STATE COLLEGE – Terry Smith spoke glowingly this week and then Saturday night about Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton, how important they’ve been to Penn State football the last four seasons and how strong their bond is.
“Just another unbelievable effort by the tandem,” Smith said. “They’re a dynamic duo. They’re unbelievable. They’re amazing people. They’re unselfish. They’re happy for each other.”
Allen and Singleton made their final game at Beaver Stadium one to remember, setting and tying career records in the Nittany Lions’ 37-10 romp past Nebraska Saturday night.
Allen carried 25 times for 160 yards and two touchdowns and passed Evan Royster as Penn State’s all-time leading rusher with a 3-yard run in the fourth quarter. Allen now has 3,954 yards.
“I’m still trying to wrap my head around it,” Allen said. “I’m glad I got the opportunity to do this. It’s been a long four years. And I got to do it on Senior Night.”
Singleton scored on runs of 4 and 10 yards and tied Saquon Barkley’s school records for rushing touchdowns (43) and overall touchdowns (51).
Singleton finished with seven rushes for 44 yards and three catches for 51 yards. He now has 5,403 all-purpose yards, trailing only Barkley’s 5,538.
“Saquon’s a big name here,” Singleton said. “He broke a lot of records. To be right next to him means a lot. I’m just blessed.”
Ethan Grunkemeyer played brilliantly in his fifth start, completing 11-of-12 passes for 181 yards and one touchdown as Penn State (2-6 Big Ten, 5-6) won back-to-back games for the first time since September. The Lions need to win next week at Rutgers to become bowl eligible.
Nebraska (4-4, 7-4) suffered its worst loss of the year under coach Matt Rhule, the State College native and former Penn State linebacker who was thought to be a leading candidate to become the Lions’ next permanent coach before he signed a contract extension.
The Lions rushed for 231 yards on their way to gaining 412 total yards, the first time they topped 400 in Big Ten play this season.
“I’m super proud of the effort of our guys,” said Smith, Penn State’s interim head coach. “They are playing inspired football. They’re hungry. They want to play. They easily could have given up and quit.
“We look like a real football team. I’m super proud of these guys.”
With Penn State leading 30-10 early in the fourth quarter, wide receiver/backup quarterback Liam Clifford handed off to Allen, who picked up 3 yards to break the record. On the next play, tight end Luke Reynolds ran for 26 yards on a fake punt to set up Allen’s 13-yard TD run.
As Allen came off the field, Singleton greeted him with a bear hug.
“I told him I love him,” Singleton said. “I’m proud of him. He’s my brother for life.”
Penn State played perhaps its finest first half of the season, building a 23-3 lead, gaining 254 total yards and scoring on every possession.
Amare Campbell and Zane Durant stopped Emmett Johnson on fourth-and-1 from the 2 on Nebraska’s first series.
“That set the tone for the game,” Smith said. “It allowed our defense to gain confidence. Our offense stepped on the field with confidence and marched right down the field for a touchdown. The fourth-down stop was the difference in the game.”
After starting from their 2, the Lions quickly moved downfield behind Grunkemeyer’s 31-yard pass to Koby Howard and Allen’s 50-yard run down the left sideline. Two plays later, Grunkemeyer tossed a 4-yard touchdown pass to tight end Andrew Rappleyea for a 7-0 lead.
Penn State made it 10-0 behind Singleton’s 50-yard catch and run on a screen pass. Ryan Barker kicked a 26-yard field goal early in the second quarter.
Nebraska cut it to 10-3, but Penn State widened its lead on a 75-yard drive that included a 28-yard pass to Devonte Ross. Singleton took a direct snap and ran for 14 yards and then made a bruising 4-yard TD run that chipped the paint off his helmet.
The Lions scored again after Trebor Pena’s 24-yard punt return and a late hit call on Nebraska. Singleton burst through the left side for a 10-yard TD to make it 23-3 at the half.
“Tonight couldn’t have gone any better,” Singleton said. “Me and Fatman (Allen) did our thing. The O-line and everybody did their thing. I’m just happy.”
He was as happy for himself as he was for Allen, who called Singleton his brother several times.
“I’m glad I got the opportunity to do it with Nick,” Allen said. “It’s just been a long four years for both of us, and we got the opportunity to do something great.”
