It took Penn State a little longer than expected to get its first win of the 2024 season because of a weather delay. But the No. 8 Nittany Lions pulled away in the second quarter and cruised to a 34-12 victory over West Virginia in Morgantown on Saturday.
Quarterback Drew Allar benefited from a new offense that incorporated More downcountry routes and trusted him to make those throws. Allen completed two throws of 50-plus yards in the second quarter, each of which led to Penn State touchdowns.
No one could be happier with new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki than the junior QB.
Rain and lightning lashed the Morgantown area during halftime, forcing a two-and-a-half-hour weather delay. The interruption didn’t seem to affect the Nittany Lions’ offense, however, which began the second half with a nine-play, 78-yard drive that culminated with a 40-yard touchdown run by Nicholas Singleton.
Allar finished with 216 yards and three touchdowns on 11-of-17 passing. Harrison Wallace III recorded five receptions for 117 yards and two scores, and Singleton rushed for 114 yards on 13 carries, exploding with two 40-yard runs.
Penn State’s defense remains strong
Head coach James Franklin also added a new defensive coordinator to his staff, hiring Tom Allen after Manny Diaz went to DukePenn State already had an excellent defense, finishing No. 2 in the nation In yards allowed last season, the defense was dominant under Allen, putting constant pressure on West Virginia quarterback Garrett Greene and forcing him to rush passes while Penn State covered the field well.
Penn State also kept Greene in the pocket and prevented him from running. Last season, Greene ran for 772 yards. On Saturday, he ran for just five yards.
The Mountaineers finally reached the end zone early in the fourth quarter. Greene couldn’t handle a Treylan Davis touchdown pass at the goal line in the fourth quarter, throwing the ball too low. But CJ Donaldson Jr. followed with a one-yard touchdown run. However, Greene was cornered and sacked on a 2-point conversion attempt.
In total, the Nittany Lions limited the Mountaineers to 246 yards of total offense and 85 yards rushing, while forcing three turnovers. Greene threw for 161 yards, completing 15 of 28 passes.
For West Virginia and head coach Neal Brown, losing the season opener after an encouraging season with a 9-4 record and a tie for fourth place in the Big 12 is disheartening. However, the Mountaineers also faced one of the best defenses in the country with a team that should be competing for a Big Ten title and a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Penn State’s next game will be against Bowling Green (1-0) in Week 2. West Virginia will host Albany next Saturday.
