No. 11 Penn State wins in style with 51-15 rout of Maryland: Final updates, key stats, analysis (2024)

No. 11 Penn State got a balanced effort from its offense and defense to make one final statement before next weekend’s showdown with No. 3 Michigan. Quarterback Drew Allar was crisp and finished with four touchdown passes. The running game found a spark in Kaytron Allen, and the defense got back on track with six sacks and four takeaways to turn a game expected to be a fight into a one-sided barrage.

Here’s a look at key stats from the game and running commentary on key moments from the contest:

KEY GAME STATS

Penn State leaders

Drew Allar 25 of 34, 240 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT

Kaytron Allen 14 rushes, 91 yards, 1 TD

KeAndre Lambert-Smith 8 receptions, 95 yards, 0 TD

Maryland leaders

Taulia Tagovailoa 29 of 39, 286 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT

Billy Edwards Jr. 1 rush, 4 yards, 0 TD

Tai Felton 4 receptions, 75 yards, 0 TD

FIRST QUARTER

8:41 -- Penn State 7, Maryland 0

Penn State turned favorable field position into its first points of the game and wide receiver Dante Cephas’ first touchdown in blue and white on a 6-yard connection from Drew Allar. That score capped a 6-play, 44-yard drive that covered 3:45 and gave the Lions a 7-0 lead. Allar looked Cephas’ direction in the right corner of the end zone, and the Kent State transfer pulled in an acrobatic catch for the score.

0:02 -- Penn State 14, Maryland 0

Penn State opened up a two-touchdown lead, largely on the strength of Allar’s right arm. When the Lions got down close to the Maryland goal line, Mike Yurcich dialed up a two-quarterback package with Beau Pribula and Allar both on the field. On 2nd-and-goal, Pribula tucked and ran out of the shotgun but was stopped short. On 3rd-and-goal, Allar shifted to the left, took a pitch from Allar and ultimately flipped a scoring toss to tight end Theo Johnson. Allar responded when the play broke down and picked up his second scoring pass of the game.

SECOND QUARTER

7:59 -- Penn State 14, Maryland 7

Taulia Tagovailoa got just a couple too many chances on this drive and made the Lions defense pay. Maryland punted on 4th-and-long near midfield, but picked up a first down when Liam Clifford’s block attempt whiffed and he got whistled for roughing the punter. When the Terps took back over, an unsportsmanlike penalty on Johnny Dixon gave Tagovailoa and company 1st-and-goal from the 7. On first down, Tagovailoa rolled left when the pocket collapsed, threw off balance and hit Roman Hemby in the left flat, who finished off the score in the left corner.

2:34 -- Penn State 21, Maryland 7

Tyler Warren was open-ish between two Maryland defenders in the back left corner of the end zone, and Drew Allar hit him with a scorching throw that Warren went up and got for the Lions’ third touchdown of the game. That play capped a 12-play, 75-yard scoring drive and stretched Penn State’s lead back to 21-7 with halftime looming.

HALFTIME -- Penn State 21, Maryland 7

Penn State’s defense turned back a promising Maryland drive to force a punt on 4th-and-7 near midfield. But by the time the Lions got the ball back, just 22 seconds were left on the clock. Drew Allar took a knee and ran out the clock, giving Penn State momentum and a 21-7 lead at the intermission.

THIRD QUARTER

Penn State 24, Maryland 7

An impressive Penn State drive stalled in the Maryland red zone, but the Lions took the points with a 4th-and-3 from the Terrapins’ 13-yard line. Alex Felkins attempted his first field goal of the game and was true down the middle from 30 yards. Penn State started the drive emphasizing the run game with Kaytron Allen, but Drew Allar took over and led the Lions into scoring range. The big play of the drive was a 4th-and-1 where Allar found an open Khalil Dinkins for 16 yards.

FOURTH QUARTER

13:55 -- Penn State 31, Maryland 7

Dante Cephas’ big day continued into the second half of this game with his second score of the evening. That strike from 15 yards capped a long 13-play, 88-yard drive that all but drove a stake through Maryland’s chances of coming back in this game.

11:27 -- Penn State 31, Maryland 15

The Terrapins mounted a drive to stave off elimination, and they got the two-point conversion to make this a two-possession game again and transfer some pressure back to the Penn State offense. Tualia Tagovailoa made a 1-yard connection with wideout Jeshaun Jones on the touchdown and Maryland pulled to within 31-15 as Antwain Littleton II found the end zone on the two-point conversion.

9:14 -- Penn State 38, Maryland 15

With Maryland looking for momentum any way it can find it, the Penn State offense mounted another timely march to put this game back out of reach. Kaytron Allen found paydirt on an impressive finish from 10 yards out to add to his excellent day on the ground, and the Lions offense continued to find success using a balanced approach.

1:25 -- Penn State 51, Maryland 15

Penn State true freshman linebacker Tony Rojas played a role in creating a second straight turnover, this time taking matters into his own hands with an instinctive play for his first career interception. Beau Pribula led a drive with a short field and finished it with a quarterback draw for a touchdown and a 51-15 Penn State lead.

FINAL -- Penn State 51, Maryland 15

Penn State sealed the deal with its reserves -- a consistent theme this season -- and rolled out of College Park with a big win over a dangerous team. And given the way the Lions played, how they got the passing game going and rebounded on defense, sets up nicely for a competitive effort against No. 3 Michigan next week. A win in that game, and the Lions could suddenly find themselves face to face with their goals of winning the Big Ten and making the College Football Playoff field.