Penn State football returned to Beaver Stadium on Saturday afternoon for its annual Blue-White scrimmage, resulting in a shutout 10-0 victory for the Blue team over the White team, propelling them to their first win since 2019.
Omari Evans, the wide receiver, proved to be the most reliable target, picking up five catches for a total of 80 yards, including a lone touchdown. The former five-star commodity finished the battle by completing 19-of-30 passes for 202 yards. After ultimately finding his rhythm, Drew Allar settled in at the quarterback spot, but Beau Pribula battled it out with him.
How It Happened
The contest for Team Blue began sluggishly as Drew Allar went 0-for-2 during the first possession scrimmage, with three-and-quick outs.
The ball became loose and Johnny Dixon delivered a powerful blow to the receiver, but Pribula confidently moved forward in the offensive formation on the immediate subsequent play and aimed for redshirt sophomore Liam Clifford. In the middle of the field, Malik McClain swiftly caught a seven-yard pass from Beau Pribula and immediately displayed his enthusiasm.
Eventually, White was compelled to punt the ball back to Blue, where Allar began to discover his groove.
Allen Kaytron received his first touch of the game in the first period, gaining five yards with a solid keeper play that resulted in a gain of three yards for Evans Omari, who completed his first pass of the game in his native Ohio swing-yard.
The Blue Team was in the lead with a score of 7-0, following Alex Felkins’ successful extra point, after two consecutive brief rushing plays. The initial point of the game was made from a distance of 28 yards, as Evans was able to swiftly reach the end zone on a crossing route, which Allar found with ease as he was completely unguarded.
Throughout three plays, the White Team regressed, leading to sacks recorded by both Curtis Jacobs and Kalen King. However, they were unable to respond during the drive.
The lead of the Blue Team was extended to 10-0 by a Felkins field goal, as the Blue Team was unable to capitalize on the significant play and had to accept it. Safety Mehki Flowers tackled him at the three-yard line, and he caught a 22-yard pass from Pribula in the corner, continuing to have a significant impact for the Blue Team. Pribula participated in the Blue Team’s practice and led a drive focused on running in the initial drive of the second quarter.
The White Squad experienced a loss of yardage for the three-and-out category, but it concluded with a three-point possession after Jaxon Smolik, a freshman quarterback who enrolled early, received his initial opportunity in a Nittany Lion jersey.
Team White turned the ball over to Team Blue and Kaden Saunders threw an open pass that was overthrown by Allar. Then, on 4th-and-6, Khalil found Allar for a gain of seven yards. Later, on 3rd-and-13, the Blue team’s drive was disrupted early by a sack.
During the starting drive, Team’s White struggled as Pribula attempted to convert a lengthy 3rd-and-19 scenario. However, Smith Tank was unable to convert, leading to an intentional grounding call along with a 0-for-2 set up.
The Blue Team found itself back with the ball at its own 35-yard line, after Allar threw an interception on the next play and Allen and Allar miscommunicated, resulting in an incompletion just under a minute left in the first half.
At halftime, the Blue Team held a 10-0 advantage as they headed to the locker room, however, the second-year player fell just short of reaching the endzone. Tyler Johnson made an impressive catch by diving for a long pass thrown by Allar, and was able to evade the collapsing pocket as time was winding down in the first half. Allar quickly made amends and threw a beautiful 17-yard pass to Kaden Saunders, resulting in a new set of downs for the Blue Team.
Team White, with a fresh set of downs, found themselves with the ball at the 25-yard line after Amiel Davis rushed for eight yards and Trey Wallace completed an eight-yard pass to Pribula to start the second half.
Davis broke off yet another rush-yard for eight, converting that 4th-and-2 which was a significant upset. The drive stalled after the second down when McClain overthrew Pribula on 3rd-and-14.
Singleton, playing for the Blue Team, executed three quick runs that led to 11 yards gained and a successful first down. Following a 34-yard punt from redshirt freshman Alex Bacchetta, the Blue Team maintained possession on their own nine-yard line.
Allar continued to find his targets throughout the rest of the drive, as Evans once again founds 19 yards down the line-yard, taking it for Team Blue.
The Blue Team maintained their lead of 10-0 as the third quarter concluded.
White returned the ball to Blue, and Smith was unable to locate the line to achieve a first down on a fourth-down conversion attempt. Tony Rojas played a part in the White Team’s defense on a 2nd-and-14, disrupting a pass from Allar at the line of scrimmage. Tank Smith then followed it up with a 13-yard run up the center, and Allar began the fourth quarter with a 16-yard pass completion to Saunders.
Pribula and the White Team regressed on a drive that only resulted in two sacks and a rush, dominating the subsequent drive against the Blue Team’s defense.
Team Blue took advantage of a favorable field position as Allar completed a 23-yard pass to Saunders, who toted the rock down the 25-yard line with a tough catch. The throw concluded with a sidearm heave.
The Blue team was unable to find the end zone from the 9-yard line, despite Ivey Anthony’s touchdown prevention and the completed defense of White and Tony Rojas.
With just 30 seconds remaining on the clock, Team White swiftly moved past midfield, using an illegal 15-yard penalty and completing three passes. Despite starting in a bad position on their own 2-yard line, they managed to get back on the offensive field with a minute left.
However, Pribula took a downfield shot that was intercepted by freshman redshirt safety Jashaun Green, giving the ball back to Team Blue with seven seconds remaining.
The game ended with a score of 10-0, and in the closing seconds, Allar looked to dump it up to Schlaffer Joey, but the ball ended up in the air and four yards were gained.