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Highs, lows from Penn State’s loss to Oregon

TIM WEIGHT/For The Express Penn State’s Drew Allar leads the Nittany Lions’ offense against Oregon on Saturday.

STATE COLLEGE — Following are the highlights and lowlights from Penn State’s 30-24 double-overtime loss to Oregon on Saturday night at Beaver Stadium:

Play of the game: Down 30-24 in double overtime, Drew Allar was intercepted by Dillon Thieneman at the sideline on first down to end it.

Offensive player of the game: Oregon quarterback Dante Moore completed 29-of-39 for 248 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He also rushed 10 times for 35 yards.

Defensive player of the game: Ducks linebacker Bryce Boettcher made a team-high 12 tackles, including three solos.

Most telling statistic: Oregon converted 5-of-7 fourth downs.

Most deceiving statistic: The Lions were penalized just twice for 10 yards.

Hidden statistic: Penn State did not record a single sack and made only one tackle for loss.

Turning point: With the score tied 3-3 on first-and-goal from the PSU 9 with 3:40 left in the third quarter, Oregon’s Noah Whittington fumbled and it was returned 39 yards by Zakee Wheatley. But officials reversed their call on the field and ruled Whittington’s knee was down. One play later, the Ducks took a 10-3 lead.

Best run: Oregon’s Dierre Hill Jr. burst 24 yards to the Lions’ 23 in the third quarter.

Best pass: Allar hit Devonte Ross with a 35-yard touchdown pass, cutting the Oregon lead to 17-10 with 10:30 remaining.

Worst pass: See play of the game. Allar attempted a pass into traffic trying to hit Luke Reynolds, and it was underthrown.

Catch it, will ya: AJ Harris juggled a potential interception in the first quarter. Reynolds had a costly second-quarter drop.

Best catch: After Harris bobbled the above play, Dakorien Moore snatched it out of the air for an 8-yard gain.

Hold it, won’t ya: Penn State didn’t fumble.

Best block: Tight end Khalil Dinkins and Kyron Hudson paved Devonte Ross’s game-tying TD after a 7-yard reception/pitch from Allar.

Best tackle: Amare Campbell and Harris combined to stop Moore a yard short on fourth-and-3 at the Lions’ 36 in the first quarter, ending a Ducks’ advance.

Best hit: King Mack drilled Moore in overtime.

Best kick: Ryan Barker’s career-long 49-yard field goal gave the Lions a 3-0 lead early in the second quarter.

Worst kick: Bad enough the Nits punted from the Oregon 36, tied 3-3 in the third quarter, but Gabe Nwosu kicked it into the end zone.

Worst penalty: Oregon OT Alex Harkey was nailed with an unsportsmanlike penalty in the fourth quarter, pushing the Ducks back 15 and leading to a punt with 7:07 left.

Best call: On first-and-goal from the Oregon 7, Allar found Ross underneath for a touchdown to tie the game at 17 with 30 seconds remaining in regulation.

Worst call: Third-and-9, tied 3-3, Lions at the Oregon 36, and Allar fakes a pitch and goes up the middle? No gain.

Best effort: Oregon’s offensive line.

Unsung hero: The Ducks’ Dierre Hill Jr. rushed 10 times for 82 yards and caught two passes for 12 yards and a TD.

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