Penn State football captures comeback victory over Purdue
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Penn State kicked off its 2022 Big Ten Football season 1-0 with a win on the road against the Purdue Boilermakers.
Two three-and-outs were the opening drive narratives for the Nittany Lions and Boilermakers. Nittany Lion cornerback Joey Porter Jr. and safety Keaton Ellis broke up passes from Purdue’s sixth-year veteran quarterback Aidan O’Connell.
The blue and white’s second drive saw running back Nicholas Singleton’s first carry as a Nittany Lion. The drive resulted in a punt and an opportunity for Purdue to get the first points on the board.
A deep reception by Purdue sixth-year wide receiver Charlie Jones resulted in a 26-yard field goal and the first points of the game. The Boilermakers tended to throw deep, scattering the Penn State defense.
Kaytron Allen, freshman Penn State running back, proved to be a reliable asset to the Nittany Lions' offense. He accounted for 31 of the 98 yards gained by five Nittany Lion rushers.
Following a 12-yard gain by junior running back Devyn Ford, Penn State sixth-year quarterback Sean Clifford fed wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley for a 12-yard touchdown and a 7-3 lead over Purdue.
The Boilermakers fired back with a 3-yard touchdown by senior running back King Doerue, who recorded 57 yards on the night.
A leaping first down conversion by Clifford brought the blue and white closer to answering Purdue’s score with six minutes remaining in the first half.
A personal foul on Purdue defensive tackle Lawrence Johnson and a six-yard rush by Singleton set up Clifford for a 2-yard quarterback sneak into the end zone and a four-point advantage over the Boilermakers.
Porter Jr. recovered a forced fumble from Purdue wide receiver TJ Sheffield. With seconds remaining in the first half, Clifford connected with tight end Brenton Strange for a 67-yard touchdown.
The section of Ross-Ade Stadium adorned in blue and white erupted with cheers as Strange sprinted downfield to put Penn State ahead by 11 points going into halftime.
Purdue opened the second half with an 18-yard pass from O’Connell to Boilermakers wide receiver Broc Thompson. A 2-yard rushing touchdown by Doerue, his second of the game, challenged the Nittany Lions to respond.
Five-star recruit Drew Allar made an appearance in Ross-Ade Stadium, throwing for 26 yards and completing 50 percent of his passes.
Penn State sophomore linebacker Curtis Jacobs was slow to get off the turf with an injury in the second half. The All-Big ten honorable mention accumulated 61 tackles in the 2021 season.
O’Connell connected with Jones downfield with a 7-yard touchdown that gave Purdue the lead over Penn State, 24-21.
As Clifford returned to the turf, back and forth, battles ensued. Wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith took it to the house with 29 yards.
With a 28-24 lead over the Boilermakers, Clifford and the Penn State offense struggled to convert on downs. A 72-yard pick-six to Purdue safety Chris Jefferson gave Purdue a cushion going into the final minutes of the fourth quarter.
After three consecutive incompletions by Clifford that forced another punt late in the quarter, the Penn State defense provided one final chance for the Nittany Lions to make a move.
With a drive comprising eight plays and 80 yards in one minute and 25 seconds, a 10-yard touchdown connection from Clifford to running back Keyvone Lee sealed the deal for the Nittany Lions to become 1-0 and secure a road victory against the Boilermakers.
On Sept. 10, the Boilermakers will stay home to face Indiana State, while the Nittany Lions will be back in action at Beaver Stadium to face Ohio University.
Emma Holtz is a junior majoring in public relations. To contact her, email emma.holtz01@gmail.com.
