Illinois That Launched Penn State Into Its 2012 Big Ten Conference Schedule
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URL:http://www.alumni.psu.edu/fbl Username: psualum Password: weare Oct. 1, 2012 * Vol. 75, No. 5 he Nittany Lions’ second road trip to an TOrange and Blue school on a similarly sensa- tional sunny Saturday was more successful than their first. Memories of the disappointing 17-16 loss in the hills of Virginia three weeks ago have been replaced by a super 35-7 win on the prairie of Illinois that launched Penn State into its 2012 Big Ten Conference schedule. With all of its tailbacks healthy for the first time this fall and the offensive line blowing back the vaunted Illini defensive front, Coach Bill O’Brien’s team unleashed a punishing running game that methodically pounded Il- linois into submission in beautifully renovated Memorial Stadium in Champaign. Taking turns at awakening the echoes of the Galloping Ghost, whose bronze statue stands outside the venerable stadium, four Penn State runners charged up and down the field where the legendary Red Grange once roamed. ZACH ZWINAK runs over tacklers on his way to Lions’ first 100-yard rushing game this year in State's 35-7 win at Illinois First Bill Belton returned from an ankle injury suffered in the season opener. Then four of their five six-pointers on the ground “We left a lot of points off the board,” he said. Derek Day played for the first time since the at Illinois. One drive ended when the Lions were Virginia game. Then Zach Zwinak and Curtis Zwinak was the Alpha and the Omega of stopped on fourth down at the IL-36. Another Dukes hammered away at the Orange and Blue Penn State scoring with 1-yard plunges into ended at the IL-16, when McGloin was sacked defense. Suddenly a squad that had to count on the end zone to climax the Lions’ first and last for a 13-yard loss. One more ended at the IL-13, running fullbacks from the tailback position a punishing drives with his first career touch- when Dukes was stopped a yard short on fourth week earlier had a full stable of thoroughbreds downs, while McGloin got the other two on down. And Sam Ficken missed two field goals. cutting, dancing and accelerating through holes, 1-yard sneaks. He added, “Defensively we played, for the and workhorses who ran right over defenders. Penn State’s 173 rushing yards were supple- most part, an excellent football game. We created In his first action in four games, Belton mented by the continuing success of the passing turnovers again. Michael Mauti had two intercep- sliced and diced for 65 yards on 16 carries. attack, as McGloin completed 18 of 30 passes tions and we rushed the passer. Our special teams Day, after missing the last two games, gained to five different receivers for 211 yards and a played better than they did against Temple.” 14 yards on just four carries. Dukes ran over 21-yard TD to Matt Lehman. One unit the new coach cited for especially Illini for 21 yards on five chances. And Zwinak The rangy tight end put a punctuation mark good play was the offensive line. He said the big became the first Lion to reach the century mark on the Lions’ longest drive of 72 yards by hang- guys up front are “getting better every week. in a game this year, smashing his way to an even ing on to the ball in the end zone, despite being There’s a great chemistry between them. They 100 on 19 lugs of the pigskin. flattened and knocked woozy by a helmet-to- get along really well and care about their team- It was a career-high for the redshirt sopho- helmet smash that resulted in the ejection from mates. They’re physical.” more, who missed a year after tearing an ACL the game of Illinois safety Earnest Thomas. Junior offensive guard John Urschel told re- as a freshman and saw his first significant “It’s a really big win for us to get off on the porters, “We certainly gained some confidence action against Temple last week. Zwinak ran right foot in the Big Ten,” said a smiling Coach to be able to put up yards on them, considering through the Owls for 75 yards on 15 carries, O’Brien of the first conference victory for one that might be the best defensive line in the Big while backing up fullback-turned-tailback of the league’s newest headmasters. Ten, excluding ours.” Michael Zordich, who gained 94 yards on 18 Tim Beckman, who is one of the Big Ten’s O’Brien said the defense plays well as a unit carries before coming out with a leg injury in other two new head coaches, said he was disap- and communicates well. the second half. pointed in his team’s play, but added, “Penn “They tackle well for the most part. They’re Zordich was not fully recovered Saturday State did a great job of playing physical football.” making plays on the ball a little better than early and played sparingly, blocking and carrying the Illinois’ outstanding junior quarterback in the year.” ball only once – when the Lions needed him to Nathan Scheelhasse, said Penn State just beat State’s defense forced a fumble in addition bull his way from the shadow of the goalposts, the home team soundly. to the two interceptions in the first three quar- where the Illinois punter had pinned the visi- O’Brien was not effusive in the praise of his ters and raised to 11 the number of turnovers tors on their 1-yard line. gridders, explaining, “Overall it was a good team it has gotten this year compared to the three The Nittany Lions, who had scored their effort, but we’re gonna have to play a lot better” the Lions have given away. Twice the defense first nine touchdowns this season on passes – to have continued success in the conference. stopped the Illini on fourth down inside the before Matt McGloin scored on a quarterback PS-30, and it shut out the home team on its first sneak for State’s final TD last week – tallied PENN STATE 14 7 7 7 35 nine third down conversion attempts. ILLINOIS 0 0 7 0 7 Photos by Steve Manuel ’84, ‘92g R E C A P 1st Quarter PS: Zwinak 1-yd run caps 8-pl 26-yd drive in 2:56 set up by Fuhrman rec. of fum. frcd. by Mauti & keyed by McGloin 3-yd run on 3rd & 1 & Ill. ruff. kicker pen. (Ficken kick) 10:41 PS: McGloin 1-yd run caps 8-pl 60-yd drive in 2:28 sparked by McGloin passes 10 yds to Moseby-Felder, 19 yds to Carter on 3rd & 4 & 15 yds to Robinson. (Ficken kick) 6:29 2nd Quarter PS: Lehman 21-yd pass from McGloin caps 8-pl 72-yd drive in 2:52 set up by Hodges & Hill stop of Scheelhaase on 4th & 1 @ PS-28 & keyed by McGloin 10-yd pass to Carter on 3rd & 2 & Zwinak runs of 12, 9 & 10 yds. (Ficken kick) 3:11 3rd Quarter ILL: Harris 22-yd pass from Ferguson caps 3-pl 42-yd drive 1 2 in 1:15 keyed by Scheelhasse 22-yd pass to Ferguson. (Zaleski kick) 10:22 PS: McGloin 1-yd run caps 8-pl 57-yd drive in 2:31 keyed by McGloin passes 18 yds to Moseby-Felder & 16 yds to Carter. (Ficken kick) 3:15 4th Quarter PS: Zwinak 1-yd run caps 7-pl 50-yd drive in 2:03 set up by Mauti intcpt. & 6-yd ret. & sparked by McGloin 16-yd pass to Lehman & Zwinak 14-yd run. (Ficken kick) 14:03 Attendance: 46,734 It wasn’t until late in the third quarter that Illinois made its first conversion, and three of its total of four in 15 attempts came in the last possession of the game against Penn State’s reserves long after the game’s outcome had been determined. Eighty-seven of Illinois’ 366 yards of total 9 10 offense came on that possession, as did 10 of Scheelhasse’s 28 completions for 98 of his 270 1: WIDE RECEIVER Brandon Moseby-Felder catches pass from passing yards. McGloin and turns upfield for big gain. 2: BILL BELTON, following One player who really stood out in the strong block of John Urschel (64), saw first action at tailback since defensive effort was Michael Mauti, who earned season opener and gained 65 yards on 16 carries. 3: BIG TEN’S the Walter Camp national Defensive Player of leading9 receiver Allen Robinson makes catch and races toward the Week award. The senior linebacker stuffed end zone trying unsuccessfully to reach ball across goal line. runners and receivers and stopped two Illinois 4: C.J. OLANIYAN breaks up Illinois pass. 5: TIGHT END MATT drives by intercepting Scheelhasse. Another LEHMAN is leveled but held onto pass from McGloin for 21-yard time he teamed up with defensive end Deion touchdown. 6: DEION BARNES (18) and Sean Stanley (90) sack Barnes to sack Scheelhasse for a 7-yard loss. Scheelhasse. 7: TIGHT END Matt Lehman makes one of his five His most spectacular theft ended a 74-yard catches for 70 yards to lead all Lion receivers. 8: LINEBACKER Illini drive at the goal line in the final seconds of Michael Mauti grabbed two interceptions at Illinois. 9: SEAN the first half, when he made the pick and emu- STANLEY makes diving tackle of Scheelhasse.