Penn State’s Beau Pribula does his job when his teammates needed him most [opinion]

MADISON, Wis. – Beau Pribula was an accomplished high school quarterback who led Central York to its first appearance in a PIAA football championship game.

He committed to Penn State and didn’t reconsider his decision when top-rated Drew Allar committed seven months later.

He has sat behind Sean Clifford and now Allar during his three seasons with the Nittany Lions, waiting and hoping to show that he’s more than a backup, more than a running quarterback.

That moment came Saturday night at Wisconsin, where Pribula replaced the injured Allar in the second half and helped Penn State rally for a 28-13 victory.

“It was satisfying because we won,” he said. “If we didn’t win, I wouldn’t be satisfied at all. All that mattered was that we got out of here with a win in a hostile environment. If I could help us do that in any way, that’s all that matters.”

Pribula attempted more passes Saturday night than he had thrown all season, completing 11-of-13 for 98 yards and one touchdown. He got better and better as the game went on.

“He was ready,” safety Jaylen Reed said. “I don’t think you guys understand how much work Beau Pribula puts in every day. Being the backup quarterback in college football is not that easy. When he got his opportunity, he stepped to the plate. It was a great thing.”

Pribula and Reed played leading roles in keeping Penn State undefeated and setting up a high noon showdown against Ohio State Saturday at Beaver Stadium.

With the Lions trailing 10-7 in the third quarter, Reed intercepted Braedyn Locke’s pass and returned it 19 yards for a touchdown that gave them the lead for good.

Then Pribula took over, directing fourth-quarter scoring drives of 81 and 76 yards with poise and moxie.

“It was probably the most attempts I’ve thrown in a game here,” he said. “If I have confidence throwing the ball, the coaches can be confident in me doing that as well as running it. It’s just something that I needed to do.”

Credit offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki for adjusting on the fly after Allar sustained a left knee injury while being sacked late in the second quarter. After Allar looked brilliant in the first half, Kotelnicki effectively tailored his play calls to match Pribula’s strengths.

“We all have a different skill set,” Pribula said in April. “I think Coach K does a really good job of fitting the play-calling and his offensive style into that skill set. That’s the way he can bring out my best potential.”

No one knows yet whether Allar can play against Ohio State. But if he can’t and Pribula makes his first career start, Penn State is confident in what the backup quarterback can do.

He helped deliver a win that moved the Lions closer to a College Football Playoff berth.

For the second straight game, they came from behind on the road. This time, they did it without Allar, right tackle Anthony Donkoh and defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton for at least half of the game.

“Football’s not a game where everything is going to be perfect,” safety Zakee Wheatley said. “You gotta be tough. You gotta be resilient. You gotta find a way to come out with a W.

“It shows we got depth. It’s next man up. It’s football. Anything can happen. You have to be ready.”

Beau Pribula was ready, fortunately for Penn State. For him, it came down to simple terms.

“I don’t think validated is the right word,”  he said. “I’m the backup quarterback. Drew went down. I needed to step. I just think I did my job.”

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