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Nittany Lions Finish Strong In Win

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 16, 2008

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - No. 7 Penn State overcame a sluggish start to move a step closer to the Rose Bowl.

Derrick Williams ran for one score and caught a touchdown pass, Daryll Clark threw for 240 yards and two scores in an uneven outing, and a stifling defense held Indiana to six first downs in the Nittany Lions' 34-7 victory on a dreary Saturday.

Heavy underdogs coming into Beaver Stadium, Indiana (3-8, 1-6 Big Ten) trailed just 10-7 at halftime in large part because of miscues by Penn State (10-1, 6-1). One drive ended after Clark fumbled at the Indiana 1, while Kevin Kelly missed a 40-yard field goal to foil another effort.

Momentum swung after halftime in favor of the Nittany Lions. Tailback Evan Royster bounced off three Indiana tacklers like a pinball on a 19-yard touchdown run to put Penn State up 17-7.

NO. 10 OHIO STATE 30,

ILLINOIS 20

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Beanie Wells ran for 143 yards and a touchdown and Terrelle Pryor added another 110 yards Saturday in No. 10 Ohio State's win over Illinois.

The victory kept the Buckeyes (9-2, 6-1) in the chase for the Big Ten title. It was also revenge for last year's 28-21 loss to the Illini, which ended Ohio State's pursuit of a perfect season.

A flurry of first-half mistakes doomed Illinois (5-6, 3-4), including a blocked punt for a safety and two turnovers.

NORTHWESTERN 21,

MICHIGAN 14

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Michigan has lost eight games for the first time in the storied program's 129-year history after Northwestern (8-3, 4-3) beat the Wolverines (3-8, 2-5).

C.J. Bacher threw touchdown passes on his first two drives of the second half to lift the Wildcats.

A school-record five of Michigan's losses have come at home in Rich Rodriguez's debut season.

College football's winningest program had already sealed its first losing season since 1967 and snapped a 33-season bowl streak. Now the Wolverines failed to win consecutive games for the first time since 1962.

WISCONSIN 35,

MINNESOTA 32

MADISON, Wis. - Wisconsin (6-5, 3-5) capped a second-half rally with a pair of safeties and a touchdown off a Minnesota turnover in the fourth quarter, beating the mistake-prone Golden Gophers (7-4, 3-4).

The come-from-behind victory was marred by an injury to Badgers wide receiver Kyle Jefferson, who was hospitalized with potential head and neck injuries after he took a hard hit in the second quarter and was taken off the field in an ambulance.

The initial results of Jefferson's medical tests are "very encouraging," Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema said after the game.

IOWA 22, PURDUE 17

IOWA CITY, Iowa - Shonn Greene ran for 211 yards and two scores for Iowa (7-4, 4-3), and Purdue's Hail Mary pass with 5 seconds remaining sailed long to preserve the Hawkeyes' victory.

The Boilermakers (3-8, 1-6) could not find a way to stop Greene's slashing runs, including a 75-yard dash in the second quarter.

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