Grading quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer's commanding performance in Week 14

Penn State football beat Rutgers, 40-36, on Saturday, and it was another identity win for the Nittany Lions' (6-6, 3-6 Big Ten) offense. The same can't be said about the defense.

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While in other weeks as quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer was given more time to get rolling thanks to his defense bailing him out, it was the redshirt freshman and his offense's turn to save the day.

Grunkemeyer's all-around performance continues improving since his first start against Iowa. The second-string quarterback was confident under center, trusted his running backs and pass catchers, and made quick decisions to get Penn State out of tough situations. It was a similarly effective performance from Week 13, except Grunkemeyer pushed himself a little more.

He technically dropped in completion percentage, going from 91.7 percent in Week 13 to 81 percent against the Scarlet Knights. However, for the sake of throwing deep balls and taking more shots down the field without an interception, a lower completion rate is acceptable.

On two fourth down scenarios, the Nittany Lions' offense remained on the field. With Rutgers expecting the quarterback to hand it off to running back Kaytron Allen both times, a play action pass saw Grunkemeyer find tight end Andrew Rappleyea.

On the first conversion, completed on fourth-and-one, Grunkemeyer took a shot from Penn State territory and hit Rappleyea at Rutgers' 39-yard-line. Rappleyea was wide open and took the ball all the way into the end zone for a 53-yard score. This tied the game at seven a piece.

While the first play action call got the Nittany Lions rolling, the second fourth down pass locked down the win. On fourth-and-two with just over a minute remaining on the clock, Penn State took a timeout to curate a call that gave it a first down and the game. The offense returned to the field, and Grunkemeyer returned to Rappleyea to get the job done. Rather than fall back on the rushers, he connected with the tight end for a three-yard completion and a Nittany Lion win.

These play action passes were clean, and Grunkemeyer proved that he can be a solid starter for the program's future, not always needing the running backs to carry the heavy weight.

Keeping Penn State's momentum strong heading into halftime, Grunkemeyer was confident and poised during a quick two-minute scenario.

With 27 seconds left in the first half and the teams tied at 21-21 thanks to a Scarlet Knights touchdown on the previous drive, Grunkemeyer took the field at his own 30-yard-line. After handing the ball to Allen for an eight-yard gain, the Nittany Lions called a timeout. Grunkemeyer got back on the field, completed a short pass to wide receiver Trebor Pena for six yards then hit a deep right shot to wide receiver Devonte Ross for 19 yards. He connected with Pena again for 23, bringing the clock down to five seconds.

The tempo paired with Grunkemeyer's ability to get the ball out quickly put Penn state in field goal range with enough time on the clock. Kicker Ryan Barker hit a 31-yard field goal that put the Nittany Lions on top 24-21 at the end of the second quarter.

"Very poised to move the ball down the field that efficiently," interim head coach Terry Smith said on the field before heading into the locker room. "That was a heck of a drive for him."

Grunkemeyer took just one sack in the game and to avoid another, he quickly darted the ball to Allen on third-and-13. On some of his incompletions, like a deep ball into the end zone to Ross or a back shoulder shot to Allen, the ball was placed perfectly for the receiver. He's putting more out there on the field and isn't afraid to test himself. His efficiency with the ball matches his poise week-by-week and he's becoming more confident in himself as a leader and driver of the offense. Grunkemeyer's progress and competitiveness is exactly what Penn State needs out of its backup.

"[Grunkemeyer is] the future of the position for us," Smith said after the game.