STATE COLLEGE, Pa. | Rutgers has had some bad luck lately against Penn State’s backup quarterbacks. Beau Pribula replaced the injured Drew Allar on Saturday, and the Nittany Lions, behind a one-dimensional offensive attack, coasted to a 27-6 Senior Day win. Pribula followed current Pitt quarterback Christian Veilleux, who took over for an ill Sean Clifford in Penn State’s 28-0 win in 2021, and Will Levis, who started in place of an injured Clifford in a 2019 win by the same score as Saturday.

Allar sustained an injury on a quarterback draw early in the third quarter and did not return to the game. Because Allar stayed on the field for another snap, Pribula entered in mid-drive without much chance to consult coaches or huddle up. Yet he took that first snap from the shotgun, tucked the ball and weaved toward the sideline for a statement 39-yard gain.

“I think it was super important to have an explosive play like that, first play being in, just to set the tone,” Pribula said. “I had the option to throw as well. I decided to run the ball, and then I saw a crease and just kind of [ran up the] right sideline and I tried to get as much as I could get.”

Pribula finished completed his only pass for 9 yards but rushed for a team-high 71 yards and a touchdown on eight attempts. Penn State coach James Franklin said that Pribula’s ability to run added “diversity” to Penn State’s rushing attack Saturday. The Lions ran 17 straight times after Pribula entered, and Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton both ripped runs of 20-plus yards in the second half. In all, Penn State rushed for 234 yards — a season high in Big Ten play — on 6 yards per carry. “Different punches that you can throw out,” Franklin said of what Pribula added to the run game.