Penn State Vs. Michigan State Halftime Report

The Nittany Lions take a 13-0 lead over the Spartans at Ford Field in Detroit.
Penn State Vs. Michigan State Halftime Report
Penn State Vs. Michigan State Halftime Report /

Penn State took a 13-0 halftime lead over Michigan State on Friday night, looking to reach 10 regular-season wins for the fifth time in eight years. The Nittany Lions now are 30 minutes from a near-guaranteed bid to a New Years' 6 bowl. 

Penn State's offense rolled up 308 first-half yards in a mostly sharp performance. Still, the Lions produced just 13 points because of a few lapsed third-down protections. Quick look at Penn State's first half at Detroit's Ford Field.

The running backs are dealing

Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton came to play. Both had 50-yard plays in the first quarter, tying Penn State's total through the first 11 games. And Allen scored a third-down touchdown on a well-designed red-zone play.

Singleton and Allen combined for 115 yards rushing and another 85 in the air. Even third-string back Trey Potts got into the action, turning in a 28-yard carry on the Lions' final series of the half.

Penn State's missed opportunities

The Nittany Lions compiled 197 yards of offense on their first three drives, produced as many 50-yard plays as they have all season and total an impressive 86 yards after catch. And they scored six points.

The keys: two penalties (including a rare holding on left tackle Olu Fashanu) and missed blitz pickups that led to sacks on a pair of third-and-longs. Penn State settled for three field-goal attempts on those drives. Alex Felkins made two, including a 49-yarder, but also hit an upright.

Penn State's defense is flying

Michigan State hit two long pass plays, one aided by a missed tackle,  but managed little else. The Spartans ran for minus-2 yards on their first three series, and Detroit native Jaylen Reed ended one series with a diving interception.

Adisa Isaac and Chop Robinson, who could be playing their last games for Penn State, sped up Michigan State quarterback Katin Houser's internal clock. And the defense sniffed out a second-quarter trick play, leading to a grounding penalty when receiver Alante Brown frantically threw away an impending sack.

Noteworthy

Penn State converted just one of its first four third-down attempts, giving up sacks on two.

Quarterback Drew Allar completed 13 of his first 17 passing attempts for 180 yards. He threw for a combined 149 yards the past two weeks.

KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Penn State's leading receiver, wasn't targeted in the first half. That's six consecutive quarters without a target for Lambert-Smith.

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AllPennState is the place for Penn State news, opinion and perspective on the SI.com network. Publisher Mark Wogenrich has covered Penn State for more than 20 years, tracking three coaching staffs, three Big Ten titles and a catalog of great stories. Follow him on Twitter @MarkWogenrich. And consider subscribing (button's on the home page) for more great content across the SI.com network.


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Mark Wogenrich
MARK WOGENRICH

Mark Wogenrich is Editor and Publisher of AllPennState, the site for Penn State news on SI's FanNation Network. He has covered Penn State sports for more than two decades across three coaching staffs and three Rose Bowls.