The Penn State football defense shook up Nevada in the first quarter with Dani Dennis-Sutton and Zane Durant turning over possession with a force fumble and interception, respectively.
Dani Dennis-Sutton forces fumble that leads to Penn State's first score
After winning the coin toss and deferring, the Nittany Lions sent out their defense on the Wolf Pack's first drive of the afternoon. What looked like a rolling offensive drive down the field, Dennis-Sutton found an opportunity to punch the ball out of Wolf Pack running back Ky Woods' grip and send everyone scrambling to recover the ball.
Penn State DL coach Deion Barnes described Dani Dennis-Sutton's attention to detail, such as punching balls loose, as his defining camp trait.
— Mark Wogenrich (@MarkWogenrich) August 30, 2025
"If he continues to push toward that like I’ve seen in camp, he’s going to have a phenomenal year."
Cornerback A.J. Harris got the last laugh and the ball in Penn State's hands to send Drew Allar on the field for the first time on Saturday.
The Nittany Lions ate up over six minutes, using new wide receivers and trusted running back Nicholas Singleton to put up Saturday afternoon's first score.
Zane Durant intercepts Nevada QB Chubba Purdy
Hoping to use the offensive momentum they started their initial drive with, the Wolf Pack was quickly swallowed up by Durant.
The defensive tackle intercepted Nevada quarterback Preston "Chubba" Purdy on the first play of the Wolf Pack's second drive of the afternoon. He took the ball all the way down to their six-yard line.
The Nittany Lions hoped to get another touchdown to capitalize on the interception and field position. On third-and-one, Allar had a chance either with his own feet or one of his running backs to double the lead. Losing sight of the ball on a high snap, the senior couldn't control the ball and dove to recover the fumble nine yards behind. Penn State settled for a field goal.
Dennis-Sutton kept Purdy on his toes from thereon out. The Nevada quarterback didn't have a chance to breathe as the defensive end started the second quarter reaching for Purdy's heels. This caused the Wolf Pack to punt and give the ball right back to Penn State, which resulted in its second touchdown of the game.
Nevada eventually got itself in position to post a field goal on the board in the first half, but keeping Purdy out of Dennis-Sutton's way was a challenge every time the Nittay Lion took the field.
The Wolf Pack have the second half to regroup and attempt to overcome the defensive star power infiltrating their offense. If head coach James Franklin pulls Dennis-Sutton and Durant at some point in the back half of the afternoon, Nevada might have a chance to breathe.