STATE COLLEGE – Penn State’s defense dominated Villanova in the final non-conference tuneup Saturday at Beaver Stadium.
The offense, though, remained a work in progress in the Nittany Lions’ 52-6 victory before an announced crowd of 109,516.
Penn State quarterback Drew Allar completed 16-of-29 passes for 209 yards and a touchdown with his first interception of the season. He was 0-for-5 on third down and did not see several open receivers.
Gov. Mifflin product Nick Singleton rushed 20 times for 84 yards and two touchdowns and Kaytron Allen carried 10 times for 86 yards and one score.
Tight end Joey Schlaffer, a high school star at Exeter, made the first catch of his career, a 19-yard reception for a fourth-quarter touchdown from backup quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer.
Then backup cornerback Jahmir Joseph got into the act when he returned former Fleetwood standout Tanner Maddocks’ pass 49 yards for a touchdown.
The second-ranked Lions (3-0) have a bye next week before facing defending Big Ten champion Oregon (3-0) in the conference opener Sept. 27 at Beaver Stadium.
They might have some things to clean up on offense, but the defense under new coordinator Jim Knowles smothered the Wildcats (1-1), who play in the Football Championship Subdivision.
Maddocks spoiled Penn State’s bid for back-to-back shutouts when he threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Binkowski on the final play of the game. Maddocks completed 6-of-12 passes for 69 yards and carried five times for 3 yards.
Linebackers Amare Campbell and Tony Rojas again had a very productive afternoon. Campbell had seven tackles, including a sack and two other stops in the backfield. Rojas had five tackles, including two sacks.
Elliot Washington II had a third-quarter interception after Dani Dennis-Sutton pressured quarterback Pat McQuaide.
Penn State’s offense began the game in impressive fashion, driving 78 yards in 12 plays and finishing with Singleton’s 4-yard touchdown run.
Singleton carried eight times for 34 yards on the series after Trebor Pena gained 11 yards on a jet sweep and caught a 14-yard pass.
Villanova’s first series ended when Rojas sacked McQuaide, who was shaken up. Maddocks replaced McQuaide on the next two series.
On the other side of the ball, the Lions drove into Wildcats territory behind Devonte Ross’ 14-yard reverse and Pena’s 19-yard sideline catch. But they stalled because of a false start by Nolan Rucci and a deep pass to Ross in the end zone that bounced off a defender’s helmet.
After a poor punt, Penn State took over at the Villanova 32, couldn’t gain a first down and settled for Ryan Barker’s 45-yard field goal that made it 10-0.
Following an exchange of punts, the Lions drove from their 37 to the Wildcats’ 11 with the help of Luke Reynolds’ 22-yard catch. But a false start by Vega Ioane and Pena’s drop inside the 10 led to Barker’s second field goal and a 13-0 lead.
Villanova then had its best series of the first half. The Wildcats picked up three first downs, the third on David Avit’s 23-yard burst to the Penn State 17 on fourth-and-2. They stalled before Jack Barnum’s 32-yard field goal was wiped out by a 15-yard penalty.
Moments later, Barnum missed a 47-yard try. The Lions took over at their 30 and reached the end zone in 36 seconds on Allar’s laser to Pena for a 23-yard score. The two hooked up on the 2-point conversion, which made it 21-0 at the half.
