EAST LANSING, Mich. – Kaytron Allen didn’t plan to do too much celebrating after Penn State’s flight returned to State College.
Allen’s coach and teammates, though, were reveling in his performance in the Nittany Lions’ 28-10 win over Michigan State Saturday at Spartan Stadium.
He carried 25 times for a career-high 181 yards and two touchdowns and played a leading role in Penn State snapping a six-game losing streak.
“Kaytron was just unbelievable,” Penn State interim head coach Terry Smith said.
Allen and backfield mate Nick Singleton, who finished with 56 yards on 15 carries, helped the Lions set a season high with 240 rushing yards.
“Kaytron and Nick were doing their job tonight,” wide receiver Devonte Ross said. “They were toting the ball whenever we needed it. They were making plays.”
Allen, Singleton and quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer ran the ball on the first 12 plays of a nine-minute drive in the fourth quarter that ended with Grunkemeyer tossing a 4-yard pass to Ross for a 21-10 lead with 4:32 to go.
Allen then put the final touches on his afternoon, running for 68 yards on back-to-back snaps, the second a 26-yard score with 2:07 to play.
“It feels great, especially when we can end it on our terms like that,” he said. “It’s just been a long, long season. It felt good getting this dub (win).
“We wanted to wear them down. That was the whole game plan.”
Allen moved within range of Evan Royster’s Penn State career rushing record. He now has 3,794 yards and trails Royster (3,932) and second-place Saquon Barkley (3,843).
“We were just trying to go 1-0 this week for Coach Terry,” he said, “the team, the whole program, and the janitors. Everybody played a part.”
Dennis-Sutton is special: Penn State senior defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton had a monstrous game with two sacks, one quarterback hurry and his third blocked punt of the season.
It was his first two-sack game of this season.
“He’s been working super hard,” Smith said about Dennis-Sutton. “He’s one of our leaders. In today’s times, on some teams, guys like that will opt out. His effort today was incredible with his relentless pressure.
“He just plays so hard. He gives everything. I really appreciate that. His leadership means everything to me, to us and to the defense.”
Dennis-Sutton tied Penn State radio analyst Jack Ham and Andre Collins for the most blocked punts in a season in school history. Ham, who’s in the Pro and College Football Halls of Fame, has the career record with four.
Dennis-Sutton didn’t play on special teams in his first three seasons and then was approached in the summer by Justin Lustig, the special teams coordinator.
“Me and Coach Tig talked about it all summer,” Dennis-Sutton said, holding a game ball presented to him by Smith. “He said we’re going to get blocked punts this year to help the team. I got a shoutout to Coach Lustig. He’s had a great game plan every week.”
Injury report: Defensive end Chaz Coleman and quarterbacks Jaxon Smolik and Bekkem Kritza were among those Penn State players listed as out on the Big Ten availability report.
Cornerback A.J. Harris was listed as questionable and in uniform, but he did not play.
Travel roster: Twelve Penn State freshmen made the travel roster for the trip to East Lansing.
They were wide receiver Koby Howard, cornerback Daryus Dixson, linebacker LaVar Arrington II, cornerback Joshua Johnson, linebacker Alex Tatsch, linebacker Cam Smith, tight end Matt Henderson, offensive lineman Michael Troutman III, defensive tackle Randy Adirika, offensive lineman Owen Aliciene, wide receiver Jeff Exinor Jr. and defensive end Yvan Kemajou.
Dixson made his first start and had five tackles, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup.
Source: Berkshire mont