Northwestern earned a signature road victory Saturday when the Wildcats walked into Happy Valley and eked out a victory over Penn State, 22-21.
The Wildcats (4-2, 2-1 B1G) entered the game 21.5 point underdogs, but played a complete game to win their third-straight while the Nittany Lions lost their third-straight to remain winless in Big Ten play.
On the opening drive, the Wildcats looked like they were in for a long day when they went five plays for just 15 yards before having their punt blocked. Penn State took at the Northwestern 31-yard line and moved the ball 21 yards before quarterback Drew Allar was picked off in the endzone by Ore Adeyi and returning it 33 yards. Northwestern then went 58 yards before Jack Olsen notched a 27-yard field goal with 2:51 left in the first quarter to take an early lead.
Penn State responded when Kaytron Allen scored on an 11-yard run to make it 7-3 early in the second quarter. Not be outdone, Northwestern responded when Griffin Wilde caught a 29-yard touchdown from quarterback Preston Stone to make it 10-7.
Northwestern then held Penn State to a three-and-out, but Drew Wagner muffed the punt allowing the Nittany Lions to take over at Northwestern 26-yard line. They scored off the mistake, but the Northwestern defense made them work for it as it took nine plays and over four minutes for Penn State to score. With 90 seconds left in the half, Nicholas Singleton scored on a two-yard run on 4th-and-2.
Olsen made it 14-13 at the half when the Wildcats went 59 yards in 1:16 ending in a 34-yard field goal.
The third quarter was largely quiet, but that changed late when Penn State’s Devonte Ross muffed the punt, allowing Northwestern to recover at the Nittany Lions 9-yard line. The Wildcats were threatening but on 3rd-and-8 Stone was sacked for a 15 yard loss. Olsen then tallied his third field goal of the day for 41 yards as the Wildcats made it a 16-14 game in the top of the fourth.
Penn State moved quickly, taking just 3:14 to go 91 yards culminating in a 1-yard carry by Allar to make it 21-16. The drive was bolstered by a 67-yard reception by Ross.
Northwestern answered after an 11-play, 75-yard drive that saw Caleb Komolafe score on a 9-yard carry. The Wildcats went for two but failed, making it 22-21 with 4:51 left.
On 3rd-and-4 at their own 31, Allar was tackled after a short gain but left the game with an injury. Redshirt freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer came in but failed to convert the 4th-and-3rd, giving the ball back to Northwestern with three minutes left. The Wildcats drained the clock and ended the game with the ability to score again but kneeled it out.
Northwestern finished with 282 yards of offense while Penn State accumulated 274 yards. The Wildcats were helped by big penalties by Penn State, who recorded six for 60 yards in the first half, often keeping drives alive for Northwestern.
Stone finished 17-of-26 for 163 yards and a score. Wilde led the receivers with seven catches for 94 yards. The duo have connected for a score in each of the past three games.
Northwestern mustered just 119 yards on the ground, led by Komolafe with 19 carries for 72 yards and Joseph Himon II with 13 carries for 65 yards.
Next up, the Wildcats host Purdue on Saturday at 2 p.m. while Penn State travels to Iowa.
