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No. 4 Penn State rebounds to beat USC 33-30 in overtime on TE Tyler Warren's record day


No. 4 Penn State rebounds to beat USC 33-30 in overtime on TE Tyler Warren's record day

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tyler Warren caught 17 passes, tying the FBS single-game record for tight ends, Ryan Barker hit a 36-yard field goal in overtime and No. 4 Penn State rallied for a 14th -point deficit in the second half for a 33-30 victory over Southern California on Saturday.

Drew Allar rushed for a career-high 391 yards and two touchdowns despite throwing three interceptions for Penn State (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten), which didn't take the lead in the final 49 minutes of regulation. The Nittany Lions came back three times in the final 20 minutes to tie the game, including Nicholas Singleton's 14-yard TD reception with 2:53 left.

Quentin Joyner scored two early touchdowns for the Trojans (3-3, 1-3), who have lost three of four. USC hasn't beaten a top-five team since the Trojans took on No. 5 Penn State in a 52-49 Rose Bowl thriller in January 2017.

Warren rushed for 224 yards and a touchdown, although his only catch after the third quarter was a 3-yarder in overtime. The senior set a record for most receptions by an opponent in USC's 137-year football history.

The Nittany Lions started their long road trip slowly but finished it impressively. After taking a 3-0 lead on its first drive, Penn State did not take the lead again in regulation time and trailed 20-6 at halftime before the offense got going.

USC's Kyron Hudson caught a touchdown pass from Miller Moss with 5:56 left, but Allar converted two fourth downs with desperation passes for Penn State before Singleton was left completely alone for his game-winning catch.

USC pushed toward midfield in the final seconds, but Lincoln Riley strangely didn't use a timeout to extend the Trojans' push before Jaylen Reed beat Moss with five seconds left.

USC went back three yards on the first three plays of overtime before Michael Lantz missed a 45-yard field goal attempt. Penn State advanced to the 19 and Barker buried the winner.

Moss passed for 220 yards and two scores, while Joyner rushed for a 75-yard touchdown in the first quarter and caught a 9-yard TD pass for the Trojans in the second quarter. Woody Marks rushed for 111 yards for USC.

Penn State had a sizable fan base at the Coliseum in its first extended road trip in the new Big Ten and its longest trip for a regular-season game since 1991.

But USC's defense kept Penn State out of the end zone in the first half despite playing without injured linebacker Eric Gentry, the sacks leader and second-leading tackler, and starting cornerback Jacobe Covington.

Joyner gave the Trojans an early lead when he faked a rebound and thundered 75 yards through the heart of Penn State's defense. A little later, he added his first career touchdown catch.

Penn State responded to its 14-point halftime deficit with Allar's TD throw to Warren on a one-two. The Nittany Lions made a 90-yard march to tie the game moments later, but Kaytron Allen scored the equalizer.

Easton Mascarenas-Arnold's interception led to USC's third field goal late in the third period, but Penn State tied it again with 10:50 to play after the next drive stalled at the 3.

The takeaway food

Penn State: The Nittany Lions celebrated hard after a win that was exciting but not overwhelming. Their slow start and overall rough defensive performance doesn't bode well for Ohio State or any other opponent with less inconsistency than mercurial USC.

USC: The Trojans responded impressively to last week's embarrassing loss, but are still falling short. The bottom line is that Riley has lost eight of its last 13 games and the Trojans are eliminated from the Big Ten and CFP races midway through the season.

Next

Penn State: Bye week.

USC: At Maryland on October 19th.

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AP College Football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll And https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

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