No. 11 Penn State slushes past Big Ten foe Northwestern 17-7 in a messy day at Happy Valley

STATE COLLEGE — Remnants of Hurricane Ian started to pick up about an hour before Penn State’s game against Northwestern at Beaver Stadium.

By the game’s end, the slick conditions helped force eight total turnovers between the teams in a narrow 17-7 win for the No. 11-ranked Nittany Lions, who improved to 5-0 (2-0 Big Ten).

It was five turnovers from the Nittany Lions and just three from the Wildcats (1-4, 1-1 Big Ten) that left head coach James Franklin frustrated with his team’s inability to hold onto the football despite Penn State tallying 360 yards of total offense, compared to Northwestern’s 241. The Nittany Lions also topped the Wildcats in first downs, time of possession, and sacks.

“I’m never going to allow the weather to be an excuse,” Franklin said. “Doesn’t matter. We’ve got to protect the football.”

The worst of the rain filled up the first quarter. Halfback Nick Singleton coughed up a fumble. Quarterback Sean Clifford threw an interception the next drive. Then Northwestern handed it right back with Ji’Ayir Brown picking off Ryan Hilinski.

It took a five-play, 60-yard drive — aided by the rain calming into a light mist — late in the first quarter to break up the turnover party. Clifford faked a pitch out to Keyvone Lee on a run-pass option. The defense bit. Clifford found his tight end, Brenton Strange, up the right sideline for a 20-yard score with Strange executing a dolphin flip over a defender to cross the goal line.

Northwestern’s offense struggled to get down the field for nearly three full quarters. It posted only 86 yards of offense before breaking the seal with a 47-yard touchdown from receiver Jacob Gill.

The next time down the field, trailing 17-7 early in the fourth quarter, the Wildcats entirely abandoned their rushing attack, with Hilinski dumping passes deep into the red zone.

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On fourth-and-goal from inside the 1-yard line, Northwestern ran a quarterback keeper for Hilinski. Defensive tackle PJ Mustipher, who finished with a team-high eight tackles, was credited with bringing him down.

The weather put a damper on any true Nittany Lions performance worthy of calling standout. Clifford completed 10-of-20 passing attempts for 140 yards and one touchdown. Then again, he also sailed a throw that was picked off by Northwestern linebacker Bryce Gallagher.

“It’s just tough to get into a rhythm when you’re so on and off,” Clifford said. “Rain is coming down, then it stops, then it’s coming down again. And then it stops. The balls are getting heavy, and it’s all over the place. Those are throws I need to make. I’m not making excuses. But, at the same time, it was tough out there. I’m not gonna lie.”

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Singleton punched in a touchdown, had a career-high 21 carries, and earned 87 yards on the ground. But he fumbled the ball twice. Kaytron Allen had 86 yards on the same number of carries — with a fumble.

Even Strange’s performance, highlighted by his third touchdown in two games, was stymied because it was his only catch of the afternoon.

For Northwestern, Hilinski struggled through the air. He completed 15-of-37 passing attempts for 210 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

KeAndre Lambert-Smith came up limping on Penn State’s first offensive drive. His right leg was tended to by trainers, and he did not return. Harrison Wallace III took Lambert-Smith’s reps at receiver.

Penn State won’t play again for another 14 days. The Nittany Lions have a bye next Saturday, then head to Michigan on Oct. 15 at The Big House. Neither kickoff time or streaming platform has been announced yet. In the last meeting between these Big Ten foes, Michigan edged out a 21-17 win in Happy Valley.