Photo by Kathy Reed
By Dom Reed

UNIVERSITY PARK – The Nationally 9th ranked Penn State Nittany Lions (3-0) welcomed in the #19 Illinois fighting Illini (4-0) to open up Big Ten Conference play for the Nittany Lions on Homecoming night with the 7:30 kickoff.

Illinois got on the board first driving down the field. Quarterback Luke Altmyer found tight end Carson Goda from four yards out the Fightin Illini scored in just 11 plays and 75 yards.

Penn State answered back in an even better way in 8 plays also for 75 yards. Tyler Warren ran a wildcat play scoring from three yards out to tie things up 7-7 with 5:34 remaining in the first quarter.

Illinois kept the Nittany Lions honest on defense all game long. Altmyer played his heart out despite falling to the Nittany Lions 21-7.

Matthew Bailey totaled Nine tackles on the night against the Nittany Lions. Dylan Rosiek also recorded a tackle for a loss. 

Going into the half, Penn State and Illinois were locked up in a good one all tied up at 7-7.

Early on, Penn State deferred to the second half. The Nittany Lions got the ball to start the second half. Penn State’s Nicholas Singleton would start the second half strong scoring on a 12-play, 74-yard drive taking 6:16 off the clock.

Singleton found the end zone on a 4-yard score with his legs.

Sander Sahaydaks extra point was successful to give the Nittany Lions the advantage 14-7 with 8:38 left in the 3rd quarter.

As advertised Illnois showed up ready to play playing well on offense and defense. They made the Nittany Lions work for the win in a hard and gritty Big Ten game.

Kobe King recorded seven tackles recording a sack Abdul Carter got to Altmyer twice.

Jaylen Reed was a playmaker in the win with one sack.  It was a growing theme the sacks were in full force for the Nittany Lions.  The Illini offensive line couldn’t keep Altmyer up right. Penn State running back Kaytron Allen would then find the endzone on a 5-yard rushing touchdown it would take the Nittany Lions 8 plays in 41 yards in 3:55 with 1:55 remaining in regulation.

Penn State was unsuccessful in the special fields department mostly in the kicking game missing two field goals and failing to put points on the board for the Nittany Lions.

Illinois would miss one as well. The Illini had one more chance trailing by two scores.

Vilbert Smith would force a fumble and that would be all she wrote Penn State stays alive avoiding an upset with a 21-7 win.

Penn State will host UCLA Bruins in the stripe out game next week.