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Penn State returned to State College, Pa., looking to bounce back from last week's disappointing loss to UCLA Bruins. But the Northwestern Wildcats had other plans for Saturday.
Wildcats running back Caleb Komolafe ran 72 yards and scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter to help elevator North-West to a 22-21 victory at Beaver Stadium. The narrow victory secured Northwestern's third straight win, while Penn State lost its third in a row.
“I truly believe our football team expected to win today,” Northwestern coach David Brown said. “Ultimately, the idea was that you have a football team that has its back against the wall, but also a football team that might be wondering who they are.”
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Northwestern guard Preston Stone, left, celebrates his team's victory over Penn State on Saturday in State College, Pennsylvania. (AP Photo/Barry Rieger)
The Wildcats ended their 11-year windless drought at Beaver Stadium.
Penn State got the ball back with just under five minutes left on Komolafe's touchdown, but quarterback Drew Allar suffered an apparent leg injury on the play on third down.
After the game, Penn State coach James Franklin confirmed that Allar would miss the rest of the season with an unspecified injury. He was replaced by backup Ethan Grunkemeyer, who was stopped in the fourth and the Wildcats ran out of time.
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He was replaced by backup Ethan Grunkemeyer, who was immediately stopped in the fourth and the Wildcats ran out the clock from there.
Allar finished 13 of 20 passing for 137 yards and added 25 yards rushing and a touchdown. Allar returned for his senior season to capitalize on a season-ending interception he threw in last season's College Football Playoff semifinal against Notre Dame.
Penn State guard Drew Allar sits on the field during an injury timeout Saturday at Beaver Stadium. (Isaiah Vasquez/Getty Images)
The Nittany Lions committed six penalties for 71 yards in the first half.
Franklin took credit for Penn State's recent struggles. “I take full responsibility for all of this,” Franklin said. “I hired all the staff, I hired all the players. I believe in them all. But now we don’t do that.”
Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin stands on the field after a game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Beaver Stadium on Saturday in State College, Pennsylvania. (Matthew O'Haren/images)
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Iowa will host Penn State next week and Gruenkemeyer is expected to start at quarterback for the Nittany Lions.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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