STATE COLLEGE —
Wisconsin’s first two drives of the game produced two touchdowns and a 14-7 lead. Its next eight possessions ended in punts.
In that span of possessions, Penn State was able to erase the Badgers’ seven-point lead, pulling ahead 21-14.
So, what changed?
“Two things happened. We were able to get on the perimeter and edges and then they widened their technique, playing outside in. We never really got back on rhythm,” Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema said.
“I thought there were quite a few critical third-down drops. We had some guys who were open in that stretch. In that second-to-third-quarter stretch, there were some third-down hits where guys just dropped the ball.”
Badger running back Montee Ball gained 45 yards in the first quarter and only 66 in the next three and overtime. He said the Nittany Lions change in defensive technique made it much harder to gain ground.
“We kept running outside, outside and then they widened their (defensive) ends and forced us inside, obviously, to their best player, Jordan Hill,” he said. “It obviously worked.”
Numbers game: In a move no one outside of the Nittany Lions inner circle knew was coming, Penn State played Saturday’s game with the No. 42 on their helmets.
The last time the Nittany Lions plain, white helmets had numbers on them was 1974, when each player’s helmet was adorned with his jersey number.
It was a tribute to sidelined linebacker Michael Mauti, who injured his left knee on Nov. 17 against Indiana.
Fellow seniors Michael Zordich and Jordan Hill came up with the idea. Mauti didn’t know about it until he walked into the locker room Saturday morning.
“I was right there with him when it happened. He was emotional,” Zordich said. “It means a lot to him and to us to have that number on the helmet. If there’s a number that belongs on the helmet, that’s the one.”
In another tribute to Mauti, fellow senior linebacker Gerald Hodges wore Mauti’s No. 42 jersey, only with Hodges’ name on the back.
Ever since the NCAA announced unprecedented sanctions against Penn State in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal, Mauti has taken the lead as one of the team’s outspoken leaders.
“There are not too many guys who play the game with the type of passion and mean as much as they do to the guys they’re playing with. He’s all that and more. He’s just a guy that leader is an understatement for him,” Zordich said.
“He’s somebody I’ve looked up to and somebody that has gotten me through some things and I’ve gotten him through some things,” he added. “It was an honor to have his number on our helmet.”
Milestone man: Sophomore RB Zach Zwinak finished with exactly 1,000 yards on the season after finishing with 179 yards on 36 carries Saturday night. ... WR Allen Robinson became only the second receiver in Penn State history to eclipse 1,000 yards on the season. Robinson finished with 1,013 yards and 11 touchdowns on 77 catches after getting four receptions on 35 yards against Wisconsin. Bobby Engram is the only other receiver to go over 1,000 yards, both in 1994 and 1995.
College
Penn State notebook: Closing statement for Lions defense
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MIKE MASTOVICH | Roberts, Kent State up to old tricks
George Roberts and his Kent State University teammates reached a familiar destination on Saturday afternoon, but took a somewhat different route in winning their third consecutive Mid-American Conference (MAC) regular-season title.
- Local sports in brief 5/19/2013
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College players dominate Point nominations
Pitt-Johnstown junior Jake Warner was perfect and extremely productive at the plate while earning the first two monthly nominations for the 2013 Point Stadium Award in February and March.
Mount Aloysius sophomore Derrick Capiak nearly reached perfection to take the April nomination. -
Penn State guard leaving for pro career
Penn State guard Jermaine Marshall, the team’s second-leading scorer, is foregoing his senior year of eligibility to pursue a professional career overseas.
The team announced the surprise move in a statement Wednesday. The 6-foot-4 Marshall, who is on schedule to graduate this summer, cited his family including a 1-year-old son, in making his decision. -
Penn State coach blasts Sports Illustrated article
Penn State coach Bill O’Brien is fervently disputing suggestions raised in a report that player medical care has been compromised after the team doctor was replaced.
Speaking often in an angry tone that might be otherwise reserved for an argument with an official, O’Brien told reporters in a conference call that the health and safety of his players were his top priorities. -
East Stroudsburg wins PSAC championship
Senior Brian Ernst threw eight innings without allowing an earned run on just two days rest and East Stroudsburg University used a five-run fifth inning to secure its first PSAC baseball championship since 1971 with a 7-1 win over defending champion West Chester on Saturday at Point Stadium.
The Warriors (33-16), who set a school record with their 33rd win, earned the PSAC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament thanks in large part to an outstanding effort by Ernst, who was named the PSAC Tournament MVP. -
Millersville players help couple resuscitate ailing child
The Millersville University baseball team came up with a great save this week, but it had nothing to do with the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference tournament being played at Point Stadium.
A trip for an after-midnight snack on Wednesday morning ended with seven Marauders being hailed as heroes by a local family after they helped save a little boy who wasn’t breathing. -
PSAC baseball prefers Point Stadium
The 2014 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference baseball tournament is slated for Pullman Park in Butler.
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