Penn State Overmatched by Northwestern in Ryan Field Opener

Northwestern opened the new Ryan Field in emphatic fashion Friday night, routing Penn State 34-13 behind a powerful rushing performance. Caleb Komolafe ran for a career-high 188 yards and a touchdown as the Wildcats led from start to finish.

The victory gave Northwestern fans plenty to celebrate after they had eagerly awaited the opening of the facility. A light show in the stands and waves of fireworks and flames preceded the opening kickoff.

The $875 million stadium was constructed on the same site as the former Ryan Field. It seats 35,000, which is down more than 12,000 from the capacity of the school’s previous home.

Northwestern produced season highs with 413 rushing yards and 506 total yards. Komolafe and Joseph Himon II led the ground attack, with Himon delivering a career-high 162 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries.

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“All the credit to our players,” Northwestern coach David Braun said in his postgame interview on the field on Fox. “This community? This student section? I mean, this place is electric right now. And I couldn’t be prouder to have the opportunity to lead this program.”

The Wildcats improved to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in the Big Ten with the memorable performance. They were coming off a tough 29-23 loss at No. 6 Indiana last week.

Penn State fell to 3-2 overall and 0-2 in conference play after losing its second consecutive game. The Nittany Lions are in their first season under coach Matt Campbell and had opened at No. 18 in the AP’s first poll.

The conference struggles began when Penn State blew a 17-point lead in a 24-20 loss to Wisconsin. Northwestern then controlled Friday night’s game while playing the style Campbell said Penn State wanted to establish.

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“First of all, I want to give Northwestern a ton of credit, because they played the style of game that we, obviously, would like to play,” Campbell said. “They beat us. … It was really hard to find a rhythm on both sides of the football.”

Penn State quarterback Rocco Becht completed 26 of 41 passes for 243 yards and a touchdown, but he also threw two interceptions. The Nittany Lions finished with 20 first downs and 291 total yards.

Those figures represented an increase from Penn State’s game against Wisconsin, when the Nittany Lions recorded 12 first downs and 233 yards. Campbell remained frustrated with how his team performed against Northwestern.

“The frustrating thing for me,” Campbell said, “is the standard of what this program plays football with — the attitude, the effort, the toughness. We lacked it in every way, shape and form.”

Northwestern took a 10-0 lead when Aidan Chiles scored on a 2-yard keeper with 5:07 remaining in the first quarter. Himon helped set up the touchdown by breaking off a 47-yard run.

Carson Hansen answered for Penn State with an 8-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Himon responded with touchdown runs of 38 and 11 yards for Northwestern, keeping the Wildcats in command.

Penn State had an opportunity to reduce the deficit shortly before halftime. Ryan Barker instead missed a 45-yard field goal, and Northwestern maintained control going into the break.

The Wildcats extended their lead to 31-7 on Komolafe’s 1-yard touchdown run with 1:13 remaining in the third quarter. Chiles contributed a 15-yard run and then completed a 31-yard pass to Griffin Wilde on consecutive plays during the drive.

Komolafe’s career-high rushing total and Himon’s career-high production highlighted a night when Northwestern accumulated 506 total yards. The Wildcats’ 34-13 victory completed the first game at the new Ryan Field and sent Penn State to another conference defeat.

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