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Nittany Lions Make Strong Statement

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 12, 2008

MADISON, Wis. - With Coach Joe Paterno perched in the press box for the second straight week because of a bum leg, Daryll Clark threw for a touchdown and ran for two more as No. 6 Penn State dismantled Wisconsin 48-7 on Saturday night.

Cornerback Lydell Sargeant had two interceptions - off two different Wisconsin quarterbacks - and Derrick Williams scored again in the return game as the Nittany Lions (7-0, 3-0) made another strong statement asserting their place among the nation's top teams.

It is Penn State's 11th 7-0 start under Paterno and first since 1999. The Nittany Lions also won back-to-back Big Ten road games for the first time since '99.

It was the second straight home loss and most lopsided loss since 1989 for Wisconsin (3-3, 0-3).

Missed Field Goal Stuns Michigan

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Holy Toledo.

K.C. Lopata missed a 26-yard field goal with 4 seconds left, giving the Rockets a 13-10 win over the once-mighty Michigan Wolverines, who are off to their worst start in 41 years.

Alex Steigerwald's career-long 48-yard field goal bounced off the crossbar to put Toledo ahead early in the fourth quarter and it came up short on a fourth down to make a comeback possible for college football's winningest team.

Michigan seemed to set up overtime by driving to the Rockets' 9, but Lopata's chip shot from the right side of the field sailed to the left of the uprights.

The Wolverines (2-4) have their worst six-game record since 1967, two years before Bo Schembechler started coaching them, and their streak of playing in 33 straight bowls is in jeopardy.

Toledo (2-4) pulled off one of the biggest wins in school history - rivaling wins over No. 9 Pittsburgh in 2003 and Penn State in 2001 - and became the first Mid-American Conference opponent to beat Michigan in 25 games.

NO. 12 OHIO ST. 16,

PURDUE 3

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Malcolm Jenkins blocked a punt and Etienne Sabino returned it 20 yards for a touchdown to lead No. 12 Ohio State (6-1, 3-0) to victory over Purdue (2-4, 0-2).
Freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor had an erratic day and tailback Chris "Beanie" Wells totaled 94 yards on 22 carries for the Buckeyes.

Pryor completed 10 of 14 passes for 97 yards and ran for 27 yards on 14 carries.

NO. 23 MICHIGAN STATE 37,

NORTHWESTERN 20

EVANSTON, Ill. - Javon Ringer ran for 124 yards and two touchdowns to lead No. 23 Michigan State (6-1, 3-0) to a win over previously unbeaten Northwestern (5-1, 1-1).

Michigan State quarterback Brian Hoyer added two short touchdown passes as the Spartans never trailed. Michigan State scored 17 consecutive points in the first quarter with the help of a pair of Northwestern turnovers.

MINNESOTA 27, ILLINOIS 20

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Minnesota hassled Juice Williams all day, sacking him five times and taking his fumble back for a decisive touchdown in the Golden Gophers' upset.

After Minnesota's Willie VanDeSteeg brought down Williams at the Fighting Illini 9 late in the fourth quarter, Simoni Lawrence scooped up the ball and ran it in for a touchdown and a 27-13 lead for the Golden Gophers (6-1, 2-1).

Illinois (3-3, 1-2) turned the ball over three times.

IOWA 45, INDIANA 9

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Jewel Hampton ran for three touchdowns and Ricky Stanzi threw for two more as Iowa routed Indiana 45-9 on Saturday.

Iowa (4-3, 1-2 Big Ten) ended its three-game losing streak.

Indiana (2-4, 0-3) had two turnovers, costly penalties and a missed extra point and failed to manage a first down on six of its first eight possessions.

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