UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Fifth-year defensive end Nick Tarburton was involved in two takeaways and the rest of No. 11 Penn State’s (5-0) defense held Northwestern (1-4) in check to overcome five Nittany Lion turnovers in a 17-7 win on a rainy Saturday evening at Beaver Stadium.
Penn State’s offense was loose with the ball during a wet first half, as freshman running back Nicholas Singleton had a pair of fumbles and sixth-year quarterback Sean Clifford threw his second interception of the season. But the Nittany Lions’ defense generated a trio of first-half takeaways, including a pick by fifth-year safety Ji’Ayir Brown of Northwestern’s fourth-year quarterback Ryan Hilinski.
The Nittany Lions got on the board shortly after Brown’s interception, as Clifford connected with fourth-year tight end Brenton Strange for a 20-yard strike. Two drives later, Penn State doubled its lead to 14-0 on a Singleton 2-yard touchdown scamper in the second quarter.
