Penn State coach James Franklin remains fixated on working out the kinks ahead of his second-ranked team’s game against Villanova on Saturday afternoon in University Park, Pa.
The Nittany Lions recorded 35- and 34-point victories in their first two games, but Franklin cast a critical eye when he met with reporters Monday at his weekly press conference.
The coach said he wanted to see more explosive plays and a better conversion efficiency on third downs. He then addressed a “next-play” mentality as a means of preventing one missed opportunity from affecting future plays.
Case in point, quarterback Drew Allar was demonstrative in his frustration after misfiring on a few throws in the first half of Penn State’s 34-0 victory over Florida International last Saturday.
“I think (Allar) got frustrated, and it lingered,” Franklin said. “What happens is when you’ve got people that have invested the amount that a guy like Drew and most of our team have invested, that’s easier said than done, to move on to the next play and not get frustrated and upset with yourself.”
Nicholas Singleton also was singled out by Franklin for “thinking too much” against the Panthers. Singleton, however, rushed for a 5-yard touchdown just over two minutes after fellow running back Kaytron Allen scampered 67 yards for a score in the fourth quarter.
Allen (3,064) and Singleton (3,007) each eclipsed the 3,000-yard plateaus in their careers on Saturday. They became the first FBS teammates to accomplish the feat since Louisiana’s Trey Ragas and Elijah Mitchell in 2020 and the first Power 4 rushers since Georgia’s Nick Chubb and Sony Michel in 2017.
Franklin on Monday was quick to credit his offensive line.
“I saw a big step last week,” he said. “… Obviously there are such high expectations for that group coming into the season, and deservedly so. That plays a part in it.”
While Penn State (2-0) has cruised to victory in its games, Villanova had a tougher time in its season opener last week.
Nicholls State graduate transfer Pat McQuaide fared well in replacing the now-graduated Connor Watkins, throwing for 299 yards and a touchdown in the Wildcats’ 24-17 victory over Colgate on Saturday. McQuaide’s passing total marked the most by a Villanova quarterback in his first start, passing Watkins’ record by 1 yard.
McQuaide also had a 28-yard rushing touchdown.
“It’s not a reflection of me,” McQuaide said of his gaudy stats, per the Philadelphia Inquirer. “The offensive line is incredible. I don’t think there was a sack. The stats go to me, which they shouldn’t, because that was those guys that did the work.”
Luke Colella had five receptions for 124 yards, while former Villanova lacrosse player Lukas Kopecky reeled in a 56-yard scoring strike.
“Well, being 1-0 is definitely better than the alternative, so we’re really happy and excited about that,” Villanova coach Mark Ferrante said.
