PENN STATE 3 14 14 3 34 for Nine Yards in Losses by the Eagles
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URL:http://www.alumni.psu.edu/fbl Username: psualum Password: weare Sept. 26, 2011 * Vol. 74, No. 4 he Nittany Lions found their passing game TSaturday, and it led them to an easy 34-6 fly away over the Eagles of Eastern Michigan, while fans enjoyed an unexpected afternoon of sun- bathing on balmy Beaver Beach. After heavy rainfall in Happy Valley Friday, the sun broke through for the noon start of the last non-conference game for the 3-1 Penn State gridders, who open their 19th Big Ten schedule at Indiana next Saturday. Entering the Eastern Michigan contest averaging only 158 yards passing with no touch- downs in their first three games this season, the Lion offense erupted for 364 yards through the air and their first four TD tosses. Junior quarterback Matt McGloin threw three of those scoring aerials among his 14 completions in 17 attempts for 220 yards. His first was a 27-yarder to fullback Joe Suhey down the left sideline on a wheel route, the second a 5-yard laser to Derek Moye on a slant from the left and the third a 20-yarder to Moye in the far left corner of the end zone. COACH JOE PATERNO returned to sidelines for first time this season during first half of Penn State’s 34-6 win over The West Scranton gunslinger led the Li- Eastern Michigan, after suffering cracked pelvis when run into by a player in pre-season practice. ons to touchdowns on three of the four drives that he directed, and the fourth came within a points, when he booted a 43-yarder through the ACL in his right knee that was torn in pre- yard of another six-pointer. After completing a the uprights to climax a 50-yard drive by the season practice. He also missed four games last 41-yard bomb to Shawney Kersey and connect- Lion reserves under the command of QB Shane fall because of shoulder and ankle injuries, but ing with Justin Brown on a 15-yard heave to McGregor in the fourth quarter. had excellent spring and pre-season practices the Eastern Michigan five-yard line, McGloin Thirteen different Lions caught passes this year and was the team’s leading tackler flipped a short pass to fullback Michael Zor- Saturday, but Smith and Moye headed the list. through three games. Mauti also had a crucial dich. But just before Mr. Z crossed the goal Smith recorded his first career 100-yard interception that set up State’s game-winning line, an Eagle defender punched the ball out game, ending the afternoon with three recep- fourth quarter drive in last week’s contest at of his grasp into the end zone and out across tions for 104 yards. His 71-yarder was the longest Temple, plus three pass break-ups and three the sideline. The result – a touchback giving of his career and second longest thrown by Bold- tackles for loss. He was a pre-season All-Big Ten EMU the ball on the 20-yard line. It was the en, who tossed an 80-yarder to Moye last fall. choice and a Butkus Award candidate. Eagles’ only stop of the Lions in the Red Zone Moye became the sixth Penn Stater to Senior cornerback D’Anton Lynn, a three- all afternoon. exceed 2,000 yards by receiving, hauling in year starter described by defensive coordina- Sophomore QB Rob Bolden teamed up with six aerials for 65 yards to pass O.J. McDuffie tor Tom Bradley as “the heart and soul of the Devon Smith on the other touchdown pass – a (1,988), Kenny Jackson (2,006), Bryant Johnson secondary,” went down in the fourth quarter, 71 yarder that brought the crowd of 95,636 to (2,008) and Jordan Norwood (2,015) and move after a helmet-to-helmet hit with another its collective feet just one minute into the third into third place with 2,026 yards. He trails Deon player. As he lay motionless on the grass, Penn quarter. On a 3rd & 5 play, Smith — the smallest Butler (2,771) and Bobby Engram (3,026). State fans immediately remembered the tragic and fastest man on the team — ran a crossing But Penn State’s third victory this fall came injury to Adam Taliaferro in a similar incident route under the linebackers, and Bolden hit him at a very heavy price. at Ohio State in 2000. Lynn was strapped to a in stride. Smith quickly turned the corner, Moye Two of the stars on Penn State’s excellent backboard and taken off the field on a cart, threw a block, and it was off to the races for the defense – statistically the second best in the Big before being transferred to the Mount Nittany 5-7 speedster – outrunning everyone down the Ten and ninth best in the nation — suffered Medical Center. After close examination of his sidelines to the same north end zone where State serious injuries just before the beginning of head, neck and spinal column, he was released scored all of its touchdowns. conference play. late Saturday and had movement of all his ex- Bolden also engineered a 45-yard first Junior linebacker Michael Mauti will be tremeties. He will be monitored and evaluated quarter drive that ended in Anthony Fera’s lost for the season, after tearing the anterior daily, and it is not known when he may be able first career field goal – a 29-yarder that saw cruciate ligament in his left knee during non- to play again. the strong-legged sophomore become the contact action in the first quarter. Mauti missed Senior Nate Stupar replaced Mauti at strong first starter since Chris Bahr in 1975 to punt, the entire 2009 season after surgery to repair side linebacker and played brilliantly, leading kickoff and place-kick for the Lions. True fresh- the team with seven tackles, three of which were man Sam Ficken tallied the home team’s final PENN STATE 3 14 14 3 34 for nine yards in losses by the Eagles. He also EASTERN MICHIGAN 0 0 0 6 6 Photos by Steve Manuel ’84, ‘92g R E C A P 1st Quarter PS: Fera 29-yd FG caps 7-pl 45-yd drive in 3:11 set up by Crawford rec. of fum. caused by Latimore & keyed by Bolden passes 17 yds to Drake & 11 yds to Brown & Redd 11-yd run. 4:18 2nd Quarter PS: Suhey 27-yd pass from McGloin caps 5-pl 63-yd drive in 2:27 set up by Willis partial punt block & sparked by McGloin 18-yd pass to Moye. (Fera kick) 8:19 PS: Moye 5-yd pass from McGloin caps 5-pl 31-yd drive in 0:47 set up by Sukay intcpt. & 14-yd ret. & sparked by McGloin 18-yd pass to Smith. (Fera kick) 0:56 3rd Quarter PS: Smith 71-yd pass from Bolden caps 3-pl 76-yd drive 1 2 in 0:55. (Fera kick) 13:59 PS: Moye 20-yd pass from McGloin caps 10-pl 87-yd drive in 4:22 keyed by McGloin passes 15 yds to Smith, 18 yds to Redd, 5 yds to Suhey on 3rd & 1 & 17 yds to Dukes. (Fera kick) 2:27 4th Quarter EM: Fulkerson 21-yd FG caps 6-pl 17-yd drive in 3:04 set up by Ohrman intcpt. & 14-yd ret. of Bolden pass & Gillett 13-yd pass to Hoskins. 11:50 PS: Ficken 43-yd FG caps 9-pl 50-yd drive in 3:11 keyed by Day 11-yd run. 8:32 9 10 EM: Fulkerson 22-yd FG caps 17-pl 72-yd drive in 5:22 keyed by Gillett passes 17 & 14 yds to Olds & 10 yds to 1: DEVON STILL corrals Eagle tailback Javonti Greene for loss. Hoskins. 3:04 2: DEVON SMITH caught three passes for 104 yards Saturday. 3: SHAWNEY KERSEY makes one-handed grab of 41-yard bomb Attendance: 95,636 from McGloin in second quarter. 4: SERIOUS INJURIES were suf- fered by linebacker Michael Mauti (42) and cornerback D’Anton disguised and timed an excellent blitz that put Lynn (8) in Saturday’s game. 5: NICK SUKAY leaps high for his Eastern Michigan quarterback Alex Gillett on first interception of 2011 season to set up State’s TD drive in last his back for a six-yard sack. minute of first half. 6: NATE STUPAR replaced injured Mike Mauti Junior Stephon Morris had started opposite in first quarter and led Lions with seven tackles throughout the Lynn and had five tackles. Both senior Chaz afternoon. 7: CURTIS DUKES cuts off block by Matt Stankiewitch Powell and freshman Adrian Amos saw action at (54)9 and rips through Eastern Michigan defense for 15 yards. cornerback, after Lynn’s injury. 8: FOOTBALL TEAM gathers in tunnel to make entrance into Head Coach Joe Paterno said the injuries Beaver Stadium for last non-conference game of 2011 season. took something off the win Saturday. But he 9: DEREK MOYE became sixth Penn Stater to pass 2,000 yards in added, “There are different ways to handle career receiving. 10: SENIOR CHEERLEADERS practice in front of adversity. You can feel sorry for yourself or it can Palmer Museum of Art Sunday. bind you together.” Paterno spent the first half on the sidelines for the first time this season, after suffering a cracked pelvis when Smith ran into him during a pre-season practice. The second half, JoePa went up to the coaches’ booth, where he spent the first three games, “because I was hurtin’.” The 84-year- old coach said he is trying to get away from pain pills and a cane.