Quarterback Drew Allar usually gets in his own way. On Saturday afternoon, offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki did.
No. 7 Penn State was down one score to unranked and winless UCLA, 42-35, with less than two minutes left of the game. The momentum was racking up for the Nittany Lions (3-2, 0-2 Big Ten) who were rolling offensively and had a game-tying touchdown at their fingertips. It wasn't impossible for Penn State to come back in a game it should've had in its hands since the beginning. The drive it put together had everything to end with the ball in the end zone somehow someway.
Allar just hit Singleton for a 16-yard completion that put the Nittany Lions at the Bruins' (1-4, 1-1 Big Ten) 17-yard-line. Looking into the end zone on first down after picking up four yards himself, the third year starter couldn't connect with tight end Luke Reynolds, but he wasn't in danger of getting intercepted either.
There was no reason for Kotelnicki to doubt Allar. The interception in double overtime against Oregon should have been left in the past. Allar needed to mentally push through it and his overall performance against UCLA wasn't what blew the game. On the previous touchdown drive, Allar used his legs to pick up 57 of 75 total yards gained. Kotelnicki should have harped on the momentum Allar had.
Instead, he called a run play on second-and-10 that pushed the Nittany Lions back a yard. Reynolds got back in it with a nine-yard completion, putting them short two yards of converting. His pass game was not faulty. Fourth-and-two is the chance for Allar to hit the end zone or just short of the plane to get a first down at the very least. Kotelnicki shied away. Allar kept it and lost three yards, turning the ball over on downs.
Penn State's defense did its best to keep enough time on the clock while and get the offense back on the field. It was go time. Big plays in big moments. Kotelnicki let his doubt in Allar control the play calling again.
Allar has his faults. A lack of trust in him isn't surprising nor completely uncalled for. During a game where he's rolling, though, Kotelnicki shouldn't re-instill that lack of confidence. It was all over Allar's face after the turnover on downs. Trust in himself that built up over the game deflated.
He got back onto the field and Kotelnicki called a screen pass with 10 seconds left on the clock. Then he threw a pass way over Kyron Hudson's head. He was scared of getting picked off and so was Kotelnicki. Reserved plays in desperate times doesn't win games. At that point, even if Allar was intercepted, the weak play calling on Penn State's previous drive blew the game. With less than 10 seconds left, take that chance.