Tyler Warren shows off versatility as No. 6 Penn State thrashes Washington

Field Level Media|published: Sat 9th November, 23:32 2024

Nov 9, 2024; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Tyler Warren (44) jumps over top of the Washington Huskies defense and into the end zone for a touchdown during the second quarter at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

Tight end Tyler Warren made a game-high eight receptions and rushed for two touchdowns as No. 6 Penn State trounced Washington 35-6 Saturday night in the Nittany Lions' annual white-out game in University Park, Pa.

Drew Allar completed 20 of 28 passes for 220 yards and a touchdown for Penn State (8-1 overall, 5-1 Big Ten), which could move up in the College Football Playoff rankings after losses by No. 3 Georgia and No. 4 Miami. Teammate Kaytron Allen rushed 20 times for 98 yards and a score.

The Nittany Lions had a 486-193 edge in total offense.

The normally staid Penn State offense came up with some intriguing plays in taking a 28-0 halftime lead.

Backup quarterback Beau Pribula came off the bench and scored on an 8-yard run around the left end to open the scoring with 3:48 left in the first quarter. That capped a nine-play, 72-yard drive after Washington's Grady Gross hit the upright on a 45-yard field goal attempt.

Facing third-and-goal from the UW 2-yard line with 9:23 remaining in the second, Warren -- a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award as college football's most versatile player -- lined up as the quarterback in a Wildcat formation. Warren took the snap and vaulted into the end zone to make it 14-0.

With 3:23 left in the quarter, Penn State faced the same situation -- third-and-goal from the 2 -- and again used Warren in the Wildcat formation. This time he muscled his way over the goal line behind the left tackle.

Allar then threw an 8-yard scoring strike to Julian Fleming with 23 seconds left in the half.

Penn State's Nicholas Singleton returned the second-half kickoff 97 yards, but the touchdown was called back because of a holding penalty.

The Huskies (5-5, 3-4) finally got on the scoreboard on Gross' 24-yard field goal with 9:47 left in the third. He added a 35-yarder early in the fourth to make it 28-6.

Allen scored on a 1-yard run with 4:50 to go to cap the scoring.

UW quarterback Will Rogers III was 10-of-13 passing for 59 yards and one interception in the first half before being replaced by Demond Williams Jr., who was 6-of-10 passing for 60 yards and rushed for a team-high 38 yards on 10 attempts.

--Field Level Media