Andy Kotelnicki solves Penn State’s red zone problem, and the answer isn’t Drew Allar

In Penn State’s Week 10 loss to Ohio State 20-13, the Nittany Lions offense worked its way inside the Ohio State five-yard line twice and came away with zero points. However, in Week 11, offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki found a solution for the team’s red zone woes, and it’s not the starting quarterback. 

The Nittany Lions jumped out to a 21-0 lead over Washington in the White Out game at Beaver Stadium and each of Penn State’s trips to the red zone were capped off with a different player at quarterback. First, backup QB Beau Pribula scored a touchdown on a quarterback keeper. Pribula didn’t see much action in Week 10 after leading the team to a win in Week 9 after trailing at halftime to Wisconsin. Drew Allar injured his knee just before halftime at Wisconsin and did not return to the game. 

Penn State’s next touchdown of the first half came courtesy of tight end Tyler Warren. Warren took a wildcat snap at quarterback and went over the top for the score. Then, just before the half, Kotelnicki went back to Warren for another rushing score.

After Warren got the Nittany Lions inside the five-yard line in the fourth quarter last week with a wildcat QB run, he didn’t touch the ball the rest of the game and Penn State turned the ball over on downs. 

Penn State is unlikely to play its way into the Big Ten championship game, but Kotelnicki’s red zone creativity with his mobile quarterback options could give the Nittany Lions an upper-hand in a rematch with Ohio State if both teams make the College Football Playoff.