UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - No. 10/8 Penn State (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten) defeated Kent State (0-4, 0-0 MAC), 56-0, on Saturday afternoon at Beaver Stadium. The Nittany Lions surpassed program single-game records in total yards with 718, as well as total first downs with 40.
PSU’s previous record for total yardage came on September 25, 1926, when the Nittany Lions accumulated 711 yards of total offense in an 82-0 win over Susquehanna on New Beaver Field. Penn State’s 40 first downs on Saturday surpassed the previous program record of 38 set against the West Virginia Mountaineers on November 10, 1962, in Beaver Stadium.
Tight end Tyler Warren recorded two touchdowns on the day, one passing and one receiving, becoming the first Penn State non-quarterback to have both a passing and a receiving touchdown since wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith in 2022.
The Nittany Lions outshined the Golden Flashes in every facet of the contest, outgaining the opposition 718-66 in total yardage. Additionally, Penn State’s defense blanked Kent State and did not allow its offense to enter the red zone, marking the first shutout for the Blue & White since a 42-0 showing against the Michigan State at Ford Field on November 24 of last season.
Quarterback Drew Allar completed 17-of-21 passes for 309 yards—his second career 300-plus-yard game—and three touchdowns. Warren was a reliable target for Allar, totaling 49 yards and a touchdown. Warren was involved in Penn State’s first two touchdowns of the game, catching a 16-yard score from Allar and then throwing 17-yard touchdown pass to running back Nicholas Singleton. Warren is the first Penn State non-quarterback to throw a touchdown pass since Trey Potts threw one to Warren in 2023. Quarterback Beau Pribula relieved Allar in the second half, completing six passes for 83 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver Omari Evans was the Nittany Lions’ top target through the air, amassing a career-best 116 yards on four catches. The Penn State offense finished the day a perfect seven-for-seven in red zone scoring opportunities.
On the ground, Singleton and Kaytron Allen were a dynamic duo for the Nittany Lions. Singleton ran for 81 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries, with Allen adding 66 rushing yards on 11 totes. Penn State out-rushed Kent State 309-48 on the afternoon.
Penn State’s stellar defense held Kent State to 66 yards total with an average of 1.5 yards per play. Moreover, the unit allowed just two completed passes by the Golden Flashes all game, both coming in the first half. True freshman Anthony Speca led the squad with five total tackles. Defensive end Abdul Carter also recorded four tackles, while safety Jaylen Reed and linebacker Ta’Mere Robinson each tacked on three stops. As a group, the Nittany Lion defense broke up five passes and posted two sacks.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Nittany Lions got on the board first with a touchdown at the 2:38 mark of the opening quarter. Allar found Warren open in the end zone for a 16-yard score, capping off an 89-yard drive.
At the 5:49 mark of the second quarter, Penn State extended its lead to 14-0 with a touchdown pass thrown by Warren to Singleton. The trick play score was the result of a 90-yard scoring drive that took 2:36 off the clock.
The Nittany Lions tacked on two more first-half touchdowns in the final minutes of the second quarter, with Allar tossing a 14-yard strike to Clifford in the end zone with 1:29 left and then a rushing score by Allar with 15 seconds on the clock. The Nittany Lions took a 28-0 lead into the locker room at the half.
Penn State struck quickly in the second half, with Allar airing out a 59-yard touchdown pass to Evans to put the Nittany Lions up 35-0 at the 13:13 mark of the third quarter. The 75-yard drive took just four plays and 1:47 of elapsed time.
A 13-yard touchdown pass from Pribula to Khalil Dinkins put the Nittany Lions up 42-0 with 4:55 left in the third quarter. The pass capped off a nine-play, 91-yard scoring drive.
Running back Cam Wallace scored the first touchdown of his collegiate career to put Penn State up 49-0 at the 9:21 mark of the fourth quarter. The eight-play 67-yard scoring drive took 3:55 off the clock.
Pribula added a 1-yard rushing score with 1:25 on the clock in the fourth quarter to put Penn State up 56-0, a tally it would take through the end of the game.
The 2024 Penn State football season is presented by PSECU.