STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Penn State opened its season in commanding fashion Saturday, overwhelming Nevada 46-11 with a balanced offensive effort and a defense that forced three early turnovers to set the tone.
Running back Nicholas Singleton led the way for the Nittany Lions, rushing for two short touchdowns, including a 1-yard score to finish the opening drive and another in the third quarter that put the game out of reach. Kayton Allen added a 13-yard touchdown run in the second quarter as Penn State jumped out to a 27-3 halftime lead.
While the offense was efficient, it was Penn State’s defense that dictated the game early.
Nevada’s first three possessions ended in disaster—a fumble, an interception, and a punt. Defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton was a constant problem for the Wolf Pack, forcing two fumbles, recording a sack, and batting down a pass.
“That No. 33 is exactly what we thought he’d be,” said Nevada head coach Jeff Choate. “He wrecked a lot of our game plan.”
Zane Durant, a defensive tackle, came away with an interception in the first quarter, jumping a screen pass deep in Penn State territory. It was his first pick since high school.
“I just didn’t want to drop it,” Durant said. “I knew the pressure was coming, and I just had to make the play.”
Quarterback Drew Allar delivered a clean performance, completing 22 of 26 passes for 217 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown strike to Kyron Hudson just before halftime. Hudson finished with six catches for 89 yards, while Trebor Peña added seven receptions for 74 yards.
Penn State kicker Ryan Barker was perfect, drilling four field goals to extend the lead and maintain momentum.
Head coach James Franklin praised his team’s discipline and execution, especially for a season opener.
“You usually see a lot of mistakes early in the year,” Franklin said. “But we didn’t beat ourselves. No careless penalties, no turnovers, no blown timeouts—that’s huge.”
Nevada’s offense struggled to find any rhythm, totaling just 203 yards and only 78 on the ground. Fifty of those came on a meaningless final possession. Kicker Joe McFadden provided the Wolf Pack’s only points in the first half with a 28-yard field goal.
Backup quarterback AJ Bianco tossed a late 9-yard touchdown to Marcus Bellon in the final seconds, but the game had long been decided.
Allar was relieved in the third quarter by backup Ethan Grunkemeyer, as Penn State comfortably coasted to the win.
“I thought it was a strong start for us offensively,” Allar said. “We just need to do a better job finishing drives faster when we get near the red zone.”
Quick Hits:
Penn State outgained Nevada 436-203.
The Nittany Lions’ defense held Nevada to just two red zone trips.
Penn State didn’t commit a single turnover or penalty that significantly impacted the game.
What’s Next:
Nevada returns home to face Sacramento State next Saturday.
Penn State stays in Happy Valley for a matchup with Florida International.
