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Highs & Lows: PSU, Rutgers throw haymakers in high-scoring finale

Screen Shot 2021-11-15 at 6.02.01 PMby: BWI Staff11/30/25

By Nate Bauer

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Penn State needed more than it might have bargained for Saturday night at Rutgers. Nonetheless, the Nittany Lions had enough to get by.

Riding a career-best performance from senior running back Kaytron Allen, PSU secured a 40-36 victory, the team’s third in a row. The win improved the Nittany Lions’ record to 6-6 and made it bowl-eligible.

Highs and lows from the game:

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Already owning Penn State’s all-time rushing yardage mark, Allen built on it with a career-best performance. His 50-yard carry in the fourth quarter capped a 226-yard outing that also included runs of 55 and 43 yards.

PLAY OF THE GAME

Rutgers was looking to ice the game in the fourth quarter … until, suddenly, it wasn’t. Eyeing a target on a slow-developing play midway through the final frame, quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis lost control of the ball and saw junior linebacker Amare Campbell pick it up at the 39-yard line. Campbell raced 61 yards the other way to turn the hosts’ advantage into a 40-36 Penn State lead.

BEST PASS

K.J. Duff topped 1,000 receiving yards for the season with a beautiful 33-yard pitch-and-catch from Kaliakmanis midway through the third quarter. Beating A.J. Harris on the play, Duff cradled the over-the-shoulder ball to flip the field.

BEST RUN

Penn State’s second possession provided two strong candidates. Allen delivered the first, taking a first-and-10 handoff from the Penn State 25 for 55 yards through the heart of the Rutgers defense. Fellow senior Nicholas Singleton delivered the second, taking a third-and-1 red-zone carry the remaining 11 yards for a touchdown to make it 14-7.

The score established two Penn State records — Singleton’s 44th rushing touchdown and 55th career touchdown — moving him into first place all time for total touchdowns in program history.

BEST CATCH

Following a second-down sack while trailing late in the fourth quarter, Rutgers delivered something special on third down. Firing deep toward the Penn State sideline, Kaliakmanis connected with Duff for an incredible one-handed catch. Duff held onto the ball while falling down after his legs tangled with cornerback Audavion Collins. The 42-yard gain flipped the field to the Penn State 36.

BEST SACK

Penn State had answered two early Rutgers touchdowns to take a 21-14 lead in the second quarter. What it hadn’t done was get a true stop. But with the Scarlet Knights looking to convert on third-and-10 at their own 25-yard line, redshirt freshman defensive tackle Xavier Gilliam delivered a 6-yard sack of Kaliakmanis to force a punt.

BEST HIT

Nearing the end zone in the final minute of the first half, Rutgers’ progress halted when Penn State senior linebacker Dom DeLuca shot through the middle of the line to de-cleat Kaliakmanis. The 6-yard loss drew an audible gasp from the crowd.

BEST EFFORT

Penn State’s response to Rutgers’ response — in a game full of back-and-forth punches — came in the final minute of the third quarter. As with many of the night’s pivotal moments, the Lions’ running backs led the way. Allen rushed 43 yards deep into the red zone, followed immediately by a Singleton 1-yard touchdown to retake the lead.

BEST KICK

Moving quickly in the final 27 seconds of the first half, Penn State’s offense earned a reward when redshirt sophomore Ryan Barker drilled a 31-yard field goal to take a 24-21 lead into the locker room.

BEST RETURN

Singleton had the day’s best return — were it not for a hold by redshirt junior safety Kolin Dinkins. Taking a late first-quarter kickoff through Rutgers’ porous kick coverage unit, Singleton broke free for 42 yards, only to have it erased and the offense backed up to the 11-yard line.

BEST DECISION

Interim head coach Terry Smith’s “empty the clip” mindset showed up early, with major impact. With Penn State facing fourth-and-1 near midfield on its first possession — already down 7-0 — a patient rollout from redshirt freshman quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer to redshirt sophomore tight end Andrew Rappleyea produced fireworks. Waiting on a perfectly timed block, Rappleyea ran 57 yards to tie the score.

WORST DECISION

Fourth-and-1 was not the time for a delay of game. Trailing 36-33 with Rutgers holding momentum, Penn State couldn’t get its otherwise successful quarterback sneak off in time. The penalty pushed the Lions back 5 yards, followed by a false start, before they eventually punted.

MOST TELLING MOMENT

With Rutgers needing a response to Penn State’s 27-21 lead late in the third quarter, Kaliakmanis delivered. Over eight plays, he helped move the Scarlet Knights move 75 yards for a go-ahead score, capped by a perfectly placed 13-yard slant to Duff.

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