MORGANTOWN, WV | Penn State scored a timely touchdown before halftime, which took 2 hours and 19 minutes due to a weather delay, and came back to complete a 34-12 victory over West Virginia. The Nittany Lions swept the two-game series against the Mountaineers to win their fourth straight season opener.

The eighth-ranked Nittany Lions posted another impressive win over the Mountaineers, featuring plenty of trickery from offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki and a 2-point conversion attempt in the first quarter.

How did the Nittany Lions score against West Virginia? Read the report.

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ATTACK: A-

Coordinator Andy Kotelnicki promised fun, and he delivered. The Nittany Lions let the Wildcat run, sent in a 348-pound guard and put No. 2 quarterback Beau Pribula in targeted spots. And that was just the first half. The process accomplished its purpose: to confuse West Virginia, create space for receivers and free up running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen.

Harrison Wallace III and Omari Evans broke 50-yard receptions, Drew Allar and Pribula generated some personal run space, and Penn State delivered big plays. Allar wasn’t perfect, especially on a couple of mid-range throws, but he reactivated the offense’s explosive play. And Wallace, who caught two touchdown passes in the first half, proved he’s a No. 1 receiver when healthy. Penn State looked good against West Virginia last year, too, but this was on another level.

DEFENSE: A-

Safety Jaylen Reed clearly loves the new “Lion” position, and he’s adept at it. Reed had a career game in the first half alone: ​​eight tackles (one for loss), two pass breakups and a fumble recovery. He and fellow safety KJ Winston shocked West Virginia pass-catchers, and Winston had a hand in a fourth-down stop. Plus, there’s speed everywhere, from edge rushers Abdul Carter and Dan Dennis-Winston to linebacker Tony Rojas (five tackles, 1.5 for loss) to most of the secondary. Penn State also had the most productive rushing attack in the FBS last season with 85 yards on 37 carries. Coordinator Tom Allen appears to have made a seamless transition from Indiana.

SPECIAL TEAMS: B-

Did new coordinator Justin Lustig think people had forgotten about him? Penn State attempted a 2-point conversion after its first touchdown, with Pribula rolling out to attempt a pass to tight end Joey Schlaffer. West Virginia broke up the pass, and Penn State already had an ineligible receiver, so the execution mattered more than the call. Still, the play could have foretold James Franklin’s extra edge this season, and Pribula’s value. Franklin said the Lions called that play at that spot specifically for Pribula. Will they try it again later? Of note: Starting kicker Sander Sahaydak pulled a wide fumble from 47 yards near the end of the game. It didn’t matter Saturday, but it could skew the competition at the position.

COACHING: ONE

Penn State’s last extended weather delay (in a 2017 loss to Michigan State) prompted Franklin to write an addendum to his best-practices guide. This time, the team had more than enough food to keep the players fed during the delay. The staff also brought benches and chairs into the tunnel, giving the players more breathing room outside the locker room. Interestingly, few of the players hanging out outside were on their phones. Running back Nicholas Singleton said the players tried to stay focused, as the coaching staff suggested. Meanwhile, Franklin and his staff watched (and reviewed) video feeds on their iPads, which led to the game-changing touchdown in the third quarter.

GENERAL: A-

This win felt different than last year at home against the Mountaineers. West Virginia tried to create chaos by creating a de facto playoff environment. That was what it was Friday and early Saturday. Then Penn State squeezed the life out of the building with those touchdowns to end the first half and start the second. The stadium was about half full after the delay. By the end, Penn State fans were chanting “Country Roads.”

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Penn State on SI is your home for Penn State news, opinion and perspective on the SI.com Network. Publisher Mark Wogenrich has covered Penn State for more than 20 years, overseeing three coaching staffs, three Big Ten titles and a catalog of great stories. Follow him on X (or Twitter) @MarkWogenrich.