COLLEGE PARK, Md. — On a beautiful fall afternoon, the Penn State Nittany Lions traveled to College Park, Maryland for their sixth Big Ten Conference game of the 2023 season.
A big question leading into the game was how would Penn State do ahead of a huge home game hosting Michigan next week and would the defense be able to rattle Tau Tagovailoa.
Tagovailoa set a new record for consecutive complete passes in the first half with 17, tied for most in the nation this season.
The Nittany Lions went eight plays for 44 yards on their first drive of the game. Quarterback Drew Allar found wide receiver Dante Cephas, for his first catch of the day, a six-yard touchdown. Allar said his confidence and comfort is at a new high.
“It's really hard to break it. I think you just need to stay in the moment and just stay calm and present and not try to force things. Just continue to take what the defense gives you and just keep staying ahead of the sticks," said Allar.
It was originally called off but a video review confirmed Cephas kept possession.
Penn State's defense came up big on Maryland's second drive. The ball was knocked loose and the Nittany Lions recovered, but the offense didn't do their job and went three and out.
Central York grad Beau Pribula came into the game the earliest in action we've seen so far since he's been a Nittany Lion. He rushed the ball on the first play and stayed in for second consecutive plays to assist in a trickery play with Allar to then shovel pass it to Theo Johnson. Pribula came in again late in the second quarter, for a single play.
“It's one more thing on film that they have to deal with. Now, some things we got to get cleaned up but overall I'm happy that we were able to get it out there and and use it," said James Franklin, head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions.
The Terrapins kept it close after one half of play, with the score 21-7.
Penn State opened up the second half. On their first driver, they went 11 plays, 70 yards, and converted a fourth and one deep in Maryland territory before settling for a 30-yard field goal.
The Nittany Lions led 24-7 with nine minutes and 26 seconds left in the game.
There still wasn't a huge defensive play to bring a lot of momentum to spark the blue and white.
They held Maryland to a three and out on their first drive of the second half but the fourth quart is where Penn State shined.
They scored more points in the final quarter than in the first three quarters, scoring 24 points in the first three and 27 points in the fourth quarter.
Pribula even had a rushing touchdown in the fourth. The Nittany Lions won 51-15 on the road at Maryland, improving their record to 8-1.
Penn State jumps back into the top ten in the College Football Rankings to ninth.