Northwestern, 39-28, and Win the Academic Bowl
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URL:http://www.alumni.psu.edu/fbl Username: psualum Password: weare Oct. 8, 2012 * Vol. 75, No. 6 ou’ve got to love this team! Y Overcoming all adversity, whether adminis- tered by the NCAA or themselves, they’ve built a four-game winning streak. And at the mid-point of the season the Nittany Lions are beginning to look like a team of destiny. Saturday they had a slow start with dropped passes, penalties, and a fumbled punt and trailed their opponent at halftime for the first time this year. But they rebounded in the fourth quarter to overcome an 11-point deficit in the final 10 minutes by scoring 22 unanswered points to defeat previously unbeaten and No. 22-ranked Northwestern, 39-28, and win the Academic Bowl. The two Big Ten teams with the best aca- demic records put on a great gridiron show for the national ESPN television audience and the Beaver Stadium crowd of 95,769 – more than will watch 31 of the 32 bowl games at the end ZACH ATTACK: Zach Zwinak pounded through Northwestern defense for second straight 100-yard rushing game. of this season. “You can’t say enough about these kids,” The Lions doubled the visitors’ time of option running. They have a couple of really head coach Bill O’Brien told reporters after possession and ran off 99 offensive plays in good skilled people who can pitch and catch the game. “With what they’ve been through this sixth game of Bill O’Brien’s first season and run – such as Venric Mark, who aver- – they’re smart, they’re tough and they’re com- to tie the school record set in a 38-6 win at aged 5.5 yards on 13 carries and broke away mitted to Penn State.” The Lions’ new head- West Virginia in 1966 in the sixth game of Joe on a 75-yard punt return for a third-quarter master said, “There’s great chemistry in that Paterno’s first season. touchdown, and Kain Colter, a team leader in locker room. These guys are playing hard, and Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald said, rushing, passing and catching. it’s really fun to see the smiles on their faces.” “They had a great plan, controlling time of Penn State’s coaches had freshmen Eugene Summing it up, O’Brien said, “We have a possession and really stymieing our offense -- 40 Lewis and Malik Golden mimic Colter in prac- bunch of great kids that love to go to school minutes to 20 and 99 plays to 62. It’s a complete tice last week, while teaching State’s defenders here and take pride in playing football for role reversal of our blueprint for success,” said how to play “Where’s Waldo.” Hodges said Penn State.” the leader of the squad that dominated its first the defense had to know where Colter was on On a day that dawned wet, dim and dreary, five opponents in similar fashion. every play. The Northwestern star gained 304 the sun finally broke through in time for a great A stout Nittany Lion defense limited to a all-purpose yards last week, but had only 41 Homecoming halftime show with the combined season-low 247 total yards a Northwestern team against Penn State. student and alumni Blue Bands. And after that had gained a school record 704 yards a “This game was a test of our will and charac- the Nittany Lions finished ringing the Victory week earlier against the Indiana squad that ter,” said Mauti. The defense focused on getting Bell about 100 minutes later, bright sunshine nearly upset last year’s Legends Division champ “three-and-outs,” and he, Hodges, Jordan Hill welcomed alumni back to their tailgates in Michigan State Saturday. and Stephon Morris stuffed numerous third- once-again Happy Valley. “This was the best defense by far that we’ve down plays. For the first time since knocking off No. 17 seen this year,” Fitzgerald said. “And don’t forget Meanwhile, McGloin broke Wally Richard- Michigan State in November 2008 to win the the crowd – the 12th man.” son’s Penn State record by completing 35 passes Big Ten championship, Penn State defeated a Penn State also held the Wildcats to season in 51 attempts for 282 yards and two touchdowns. ranked opponent in Beaver Stadium. And they lows in first downs (14) and rushing yards (112) He also ran for one, as did fullback Michael did so by dominating the conference’s Leg- just a week after they had 36 first downs, 394 Zordich and tailback Zach Zwinak, who posted ends Division leaders for the final 16 minutes, rushing and 310 passing yards. his second consecutive 100-yard rushing game. outgaining them 186 yards to 25 on the field Linebacker Gerald Hodges was all over It was the first TD of the year and sixth of his and 22-0 on the scoreboard, while a deafening the field, notching 11 tackles plus two pass four-year career for Zordich, one of the team’s crowd played the 12th man. break-ups and a forced fumble. His mate, Mi- most vocal leaders, and the third for Zwinak, “The crowd was so into it, we knew we had chael Mauti, made all nine of his tackles in the the squad’s rushing leader with 317. to make something happen,” said quarterback comeback second half and raised his team lead The 6-1 232-pound sophomore mounted a Matt McGloin, who completed 13 of 15 passes to 57 for the season. Zach Attack, crashing through Wildcats for 121 for 103 yards and a touchdown, while leading Northwestern has a well-drilled, fast-paced yards in 28 carries – nine more than his and the his team on scoring drives of 82, 85 and 28 offense, featuring precision short passing and team’s previous high of 19 last week at Illinois. yards, and controlling the ball for nearly 13 of With his fourth straight 200-yard passing the last 16 minutes. PENN STATE 3 7 7 22 39 game, McGloin leads the Big Ten in comple- NORTHWESTERN 0 14 14 0 28 Photos by Steve Manuel ’84, ‘92g R E C A P 1st Quarter PS: Ficken 21-yd FG caps 13-pl 33-yd drive in 5:56 keyed by McGloin passes 11 yds to Zwinak & 12 yds to Robinson on 4th & 4 & Zwinak 3-yd run on 4th & 1. 3:41 2nd Quarter PS: Zwinak 1-yd run caps 8-pl 40-yd drive in 2:16 sparked by McGloin 15-yd pass to Moseby-Felder & 2-yd run on 4th & 1 & Zwinak 12-yd run. (Ficken kick) 9:34 NW: Mark 2-yd run caps 3-pl 17-yd drive in 1:11 set up by Van Hoose rec. of Della Valle fum. punt & sparked by Colter 12-yd run. (Budzien kick) 6:23 NW: Jones 11-yd pass from Siemian caps 8-pl 66-yd drive in 1:56 set up by stop of PS on downs @ NW-34 & 1 2 keyed by pass intf. pen. on Morris & Siemian passes 16 yds to Trumpy & 13 yds to Fields. (Budzien kick) 0:30 3rd Quarter PS: Robinson 8-yd pass from McGloin caps 12-pl 80- yd drive in 5:28 keyed by Zwinak 3-yd run on 3rd & 1 & 15-yd run & McGloin 14-yd pass to Carter on 3rd & 6 & 15-yd pass intf. pen.. (Ficken kick) 7:17 NW: Colter 10-yd run caps 11-pl 71-yd drive in 4:06 keyed by Mark 14 & 11-yd runs & Siemian pass 11 yds to Colter & Siemian14-yd rush. (Budzien kick) 3:12 NW: Mark 75-yd punt ret. (Budzien kick) 0:50 9 10 4th Quarter PS: Robinson 6-yd pass from McGloin on 4th & 4 caps 1: SOPHOMORE Zach Zwinak dives over blocks of Penn 18-pl 82-yd drive in 5:55 keyed by Zwinak 6-yd run on State’s offensive line for Lions’ first touchdown Saturday. 2: STEPHON MORRIS makes diving tackle on Wildcat receiver. 3rd & 2 & McGloin passes 5 yds to Lehman on 3rd & 3 3: ALUMNI BANDSMEN of all ages played for Homecoming. & 9 yds to Robinson on 3rd & 3 & 2-yd run on 3rd & 2 4: DAQUAN JONES (91) prevents pass by NW QB and Jordan & 16-yd pass to Zwinak. (Zordich rush) 9:49 Hill (47) makes tackle. 5: TOUCHDOWN CATCH by Allen PS: McGloin 5-yd run caps 15-pl 85-yd drive in 5:38 Robinson in tight coverage sparked State’s fourth-quarter keyed by McGloin 2-yd run on 3rd & 1 & 18-yd pass comeback. 6: MATT McGLOIN completed 35 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns. 7: OFFENSIVE LEADER Michael to Robinson & 5-yd pass to Robinson on 3rd & 2 & Zordich scores game’s final touchdown. 8: FIERY LEADER Zwinak 16-yd run & McGloin 13-yd pass to Moseby- Michael9 Mauti accentuates Lions’ win over 22nd-ranked Felder on 4th & 2. (Ficken kick) 2:37 Northwestern. 9: HAPPY PLAYERS sing Alma Mater in front PS: Zordich 3-yd run caps 3-pl 28-yd drive in 0:21 set of Blue Band 10: NITTANY LIONS line up for prayer after en- up by PS stop of NW on downs & keyed by Zordich tering stadium. (It worked!) 25-yd run. (Ficken kick) 1:30 Attendance: 95,769 tions (136) and passing yardage (249 per game) and is tied in touchdown passes at 12. Sophomore Allen Robinson caught Mc- Gloin’s two TD tosses – on an 8-yard slant in the second quarter and a 6-yard crossing pattern in the fourth -- to raise his team-leading total to seven.