Penn State ends 6-game losing streak, beats Michigan State for interim coach
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Ethan Grunkemeyer threw two touchdown passes to Devonte Ross, Kaytron Allen ran for 181 yards and two touchdowns and Penn State defeated Michigan State 28-10 Saturday to snap a six-game losing streak.
It is PSU’s first win since it fired James Franklin and named Terry Smith its interim head coach last month.
Grunkemeyer completed 8 of 13 passes for 127 yards for the Nittany Lions (4-6, 1-6 Big Ten).
Grunkemeyer sealed the win with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Ross with 4:32 left, and Allen added his second touchdown on a 26-yard run with 2:07 remaining.
Alessio Milivojevic completed 17 of 27 passes for 128 yards for the Spartans (3-7, 0-7), who lost their seventh straight game.
Elijah Tau-Tolliver ran 57 yards for a touchdown on Michigan State’s first play of the game. Allen tied it on the ensuing Penn State possession with an 8-yard scoring run.
Following a Michigan State field goal, the Nittany Lions went in front 14-10 on Grunkemeyer’s 75-yard touchdown pass to Ross.
Michigan State quarterback Aidan Chiles did not play; he was on the pregame sidelines wearing a walking boot on his left foot. He started the first eight games of the season but saw his streak of 20 consecutive starts come to an end Nov. 1 against Minnesota when he was replaced by Milivojevic.
The Spartans played their first game since the NCAA placed Michigan State’s football program on three years of probation for violations that occurred during Mel Tucker’s tenure as coach.
Penn State: The Nittany Lions avoided their first seven-game losing streak in the same season since 1931. With a home game against Nebraska and traveling to Rutgers to close the regular season, Penn State's hopes to go to a bowl remain alive.
Penn State: hosts Nebraska on Saturday.
