CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) -Looking for a decisive win after last weekend’s upset loss to Iowa State, Penn State found itself at halftime Saturday holding a narrow lead at Illinois in a game that could easily go either way.
The Nittany Lions came out of the locker room in the third quarter and, on a windy, wet afternoon with the temperature hovering around 50 degrees, they turned the game over to their running backs, and it paid off with a 35-17 statement.
Evan Royster and Stephon Green punished Illinois, running behind an offensive line that’s taken heat this year for failing to protect quarterback Darryl Clark.
Green had 120 yards rushing, Royster had 105 and No. 14 Penn State rolled 338 total.
“We just had a sense of urgency,” Clark said about the difference in the Nittany Lions when they took their field in the third quarter. “We were able to convert a lot of third downs and the running game improved tremendously. I was real excited to see that.”
oes back home Saturday to face Eastern Illinois before returning to conference play Oct. 17 against Minnesota.
The Iowa loss left Penn State a game behind the Big Ten leaders, and left doubts in fans’ minds about how good the team could be.
On Saturday, two big plays – one by Clark and one by Green – kept the Nittany Lions in the conference race.
Green’s was first, a 52-yard touchdown run that gave Penn State a 7-0 lead. The sophomore back darted through a hole the size of a motor home that opened up in the Illinois line. Illini coach Ron Zook barked at his defense as they left the field.
It was an early sign that Penn State was wearing down Illinois, and by the third quarter, the Nittany Lions were dominating up front. Penn State ran for 146 yards in that quarter alone, on the way to opening up a 21-3 lead.
Penn State coach Joe Paterno praised the line, but said the criticism of his linemen had been overstated to begin with.
“The defense is loading up against the running game,” Paterno said. “I thought they did well today and I think we had a more balanced attack.”
The second big play, from Clark, was a 51-yard run that set up Penn State’s second touchdown. Clark said after the game that he simply took advantage of an Illinois blitz.
enough this season.
“It bothers me when certain people say things, but really, they don’t know what’s going on,” he said. “They don’t really know what they’re talking about.”
Illinois left Saturday’s loss looking for any kind of lifeline as it gets prepared to host Michigan State. The Spartans are coming off an overtime win against No. 22 Michigan.
Zook called the challenge of turning Illinois around a “monumental task.”
“We have got to get it fixed,” he said, “but there is still a lot of football to be played.”
The Illini offense, even with 393 yards against Penn State, has struggled all season. Before Saturday, Illinois had scored a total of nine points against teams other than Illinois State. Even now, quarterback Juice Williams has just one touchdown pass.
“We’re trying to get in a rhythm on offense” said junior receiver Arrelious Benn, who had his best game of the season against Penn State with five catches for 96 yards. “(Offensive coordinator Mike) Schultz is doing his best to call the right plays. We’re doing the best we can to execute them.”
With Eastern Illinois up next, Paterno could conceivably give linebacker Sean Lee another week to recover from a sprained knee sustained Sept. 19 against Temple. Lee suited up Saturday, as he did against Iowa, but Paterno said he isn’t sure when he’ll play.
“He suited up because he’s sort of the emotional leader of the team,” Paterno said. “He’s coaching on the sideline, coaching the linebackers.”
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