The Daily Collegian Monday, Sept. 27, 1982

• ‘- - bombs The Daily Collegian Blackledge's sports Monday, Sept. 27 fire Lion comeback By PETE WALDRON went out there and we knew we Collegian Sports Writer had 65 yards to go and we kept our poise, we didn't get rattled, we Not many people know Penn didn't get upset we just drove State Todd Black- the football down and took it on in. ledge is an avid listener of funk It was a great way to end." music. But during the Lions' 27-24 However, Blackledge's signal- shucking of Nebraska on Saturday calling expertise did not only oc- ions shuck Nebraska with late TD at Beaver Stadium many fans cur in the closing drive, but were would have sworn Blackledge was exhibited brightly throughout the By RON GARDNER record crowd 85,304 into the field on a pair of bonafide contender-for the Heisman team's come-from-behind effort home of a move swiftly up They were aggressive and tackled tuned in to The Gap Band's top hit contest. 16-yard passes tailback Skeeter Trophy. "I didn't know if we could "I thought we had enough Collegian Sports Writer frenzy. to time, better." You dropped a bomb on me. He let loose with passes of 43, 25, Jackson. take it all the way for a , but I knew we had to make some at- "I caught it about six inches above Nichols and flanker Kenny And the Penn State running Blackledge did just that as he 21, and 19 yards to register a total stalled but knew we could at least in plays,P Paterno said. "The penalty Teammates will have to come up the ground," said Bowman, who has Then the drive abruptly at I get tack, a traditional strong suit that unleashed a remarkable aerial of 295 yards. Blackledge's passing as field goal range. helped you on your its with a new nickname for Penn State been been shuffled through seven the Cornhusker 34, the Lions anytime start had yet to impress this fall, got attack that rocked Beaver Stadi- total marked the fifth consecutive fourth-and-11 situation. "We just got the ball going and it helps. reserve tight end Kirk Bowman. Position changes in his Lion career. faced a 35, act together as well, churning out um from the opening kickoff re- regular-season game he's thrown 23 when we hit the fourth-and-11 to "It was a great football game. It After catching two touchdown "I was concerned that the officials But Blackledge, who completed 210 yards on the ground its best ceived by State to the closing for 200 or more yards, setting a Kenny, we were going the was a shame for either team to lose Penn passes, including the game-winner weren't going to call it. I came up of 39,passes for 295 yards and three I knew all production of the season. 80-yard drive that culminated in a new Penn State record. are a with four seconds remaining, for the with the ball right away and showed , drilled a strike to Jack- way." it. They (Nebraska) class "I think we've tied things down," two-yard pass to tight end Kirk Blackledge also erupted for (4-0) with the Lions in a short- outfit. There was enough glory on gotten Nittany Lions in tjheir 27-24 it to the official to show. him that I son cutting across the middle to give Then Paterno said. "We've better to decide the Lions three touchdown passes, two to yardage offense with tight ends that fieldfor both It was such Bowman upset win over second-ranked Ne- scored." Penn State the first down with just two teams. each week. We kept people out of the much-deserved win in the final Bowman and one to flanker Kenny a football game, you're sorry braska Saturday at Beaver Stadium, With 1:18 to play in the fourth inches to spare. in the game, Bowman quickly broke great backfield and stayed with our seconds. JackSon, to bring his total to 15 for "Stone Hands" will just not do any quarter, Nebraska quarterback Blackledge then scrambled out of clear where Blackledge tossed a low to see anyone'lose." blocks." Talk about a fitting finale. the season. This ties the season to Bowman, has bounced be- got a longer. Turner Gill snuck into the end zone the pocket for six yards on the next pass that Bowman managed cor- who The Lion running attack also With 1:18 left in the game, the record of 15 held by guard, middle Bowman, a 6-1, 246-pound junior from one yard out to give the Corn- play, before hitting tight end Mike ral. tween offensive boost from the bench as sophomore Cornhuskers pulled ahead of Penn (1977) and (1972). ( and who earned his nickname after drop- huskers their first lead of the game McCloskey just inside the left side- "I was coaxing the pass) along guard, defensive tackle several reserves Nichols (seven carries for for the first time after inter- But Blackledge attributed much came State ping an easy pass against Rutgers at 24-21. But there was plenty of time line at the Nebraska 2 to set .the hoping it got past the linebacker and other positions during his college 32) and , who cepting Blackledge's only errant of his success to the offensive line. last week, lunged and scooped up remaining for Air Paterno to mount stage for Bowman's game-winning got to me," Bowman said. "The career, got Penn State on the through on two short-yardage pass of the day. Some people sat The Lions' pass blocking was un- linebacker just about tipped it." first against the Corn- sustain a quarterback 's pass one last airborne assault. heroics. scoreboard sweeps for•first downs'to shaking their heads in disbelief believable. Blackledge could have unsportsmanlike said he briefly con- huskers, reaching high and twisting justinches a¢ovethe turf in the back After a 15-yard "I wasn't nervous and I wasn't Paterno, who pair of drives. and wondering how the Lions, who dropped back, ran to the sideline a tying field goal pull down a 14-yard touchdown and fullback Jon left corner of the end zone to climax conduct penalty against Nebraka's worried," said Blackledge, who is sidered going for to Starters Warner played with such intensity, could for a Gatorade break, ran back an 80Myard, 1:14 drive to rally Penn Dave Ridder on the kickoff to move quickly emerging as one of the na- when the Lions faced the fourth-and- pass from Blackledge with 1:43 re- Williams were both bothered by leg end up being losers. and still have gotten the ball offfor -11 • situation, was elated with his maining in the first quarter to put the State from a 24-21 deficit and send a the ball to the Lions' 35, Penn State tion's premier and a cramps, which held them out of Some people, but not Black- a completion. the Lions up 7-0. gamethroughout much of the second ledge. "Our offensive line was just up in the Penn State then went 14-0 half. "When we got the football back I tremendous," Blackledge said. second quarter when tailback Curt "I kept saying (to Warner) 'Are enough time to take "We moved the football in the air " knew we had who returned to form gain- Warner, you all right?' Paterno said, "He we had two time-outs and on the ground. I was confident ing yards on 13 carries before it in 78 added a dimension to our offense plus the personal foul penalty that we could throw well against cramps forced sidelines mid- think him to anyway you twist it. But I Penn State defensive tackle Mark Fruehan (92) heads in to help defensive the second half Saturday at Beaver Stadium. The Lions' defensive squad against them helped us," he said. them. way through the third quarter, sometimes you can work too hard. end (37) tackle Nebraska's runningback Mike Rozier in stopped the usually explosive Cornhusker offense. "Once we hit the fourth-and-1I "One of the biggest keys was the turned on the speed to sweep past a may worked too hard this Curt have pass to Kenny, I knew we would go success of our running game be- Nebraska defender on a 2-yard summer. This week off shouldhelp." with it. cause that really got them think- bril- in touchdown run. Penn State, thanks •to some "The game is never over until ing 'not only are they throwing came back But Nebraska quickly liant scheduling, is off next Satur- the final gun. We felt all along we well, but now they are starting to to narrow the halftime margin to 14- but will nemesis Alabama pressure day, meet develops under Defense line went into the game with the atti- run well.' And the offensive 7 when Gill (16 of 34 for 239yards and Oct. 9 in Birmingham in its first road game held on their own 20, very determined football game. tude that we were better than was determined to prove we had a TDs ) hit wingback Irving Pryor of the season. And between By GREG LODER the ball. We knew the whole ter. The Lions two contest field is really competitive and he Nebraska and we were going to good running game. with a 30-yard touchdown pass just now and then, Paterno said there Collegian Sports Writer was going to be a scrap and a forcing Nebraska to kick a Gattuso ' rises the occasion." win the football game. "We had some great catches, 38 seconds before intermission. resting on laurels for his dogfight. goal. to were no "That wasn't piing to be proved some great runs, some great • Sixty minutes can make anyone "This was a big test and a lot of As a team on defense the Lions the two, The Lions scored first in the third team. After the war between me," Blackledge said, blocks when you put that all mature, especially when it is the pressure because we were on TV showed signs of growing up, but so returning wrong to quarter as Blackledge hit Jackson "(I'll tell them to) settle down," Gattuso said he was ev- wrong to anybody else together it ended up being a super same 60 minutes that were playedin This game was a quick way to grow did a lot of individuals. "or proved between double coverage with an 18- he said. "You have a lot of work. erything Rimington was giving out. zeros up on win." Stadium on Saturday. up," the Villanova transfer said. One position which has been Penn until there was double yard scoring pass, but the Cornhusk- ahead of you. You have to get bet- Beaver "The other nose guards who Blackledge said it is a win Penn one afternoon or shall we say Harris said there was also a lot of State's forte in the past but a weak- the board. So we just kept in ers managed to go ahead as they ter." In played against ,(Rimington) let him State and Nebraska people are evening, young, "inexperienced" differencethe Lions saw in the films ness this year has been the line- there." sandwiched touchodowns by I-back But for now, it was a game for a 11 blow them off the ball," Gattuso did. toremember for a long, long developedmore than anyone from the Penn State defense and the backers. Against Nebraska, this And he is sure glad they going MikeRozier (a 2-yard TD catch) and kid nicknamed "Stone Hands" and people said. "I knew I was going to have to so good dropping usually does expected. Cornhuskers first two opponents. position kept the Lion defense from "I think the drive was time.kßomb Gill, around' a 37-yard fiel goal by his buddies to savor, even for just hit him as hard as he was going to confidence," leave a lasting impression, doesn't two teams (Nebraska ) dyingyoung. for our team and our placekicker Kevin Seibel. awhile. TheSe 11 were the Penn State "The first hit me. As a whole I don't think he with Harris, both Scott Ra- Blackledge said, "because we it? But Penn State came through on NITTANY LION NOTES: Bow- defense, which had_to go up against played didn't have disciplined de- Along won battle. and Paffenroth played the its, final desperation drive to drop man's first two career receptions the Nebraska offense, which was fense," Harris said. "That was the decic Dave "We lined up against the greatest 1 superb games, keeping the Nebras- Nebraska from the ranks of the were both touchdown passes . . previously ranked No. in the na- key, we are disciplined." rushing team and pretty much games Nebraska ka backs from breaking open in the lowering the Cornhusk- yards on five receptions, tion. In its first two • unbeaten, With 73 games, stuffed them." ers' record to 2-1. Jackson becomes the seventh player And although they showed some averaged more than 500 yards total flat. In the first three the. were vulnerable on de- "Stuffing" the Nebraska running The Lion defense, which has been in Penn State history to gain 1,000 sign of immaturity, they did a lot of offense and was still able to rack up Lions most game. the short pass. game is exactly what the Penn State PSU—Nebraska Statistics labelled as suspect throughout the yards receiving in a career.•He now aging. 472 yards in Saturday's But fense to linebackers were just so defense did. The Cornhuskers lead- season, played exceptionally against has 1,037 yards. His 15th career Penn State Head Coach Joe Pa- there were two specific signs where "The said. ing rusher Mike Ripzier.was held to offensive-minded Nebraska, limited touchdown catch Penn terno was well aware of the differ- the Penn State defense showed it much better," Paterno 7 10 24 RUSHING extended-his had all the 86 yardson 19 carries, while ifie Nebraska 0 7 to 28 points after ence of the Nittany Lion defense was getting better with every click One other player who Nebraska Rozier 19,56. Gill 12.52, Craig 7• the Cornhtiskers State record. rushing game Penn junior de- whole Nebraska State 7 7 7 6 Wilkening 8.23, Fryar they rolled up 42 and 68 points, 295 from its first three lackluster per- of the scoreboard. reason to grow up was 27. 1.45. Smith 1-0. Totals Blackledge's yards passing gained 233 yards far less than its Warner formances. With Nebraska driving on on its fensive lineman Greg Gattuso, who 48-233 Penn State 1178. Williams 10- respectively, in their first two marked the fifth consecutive regular average game. 65, 7.32. Coles 4.20, Blackledge 18. to helmet-to-helmet all day 505 yard per Bowman 14 pass from Blackledge Nichols games against defending Big 10 season game he's thrown for 200 or "Our defensive kids really played first possesion of the second half the had play PSU Mumford 2.7. Totals, 41.210 And as the game got older it was (Manca kick) and New Mexico a solid football game," Paterno Lion defense held on three downs on with Nebraska center Dave Riming- champion lowa more yards, setting a school record. the Nebraska running game which said. "They didn't give up any big its 18-yard line forcing Nebras- ton. Last year Rimington was the PSU Warner 2 run (Manca kick) State. His three touchdown pusses gave own found it tougher to run it up the gut PASSING plays and they were aggressive and ka to attempt a 35-yard field goal. Outland Trophy winner for the best Fryar pass (Seibel kick) "Our defensive kids really played him 15for the season, tying the Lion right behind Rimington. NEB 30 from Gill Nebraska Gill 16.24.1 for 239. 2 TDS. Penn (1977) better." The snap was fumbled by holder lineman in the country and an All- State Blackledge 23.39.1 for 295, 3 TDs. State tight end Kirk Bowman cluthces a low toss from Todd Blackledge After Nebraska took the lead with 1:18 left to play, the Lions came back and a solid football game," Paterno said. record 0f,15 by Chuck Fusina tackled PSU Jackson 18 pass : from Blackledge Penn up American. Orson Wells puts it best in asses- deep in the and zone for the winning touchdown Saturday at Beaver Stadium. scored with only 4 seconds left on the clock. "They didn't give up any big plays. and John Hufnagel (1972). Linebacker Al Harris said there Turner Gill and Nebraska ended (Manta kick) pressure make any- with no points. Paterno called the battle of Gattu- sing Penn State's defense against PASS RECEIVING was enough to NEB Rozier 2 pass from Gill (Seibel kick) one grow up. One more sign of maturity for the so and Rimington a draw. Nebraska ..."you can't judge any Nebraska Fryar 7.112, Brown 3-60. Sim• 1.8, was defense came "I don't know if (Gattuso) han- defense before its time." NEB FG Seibel 37 mons 2.28, Williams 1.18, Wilkening Krenk "It was the greatest game I young Penn State 1.11, Rozier 1.2, Totals 16239. Penn State. driving said. "but he And Saturday was the first day of Gill 1 run (Seibel kick) ever in," Harris said. "There was when the Cornhuskers were dled him," Paterno NEB Garrity 5.75. Jackson 5.73, McCloskey 4-68, so much intensity on both sides of in the beginning of the fourth quar- played a strong football game. A this Penn State defense'stime. PSU Bowman 2 pass from Blackledge Warner 3.47, Bowman 2.16, Nichols 1.16, Lions' Bowman an unlikely hero (Manca kick no good) hams 3.0, Totals, 23295. By MARIA MARTINO Collegian Sports Writer Sometime it's justa matter of playing the right Nebraska's Gill guides record-setting offense position at the right time that makes someone a of hero. By PAUL ALEXANDER sesses an Outland Trophy winner right in front After exploring seven positions at Penn State, Collegian Sports Writer him. Kirk Bowman is finally back at tight end and Center has been called by many the loving it. There was never any doubt in anyone's mind about best lineman ever to play and quite "Maybe I've found a home," he said. "I was whether. Nebraska was going to score against Penn conceivably, he could become the first player to ever recruited as a linebacker and I was linebacker State. In fact, the question was, could Penn State have Outland Trophies as bookends. Even at 6-3 and 290 fora day. manage to stop the nation's most potent offense? pounds, life in the trenches is never easy. "Things were tough," Rimington "Then I moved to defensive end, then to the In the Cornhuskers' first two games against lowa and in the trenches said. "It was a super game. We did a pretty good job in other defensive end. I played tackle, nose guard, New Mexico State, quarterback Turner Gill and Co. stopped ourselves in the first half. offensive guard and now tight end again." , had been nothing short of awesome amassing some the second half. We (Penn State) and we have to give And Saturday, when just four seconds re- of the most impr6sive staistics in NCAA history. This is a good team them credit. They played us tough." mained on the clock and the electricity of the the Huskers had the ball Against New Mexico State, The Huskers could now be labeled as a second-half moment wasn't generatedby CBS-TV's portable possessions for a total 13times and scored on 12 of those After scoring right before the end of the first lights, Bowman, at tight end, watched quar- totaled a NCAA record team. of 68 points. In the process, they half, the Huskers' offense was off and running. terback Todd Blackledge look toward Mike Mc- and a record 43 first of 883 yards in total offense Nebraska took the second halfkickoff and pushed the Closkey, the primary receiver, then turn and downs.The only glimmer ofoptimism for the Lions was float a pass low to him. Lions all the way down to their own 18 yard line in five the fact that they're not New Mexico State. but that's as far as they got. After Irving Fryar's Bowman dove, scooped up the winning touch- football games of the plays, As one of the nation's biggest yard gain on a reverse, the drive sputtered and down half a foot from the ground at the very back a national television 45 young season unfolded in front of Seibel came in to attempt a 35-yard field goal. of the end zone to push the Nittany Lions past crowd of at Beaver Kevin audience and a record 85,304 Gill fumbled the snap and Nebraska came up empty. Nebraska 27-24 in one of the finest Penn State Stadium, couldn't help but wonder where this games in history. one Penn State made it obvious that there were two football omnipotent offense was. "It's an incredible feeling," Bowman said. dynamic offenses featured in this game. The Lions as though Penn State was "You can hear the crowd cheer and your team- Just as it started to look covered 83 yards in seven plays to take a 21-7 lead, and going to blow the second-ranked Huskers right off the changed for good. It mates all mob you. But it hasn't sunk in yet . . . it the complexion of the game was seven plays to will later, just not yet." field, Gill marched Nebraska 80 yards in looked like it was time to get out the calculators. game, The Huskers Blackledge's pass for two yards capped a 80- put the Huskers right back into the Nebraska took over on its own 20 and Gill engineered of had narrowed the deficit to 14-7 and the momentum yard drive in 10 plays after Nebraska took its Kirk Bowman is mobbed by fans after catching the winning touchdown in the waning seconds a perfect time-consuming drive that culminated in a seemed to head into the .visiting locker room for first lead of the game with 1:18 left to play. Saturday's 27.24 win over Nebraska. two-yard Gill to Mike Rozier touchdown pass. The But the Cornhuskers suffered an unsportsman- halftime. highly acclaimed Husker offense was beginning to like conduct penalty on the kickoff that put the Gill, a stereotypical sprint-out quarterback, is as appear unstoppable. moved me to tight end Lions on the . Nebraska 35 and ready for their "Stone Hands" when he dropped a pass last "When Coach Paterno much of a threat to run as he is to throw. On the day he very series, Jon Williams fumbled and the 'You'll be there mainly to block'," On the next comeback. • week, also reeled in the first touchdown of he said, threw for two Husker scores and plunged overfrom the Nebraska had three more points in just seven plays. McCloskey, game a 14-yard pass from Blackledge with just Bowman said. "But I said, 'Joe, you might be After passes to and one for what appeared to be the winning touchdown Trailing the Huskers' defense got Gill the ball Linder minutes left in the' opening quarter. surprised because I caught the ball well in high 21-17, Bowman brought the play into the huddle. two with only 1:18 remaining in the game. again via a Neil Harris of Penn State it "Kirk caught two touchdowns on the same pass school . . . I really did catch the ball well." "I was thinking (Blackledge) would throw to have thrown more earlier," Gill said quarterback Todd Blackledge's pass in the Nebraska open and and both times he got a clean release and went to A second-team all-itate pick from Mechanics- "We should Mike," Bowman said, "and I just got game. "But we wererunning the ball well. We end zone. arms and the back of the end zone and just made a super burg High, Bowman followed his father's path to after the turned around and started waving my some mistakes. We mixed our game plan up the distance for yelling. play of it," Blackledge said. Penn States Wayne Bowman played offensive justmade The Gill and Rozier show traveled in the second half. We threw the ball well, but we just score and the first Nebraska lead of the game. was supposedto get off the ball and find Bowman's pair of receptions were the first of guard for the Lions in 1962-63. another "I just had a lot of turnovers." covered 80 yards in 13 plays with Gill hitting an open spot behind the linebacker. I gave the his career, and he became only the 17th Lion to But Saturday was a day for the versatile tight The drive In the second half, the Huskers outscored Penn State for an 11-yard gain on a crucial third down and defensive end a Counter step, faking with my catch two TD passes in a game, tying the school end to shine. Irving 17-13 and the offense that was the talk of the country head like I was goingto go and he took it. record. "I was the priniary receiver, but I was cov- nine. flat last week, was on a roll. "I was coaxing the ball on," he said with a Not bad for someone who lettered at defensive ered," McCloskey said. "I looked right over to Rozier, a native of Camden, N.J., took a pitch from good-natured grin. "I was saying, 'Come on.' It end last year Kirk. I knew he would be over my shoulder like "We made too many mistakes," Gill said. "We Gill on the next play for a twelve yard gain to the Lion was a little short and I think more important thari "He played tight end in high school. We recruit- that. played two good quarters and you can't win the good 3. Penn State held off two Husker surges before Gill it being short, I Wag concernedwith the lineback- ed him as a linebacker, but he pt. so big we made "It was edatasy, I guess. That's as gooda garhe games by only playing two quarters. You have to play plunged over the top for what appeared to be the er tipping it " him a defensive tackle," Coach Joe Patetto said as I've ever been involved in. (This year) there all four quarters." winning touchdown. But Bowman rescued six inches from the of the 6-1, 246-pound junior. "Then he had a knee are a lot of guys Who are believers out there. foul it (in Although neither defense was really capable of Penn State, taking full advantage of a personal grass. injury and we couldn't get a good look at him They played With a lot of confidence, especially by the opposition's offense, Gill felt the Lion penalty on the ensuing kickoff and the 1:18 the Huskers Renee Jacobs cbncerned the officials weren't going to spring practice)." on the last play." shutting down "I was them tough. The record crowd also left on the clock, registered one of its finest come-from- got up as quick as I But when Paterno decided the Lions needed Alackledge agreed: "It Was just a great catch defense played call it." he explained. "I just making it impossible for the Husker behind victories ever. yard the go-ahead and said, 'I another defensive end, he turned to John Walter, and a great ending for a game." contributed by Nebraska quarterback Turner Gill (12) raises his arms in jubilation after he rushed one for Cornhuskers' could and showed them the ball the line. Fortunately for the Lions, their scoring drive con- (67) ' " quarterback to audible at Penn tackle Dave Opfer and caught it the third tight end, and asked Bowman to return And a great new beginning for a revitalized of touchdown with 1:18 left in the final quarter Saturday at Beaver Stadium. State defensive Gill, aside from being a threat to run and pass, has sumed all but four seconds and the Huskers were out its first of the game. Bowman, the one• some people nicknamed to his high school position. tight end. Lion defensive end Walker Lee Ashley (37) stare in disbelief as Nebraska takes lead one other facet to his game that no other team pos- time.