Wisconsin takes a 10-3 lead over Penn State into halftime

Penn State has been a third quarter team this season and will have to be one again to hold off Wisconsin and remain undefeated. The Badgers lead Penn State 10-7 at halftime at Camp Randall Stadium after stifling the Nittany Lions early.

Penn State no. 3 has outscored opponents 59-3 in six third quarters this season, allowing just one field goal to USC two weeks ago. The Nittany Lions (6-0) started the game with two dynamic drives, the second of which produced a superb touchdown catch from quarterback Nicholas Singleton and the other of which ended in a turnover. After that, though, Penn State managed just 45 yards of offense and watched quarterback Drew Allar limp into the locker room early.

Penn State has 30 minutes to go 7-0 before hosting Ohio State next week. A look at the first half.

A stressful finish for Penn State’s offense

The Nittany Lions’ first two drives were crisp in terms of playmaking and ball movement. But for a drop, the first could have produced a touchdown, which the second did. However, Wisconsin’s defense put more pressure on quarterback Drew Allar after that, punctuating the half with a key sack that sent the quarterback into a slight limp that sent him to the locker room early.

Allar, who completed nine of his first 10 passes, looked increasingly frustrated as the second quarter wore on. And after a first-down sack, he limped slightly to his feet and gingerly left after two ensuing incompletions. Allar started the third quarter on the sldeline, wearing a knee brace, and Beau Pribula took over at quarterback.

Braedyn Locke finds a groove

After a slow 2-for-7 start, Wisconsin quarterback Braedyn Locke sharpened his throws in the second quarter. He led a 10-play, 73-yard touchdown drive, completing three straight passes, including a pair to Will Pauling, before Tawee Walker scored on a 1-yard run with 1:23 before halftime. The score benefited from a critical Penn State mistake: The Nittany Lions had 12 defenders on the field on a third-down stop before Walker’s touchdown.

Nicholas Singleton’s acrobatic touchdown catch

Penn State running back Nicholas Singleton wasn’t the best receiver in his background last year. It was fellow back Kaytron Allen. But Singleton spent the offseason improving that part of his game, with superb results.

Singleton made a spectacular one-handed touchdown catch in the second quarter, tangling a pass that Allar floated into tight coverage. The catch was his second of the inning; Singleton ended the first quarter by taking a throw from Allar 27 yards to get into the red zone. The touchdown catch, however, was an elite receiving game.

Penn State’s running game gets off to a quiet start

The Nittany Lions haven’t run the ball well for 2 1/2 games. Singleton and Allen combined for 38 yards in the first half, continuing a theme that began with the dual meet against the California schools. Penn State averaged over 250 yards rushing through the first four weeks, but only combined for 203 yards against UCLA and USC.

Passes thrown blunt offenses

Wisconsin’s receivers dropped four passes in the first half to stifle multiple drives, including a potential scoring opportunity in the first quarter. One came when Penn State freshman safety Dejuan Lane put a shoulder on Wisconsin’s Trech Kekahuna.

Penn State also had a huge drop on its opening drive from Julian Fleming, who was so sure on his last three catches. Fleming, whose fourth-down catches were vital at USC, started the game with a third-and-five conversion. Later in the drive, he was wide open with the ball at his fingertips and the end zone in sight. Fleming turned his head too quickly though and dropped the potential touchdown pass. On fourth down, Allar failed to get a quick snap by Nick Dawkins, and Wisconsin recovered the ball at the 28-yard line.

Weird opening drive from Wisconsin

Locke went 2-for-7 in Wisconsin’s first series, but a strong throw on 3rd-and-15 to keep the momentum alive. Then came one of the wisest plays you will see from a punter. Penn State’s Jalen Kimber had a free run on the block, but Wisconsin’s Atticus Bertrans calmly poked the ball in, reset again and saw the field open. He ran for 15 yards on 4th and 9 for the improbable conversion.

That set up kicker Nathanial Vakos for a 50-yard field goal, giving the Badgers a 3-0 lead.

More Penn State Football

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What’s next for Tyler Warren, Penn State “One of a kind” tight end?

A huge Gatorade commercial featuring Nicholas Singleton debuted in State College this week. Columnist Ben Jones on what it means

Cornerback Jalen Kimber played at Georgia and Florida before transferring to Penn State. He did this on purpose “to maintain the tradition” of the Nittany Lions secondary