Penn State’s James Franklin loves what he is seeing so far from his squad.
Penn State football coach James Franklin is seeking consistency from his team this season. Following their dominant win over West Virginia on Saturday, Franklin expressed satisfaction with the team’s initial performance.
“We achieved it today,” Franklin said, according to ESPN. “But we need to maintain it every week.”
Penn State built a 20-6 lead by halftime, thanks to quarterback Drew Allar’s impressive play, as he threw three touchdown passes in the first half. After an extended lightning delay pushed back the second half, the Nittany Lions returned focused, ultimately defeating the Mountaineers 34-12 in a decisive win.
Penn State football completely stifled West Virginia
It wasn’t just Allar who excelled on Saturday for Penn State football; the defense also made a strong impression by limiting West Virginia to only 85 rushing yards. The Mountaineers didn’t score a touchdown until the fourth quarter, and Penn State’s defense forced three turnovers.
The Nittany Lions racked up 457 total yards against a revamped West Virginia defense, which appeared troubled at times, allowing several big plays from Penn State’s wide receivers. Running back Nicholas Singleton had an impressive outing, rushing for 114 yards and a touchdown on just 13 carries. Additionally, Penn State’s offensive line effectively protected Allar, allowing no sacks. It was a dominant performance for the Nittany Lions, who played in Morgantown for the first time in over 30 years.
Next up for Penn State is a matchup against Bowling Green on Saturday.
West Virginia must fix their issues immediately
West Virginia football suffered their fourth consecutive loss in a season opener, marking the first time this has happened in the school’s history. The Mountaineers also fell to Penn State in State College, kicking off the 2023 season.
West Virginia was filled with anticipation heading into Saturday’s game. Former Mountaineer player Pat McAfee visited Morgantown on Friday to host his show, where he announced a $ 1 million donation to the school’s NIL collective. However, the excitement may have overwhelmed the West Virginia team, leading to a decisive loss on Saturday.
“We played poorly,” said West Virginia coach Neal Brown. “To say I’m disappointed in our performance would be an understatement.”
This matchup could be one of the last for quite some time, as the two schools, once fierce rivals, faced each other annually from 1947 to 1992. After Penn State joined the Big Ten, their meetings ceased until last season.
The Mountaineers will face Albany next Saturday.
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