GLENDALE, Ariz. – Drew Allar threw three touchdown passes, including two to Tyler Warren, as fourth-ranked Penn State turned back ninth-ranked Boise State 31-14 in the Fiesta Bowl Tuesday night at State Farm Stadium.
The Nittany Lions (13-2) advanced to the College Football Playoff semifinals in the Orange Bowl Jan. 9 against Georgia or Notre Dame. They also set a school record for wins and improved to 8-0 in the Fiesta Bowl.
Kaytron Allen rushed 17 times for 134 yards and Nick Singleton sealed the victory with a 58-yard TD burst with 4:54 to go. Singleton finished with 87 yards on 12 carries.
Warren caught six passes for 63 yards to set a Penn State record for receptions in a season breaking the mark of 97 set by Allen Robinson in 2013. He made a 13-yard TD catch in the third quarter after the Broncos (12-2) had closed within 17-14.
Omari Evans hauled in a 38-yard TD pass in the first quarter for the Lions, who saw consensus All-American defensive end Abdul Carter leave the game early in the second quarter with an upper-body injury.
Fellow ends Dani Dennis-Sutton and Amin Vanover combined for 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks in Carter’s absence.
Penn State limited Ashton Jeanty, the nation’s leading rusher, to 104 yards on 30 carries. He had been averaging 192.1 per game. Jeanty also fumbled twice in the first half, including one that was recovered by Zakee Wheatley.
Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen passed for 304 yards but threw three interceptions to Wheatley, Zion Tracy and Tyrece Mills.
The Broncos, who drew a first-round bye in the CFP, pulled within 17-14 when Madsen rolled right and threw back to the left to wide-open tight end Matt Lauter for a 53-yard touchdown early in the third quarter.
Penn State answered quickly with a 75-yard drive, converting two third downs. Allen picked up 23 yards and Allar gained 15. On third-and-11 from the 13, Allar found Warren in the back of the end zone to make it 24-14.
Penn State scored on its first two series to take a 14-0 lead as Allar threw a pair of touchdown passes to Warren and Evans.
Allen ran for 23 yards off the right side behind a block by Warren on the opening drive and then for 10 yards for a first down at the Boise State 11. On second down, Allar lobbed a pretty pass over a defender to Warren just inside the back line.
On their second possession, the Lions ran three times for 18 yards before Allar threw a dart to the streaking Evans for a 38-yard score.
Penn State seemed to be on the verge of breaking it open when Kobe King forced Jeanty to fumble and Wheatley caught the ball in midair before stepping out of bounds at the Penn State 49.
But on the next play, Allar faked a handoff to Singleton and lost the ball. Seyi Oladipo recovered for the Broncos.
In the second quarter, Boise State started from its 48 and almost turned it over again. Vanover jarred the ball loose from Jeanty, but offensive lineman Roger Carreon recovered.
Moments later, fullback Tyler Crowe burst through the middle for an 8-yard TD to cut it to 14-7.
Penn State’s offensive linemen committed four penalties to stall the next two drives.
The Lions regained possession at their 36 with 1:01 left in the half. Evans made a spectacular 17-yard catch for a first down at the Boise State 36. On fourth-and-12, the Broncos’ Davon Banks was flagged for pass interference.
Penn State took a 17-7 lead into the locker room when Ryan Barker booted a 40-yard field goal.
