Sam Ficken hit a 37-yard field goal in overtime, and Wisconsin’s Kyle French attempt from 45 yards went wide left to seal Penn State’s 24-21 win Saturday in an emotional season finale in Happy Valley. The Nittany Lions (8-4, 6-2 Big Ten) could have ended it for good a play earlier, but linebacker Glenn Carson dropped a potential interception.

Still, the Beaver Stadium faithful celebrated anyway after French’s miss on Senior Day capped a challenging year that began with landmark sanctions from the NCAA for the Jerry Sandusky child molestation scandal.

[RELATED: Penn State honors Mauti with helmet decal | Ball sets NCAA TD record]

Quarterback Curt Phillips found Jeff Duckworth for a 4-yard touchdown pass with 18 seconds left for Wisconsin (7-5, 4-4) to make it 21-all and send the game into overtime.

Badgers star running back Montee Ball ran for 111 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries, and set the NCAA record with his 97th career score.

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FINAL: Penn State needed one overtime to knock off Wisconsin, outlasting the Badgers 24-21 on Saturday at Beaver Stadium. After the Nittany Lions scored on Sam Ficken’s 36-yard field goal to open the first overtime, Wisconsin failed to score, getting stopped at the 27 on fourth-and-12.

Montee Ball did his best to carry the Badgers’ offense, turning 28 carries into 112 rushing yards and one touchdown.

Penn State’s Matt McGloin was good for 200 yards during the game, completing 19 of 38 passes. McGloin finished the game with one touchdown and no interceptions.

The Nittany Lions’ offense finished the game having gained 363 yards. Penn State complemented McGloin’s passing with 163 yards rushing on 44 attempts.

Curt Phillips threw for 191 yards while completing 12 of 25 passes for Wisconsin. Phillips tossed two touchdowns and one interception.

The Badgers racked up 349 total yards. Wisconsin’s rushing attack contributed 158 yards on 43 carries in addition to Phillips’ passing effort.

Sam Ficken kicks Penn State to win:

Jeff Duckworth TD reception sends game to OT:

Matt McGloin hooks up with Jesse James on TD pass:

Jacob Fagano picks off Curt Phillips:

THIRD QUARTER: In the third quarter, Zach Zwinak fought back for Penn State. He ran for 65 yards, but the Nittany Lions have closed the gap to 14-13. Sam Ficken split the uprights two times in the quarter for Penn State.

The Nittany Lions closed the gap to 14-10 when Ficken made a 23-yard field goal to put a bow on a 77-yard drive. Penn State used Matt McGloin’s 37-yard pass to fuel the drive.

The Nittany Lions capped off a 72-yard drive when Ficken kicked a 32-yard field goal to make the score 14-13.

Penn State’s Zwinak topped 150 yards rushing for the game in the quarter, and has plenty of time to add to his 157 total yards on the ground.

The Nittany Lions will start the fourth quarter with possession on Wisconsin’s 45-yard line.

SECOND QUARTER: There were more punts than points in the second quarter and the margin is still seven, as Wisconsin leads 14-7. With neither team able to move the ball, there were six punts in the quarter.

The Badgers’ defense held tough in the quarter, holding Penn State to 19 total yards of offense.

The Nittany Lions are set to receive to start the second half.

FIRST QUARTER: Wisconsin’s high-powered offense resulted in 14 points in the first, and the Badgers lead 14-7 at the end of the first quarter. Wisconsin threw for 69 yards and ran for 74 yards in the quarter.

The Badgers took the game’s first lead after Curt Phillips and Melvin Gordon hooked up for a 57-yard touchdown on the last play of a four-play, 74-yard drive.

Penn State tied the score at seven apiece after Zach Zwinak pounded in a three-yard touchdown run to finish off a 15-play, 78-yard drive.

Wisconsin broke the 7-7 standoff when Montee Ball ran 17 yards to paydirt to polish off a four-play, 53-yard scoring drive. The score gave Ball the FBS record for most touchdowns in a career (79).

The Nittany Lions will start the second quarter with the ball at their own 37-yard line.

Montee Ball sets NCAA record with 79th career TD:

Zach Zwinak runs for 3-yard score:

Curt Phillips finds Melvin Gordon on 57-yard scoring strike:

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