards and one touchdown.
» Singleton paced the Penn State ground attack with 80 yards and one touchdown.
Up Next
Northwestern returns to Ryan Field next Saturday, October 7, to host Howard for Homecoming. The 2 p.m. kickoff against the Bison will be televised by Big Ten Network.
This story created through content automation technology from Data Skrive.
Team Stats
PSU 0, NU 3
NU - Olsen,Jack 33 yd field goal 4 plays, -4 yards, TOP 02:06
PSU 3, NU 3
PSU - Felkins,Alex 20 yd field goal 11 plays, 53 yards, TOP 05:11
PSU 3, NU 10
NU - Bryant,Ben 1 yd run (Olsen,Jack kick), 10 plays, 59 yards, TOP 05:16
PSU 10, NU 10
PSU - Potts,Trey 13 yd run (Felkins,Alex kick), 6 plays, 63 yards, TOP 02:15
PSU 17, NU 10
PSU - Allar,Drew 1 yd run (Felkins,Alex kick), 12 plays, 68 yards, TOP 05:31
PSU 20, NU 10
PSU - Felkins,Alex 47 yd field goal 4 plays, 2 yards, TOP 01:14
PSU 27, NU 10
PSU - Singleton,Nicholas 2 yd pass from Allar,Drew (Felkins,Alex kick) 7 plays, 34 yards, TOP 03:39
PSU 27, NU 13
NU - Olsen,Jack 28 yd field goal 10 plays, 65 yards, TOP 04:23
PSU 34, NU 13
PSU - Singleton,Nicholas 1 yd run (Felkins,Alex kick), 12 plays, 40 yards, TOP 05:03
PSU 41, NU 13
PSU - Potts,Trey 30 yd pass from Pribula,Beau (Felkins,Alex kick) 1 plays, 30 yards, TOP 00:06
