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Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter (11) celebrates after sacking SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings during the second half in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday in State College. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Penn State running back Nicholas Singleton (10) runs past SMU safety Brandon Crossley during the second half in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday in State College. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Dani Dennis-Sutton #33 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates after a sack during the second quarter against the Southern Methodist Mustangs in the Playoff First Round Game at Beaver Stadium on Dec. 21, 2024 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Kaytron Allen #13 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates his touchdown with teammates during the fourth quarter against the Southern Methodist Mustangs in the Playoff First Round Game at Beaver Stadium on Dec. 21, 2024 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter (11) celebrates after sacking SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings during the second half in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday in State College. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
STATE COLLEGE – Penn State coach James Franklin, defensive coordinator Tom Allen and his teammates were not surprised Saturday.
They expected Dominic DeLuca to deliver again in another big moment. They just didn’t know how he would do it.
“He’s one of the smartest players I’ve ever coached,” Allen said. “He spends so much time studying and preparing. He anticipates really, really well.”
DeLuca intercepted two passes and returned one for a touchdown, igniting the Nittany Lions’ 38-10 blowout win over 10th-ranked SMU before 106,013 bundled-up fans at Beaver Stadium.
In its first College Football Playoff game, fourth-ranked Penn State (12-2) picked up its first win over a top 10 team since beating Utah in the 2023 Rose Bowl and advanced to the CFP quarterfinals.
The Lions will face Boise State Dec. 31 in the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Ariz., and they can thank DeLuca for helping them get there.
The former Wyoming Area star returned a first-quarter interception 23 yards for a touchdown for Penn State’s first points after the offense had struggled.
“Dom is just a baller,” Franklin said. “You talk about a guy who was the Pennsylvania Player of the Year and won a state championship on a torn ACL. He came here as a walk-on and earned a scholarship.
“I think he’s a tremendous example for all of our players on the team. He always has a smile on his face. He’s appreciative. He works his tail off. Whatever role we’ve asked him to do, he’s done it at 100 miles an hour.”
After DeLuca’s first interception, fellow linebacker Tony Rojas intercepted a pass and returned it 59 yards for a 14-0 lead less than 17 minutes into the game. It’s the first time Penn State has had two pick-sixes in a game since a 1998 win over Michigan State.
A few minutes later, DeLuca bailed out Franklin after he went for it on fourth-and-1 from the Penn State 19 and Drew Allar was stopped on a quarterback sneak.
DeLuca made his second interception on a Kevin Jennings pass from the Lions’ 7. Penn State then marched 75 yards to take a 21-0 lead on Kaytron Allen’s 25-yard run around left end.
“More than anything, he’s a gifted player,” Tom Allen said about DeLuca. “He’s a guy that has come up big for us. He’s been so consistent each and every week. I’m just so proud of him.”
The Lions held SMU (11-3) well below its 38.5 points per game, which was sixth in the nation. The Mustangs had scored at least 28 points in 10 consecutive games. They limited 1,200-yard rusher Brashard Smith to 62 yards on the ground. They had three sacks, 11 tackles in the backfield overall and seven quarterback hurries.
SMU had four possessions inside the Penn State 20, including their first series, and scored only three points.
“We just had to get the guys settled down, get their cleats in the ground, get the calls in and execute the calls,” Franklin said. “Although we didn’t get Jennings on the ground as many times as I think we could have, we impacted him dramatically.
“Our pass rush lanes were disciplined and productive, and we needed that against one of the more dynamic quarterbacks in the country.”
Penn State improved to 27-0 in non-conference games at home since Franklin became head coach in 2014. Franklin posted his 100th win with the Lions against 41 losses.
Nick Singleton carried 14 times for 90 yards and one touchdown and Kaytron Allen rushed 11 times for 70 yards and two scores. The Lions ran for 181 yards against the Mustangs, who had been limiting opponents to 93.4 rushing yards per game.
“It starts up front,” offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki said. “We did a great job blocking. It wasn’t always perfect, but as we started to get into the second quarter you could see those runs started to get a little bit bigger.”
But it was DeLuca who sent Penn State on its way to the quarterfinals with his two interceptions.
“Ever since I got here, Dom has done everything right,” said defensive end Abdul Carter, who had one sack and another tackle in the backfield. “He always does his job 100%. He’s always in the right position. He makes plays on the field because of that.”
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