Caleb Komolafe rushed for the go-ahead fourth-quarter touchdown Saturday as visiting Northwestern handed Penn State its third straight loss, emerging from University Park, Pa. with a 22-21 victory.
Northwestern’s Preston Stone threw for 163 yards, much of which went to Griffin Wilde (seven catches, 94 yards, TD). Komolafe ran for 72 yards on 19 carries for the Wildcats (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten).
The Nittany Lions (3-3, 0-3) lost Drew Allar to a leg injury late in the game after the veteran quarterback went 13-of-20 passing for 137 yards with an interception. Kaytron Allen contributed 90 rushing yards and a score for Penn State, while Devonte Ross caught seven balls for 115 yards.
Northwestern trailed 21-16 with just under five minutes left when Komolafe broke through the defense for a 9-yard touchdown run, putting the Wildcats up 22-21.
The ensuing conversion attempt failed, but it didn’t ultimately matter as Penn State failed to reach field-goal range on its next possession. Allar was injured on a third-and-4 run in Nittany Lions territory, forcing Ethan Grunkemeyer to come in on fourth down — and his scramble attempt fell short of the sticks.
Northwestern burned the rest of the clock with Joseph Himon II sliding down at the 2 to preserve the victory.
Jack Olsen’s 27-yard field goal accounted for the only points of the first quarter. However, a Penn State drive that began in the opening quarter concluded with Allen’s 11-yard TD run early in the second.
The Wildcats promptly responded with Stone’s 29-yard TD pass to Wilde, who got open in the back corner of the end zone for a 10-7 advantage. Yet, the momentum quickly turned in the Nittany Lions’ favor, as Northwestern muffed a punt that led to Nicholas Singleton’s 2-yard TD run on fourth-and-goal.
Northwestern threw the final punch of the first half, as Olsen drilled a 34-yard field goal in the waning seconds to bring the visitors within 14-13 at the break. He kicked another early in the fourth to put the Wildcats in front 16-14.
On the ensuing possession, Allar’s 67-yard pass to Ross led to a 1-yard TD run by the Penn State quarterback, putting the hosts ahead 21-16 with 10:50 to play.
