Penn State-Michigan State Takeaways: Kaytron Allen shines as Lions end skid

By Greg Pickel

EAST LANSING, Mich. — The Penn State losing streak is over. The Nittany Lions ended a six-game skid on Saturday when they knocked out Michigan State at Spartan Stadium, 28-10. It was hardly a pretty win. But for a team that hadn’t tasted victory since mid-September, interim head coach Terry Smith’s side will add to the win column any way it can. And, that’s what it did here in front of a sparse crowd.

Here are our initial takeaways.

1. Winning (mostly) ugly is still winning

Throughout this disappointing season, Penn State has come up short even when it played pretty well. It has also come up short when it played poorly. The common denominator is the coming-up-short part, and it’s why James Franklin is no longer the Nittany Lions’ head coach.

Winning ugly is something this team has not been able to do, both before and after Smith took over. That changed on this day, however.

Until a pair of fourth-quarter drives to put the game away, the Lions’ offense struggled mightily to move the ball. Ethan Grunkemeyer missed some downfield passes and was only 8 of 13, including just 1 second-half pass. But he did not turn the ball over, had 2 touchdown passes, and Kaytron Allen cruised to the tune of 25 carries for 181 yards and a pair of scores. Defensively, the Lions suffocated Michigan State with 5 punts and a turnover on 6 drives that mattered in the second half before the rout was on.

This win did get pretty later on. But it was ugly for most of the night. Penn State will take it.

2. Kaytron runs wild

What a day for Kaytron Allen. We highlighted him above but feel compelled to do so in his own section. The Nittany Lion senior averaged 7.2 yards per carry on a massive day for No. 13. He was terrific and powered an otherwise anemic offense.

2. Dani Dennis-Sutton has another big game

Dennis-Sutton was terrific in his third-to-last Penn State game. He blocked his third punt of the season, which did not lead to points but did flip the field position. He also netted 2 sacks and a quarterback hurry. It was a great game for No. 33 after some quiet ones.

4. Odds and ends from Penn State-Michigan State

— Grunkemeyer’s 75-yard touchdown pass was the Nittany Lions’ longest pass play of the season.

— The Lions’ defense netted 5 sacks and 8 tackles for loss. MSU’s offensive line was as advertised: Porous. And Penn State took advantage of it.

— Gabe Nwosu was terrific despite having to go to the injury tent in the first half after being hit on a punt attempt in what probably should have been a penalty. He boomed one attempt 68 yards and routinely flipped field position.