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Big Ten Roundup: Penn State Ends Michigan's Hex

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 19, 2008

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Polishing off Joe Paterno's greatest nemesis, No. 3 Penn State ended a dozen years of disappointment against Michigan.

Behind the running of Evan Royster and a few momentum-shifting plays by the defense and special teams, the Nittany Lions withstood the Wolverines' early flurry and snapped a nine-game losing streak to their Big Ten rivals, 46-17 Saturday.

Paterno wasn't on the field to enjoy his team's highest-scoring game against Michigan, relegated to working from the press box for a third consecutive week because of a sore hip and leg. Surely, his 380th victory looked just as good from the bird's-eye view.

Even more important for JoePa's team: When the first BCS standings come out today, Penn State should be no worse than third.

No team had ever won as many in a row against Penn State during Paterno's 43 seasons at the helm than Michigan. But if ever there was an opportunity for the Nittany Lions (8-0, 4-0 Big Ten) to break the streak it was now. The struggling Wolverines (2-5, 1-2) have looked little like the winningest program in college football history in their first season under coach Rich Rodriguez.

In fact, Michigan came in a 23 1/2 -point underdog. Never before had the Wolverines been so lightly regarded by odds makers.

The Wolverines looked like a good bet early, their spread offense clicking as well as it has all season as they sped to a 17-7 lead early in the second quarter.

But Penn State deciphered the spread, got its own high-powered version of Rodriguez's offense rolling and delivered the knockout punch with a safety, a partially blocked punt and a forced fumble on consecutive Michigan possessions.

Jared Odrick gave Penn State its first lead of the game, 19-17, when he dragged down backup quarterback Nick Sheridan in the end zone with 4:39 left in third quarter.

The free kick set the Nittany Lions up at midfield, Royster's 21-yard run put them at the 1 and Daryll Clark sneaked in at 3:04 to make it 26-17.

Buckeyes Romp Past Spartans

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Terrelle Pryor showed some of his potential during a spectacular start that gave No. 12 Ohio State a share of first place in the Big Ten.

Pryor ran for a score and threw for another in the first half, helping the Buckeyes build a four-touchdown lead on the way to a 45-7 win Saturday over No. 20 Michigan State.

The freshman quarterback finished 7 of 11 for 116 yards and a TD and had 72 yards rushing on 12 carries, including an 18-yard for a score early in the game. Pryor showed poise and touch when he threw before sitting on the big lead with handoffs. When he ran, Pryor displayed speed and power by running past defenders and stiff-arming some to the ground.

Ohio State's Chris "Beanie" Wells had season highs with 31 carries, 140 yards rushing and two touchdowns.

The Buckeyes (7-1, 4-0 Big Ten) entered the game tied with Penn State and the Spartans (6-2, 3-1) atop the conference.

NORTHWESTERN 48,

PURDUE 26

EVANSTON, Ill. - C.J. Bacher threw three touchdown passes and ran for a fourth score to help Northwestern rebound from its only loss to beat Purdue, sending the Boilermakers to their fourth straight defeat.

Northwestern (6-1, 2-1 Big Ten) responded after falling to Michigan State last Saturday as Eric Peterman caught a TD pass and threw for another on a wild offensive day at Ryan Field.

Purdue (2-5, 0-3) was hurt by penalties and five turnovers and had difficulty containing Northwestern's spread offense.

IOWA 38, WISCONSIN 16

IOWA CITY, Iowa - Shonn Greene rushed for a career-high 217 yards and four touchdowns and Iowa pounded reeling Wisconsin, sending the Badgers to their first 0-4 start in the Big Ten since 1996.

Greene had touchdown runs of 52, 34, 34, and 12 yards for the Hawkeyes (5-3, 2-2 Big Ten), who have answered a three-game losing streak with a pair of blowout wins.

He became the first Iowa player to rush for four touchdowns since Tavian Banks did it against Iowa State in 1997. He's the only player in the country with over 100 yards in his first eight games of the season.

Dustin Sherer, making his first career start in place of Allan Evridge, was 17 of 34 for 161 yards and two interceptions for Wisconsin (3-4, 0-4). The Badgers, who reached as high as No. 8 in the polls in late September, have been outscored 86-23 the past two weeks.

ILLINOIS 55, INDIANA 13

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Jason Ford rushed for 172 yards and three touchdowns to lead Illinois to a win over Indiana.

The Illini (4-3, 2-2 Big Ten) led 28-7 at the half and handed Indiana (2-5, 0-4) its fifth straight loss.

Ford, a true freshman, scored on touchdown runs of 41 yards, 5 yards and 1 yard.

Illinois quarterback Juice Williams was 16 of 22 for 271 yards and three touchdowns.

Indiana was led by quarterback Ben Chappell, who was 12 of 29 for 168 yards. Running back Bryan Payton rushed for 66 yards and a touchdown.

The Hoosiers played without starting quarterback Kellen Lewis, who is nursing a high ankle sprain.

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