WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. —
With little more to play for than pride, Penn State continued its surprisingly successful season on Saturday.
Matt McGloin passed for 321 yards and two touchdowns to help the Nittany Lions defeat Purdue 34-9.
Penn State can’t play in the postseason, the result of NCAA sanctions connected to the Jerry Sandusky scandal. Still, the Nittany Lions dominated a Purdue team that was in desperate need of a win.
“We’re playing for our team,” said sophomore Zach Zwinak, who rushed for 134 yards. “We don’t have much else but each other. The seniors, they only have three games left. We play for each other. That’s why we continue to push and fight together.”
Penn State had won five straight games before losing 35-23 to Ohio State last week. The Nittany Lions were able to quickly refocus for Purdue.
“We see teams come off a big game and let it linger on them,” Penn State coach Bill O’Brien said. “You have to bury those losses, and that’s what we did.”
Brandon Moseby-Felder had six catches for 129 yards and Michael Zordich ran for two touchdowns for the Nittany Lions (6-3, 4-1 Big Ten).
McGloin notched his fifth career game with at least 300 yards passing, breaking the school record set by Kerry Collins.
“You just take what they give you, move the chains, do what you do best and just make smart decisions,” he said. “I just try to play within myself, play within the system.”
Caleb TerBush passed for 155 yards and a touchdown and Antavian Edison had nine catches for 93 yards and a score for the Boilermakers (3-6, 0-5), who have lost five straight and now will need to win out to become bowl eligible.
The pressure was on Purdue coach Danny Hope after athletic director Morgan Burke released a statement earlier in the week saying that the team’s performance had kept the Boilermakers from reaching their goals, and that those associated with the program had expected the team to take a step up the postseason ladder.
Hope was disappointed after Saturday’s effort.
“I thought we took the field very fired up,” Hope said. “We had sideline energy and game energy. We came in thinking we could win this game. We came out with a lot of energy and were fired up to play. We just weren’t able to execute and play well, and that’s been typical of big ballgames lately.”
Akeem Hunt’s 47-yard return of the opening kickoff and Akeem Shavers’
37-yard run set up a 21-yard field goal by Sam McCartney that gave the Boilermakers a 3-0 lead. It was the first time Penn State had been scored upon in the first quarter all season.
Penn State went for it on fourth-and-1 from the 50 on its opening possession, but McGloin’s pass fell incomplete. Purdue couldn’t take advantage, as Shavers fumbled and Penn State’s Malcolm Willis recovered.
Penn State drove down the field, and Sam Ficken kicked a 27-yard field goal to even the score with 6:03 left in the first quarter.
On Penn State’s next possession, McGloin found Moseby-Felder for 42 yards, then Zordich scored on a 6-yard run for a 10-3 lead.
Robert Marve completed an 8-yard pass to Edison on a fourth-and-1 from the Penn State 41 to extend a second-quarter drive, but Paul Griggs’ 45-yard field goal was wide right.
Penn State responded by extending its lead. Allen Robinson’s leaping 27-yard grab over Purdue’s Josh Johnson moved the ball into field-goal range, and Ficken’s 24-yard chip shot pushed the Nittany Lions’ lead to 13-3 with 3:47 left in the first half.
Zordich pounded the ball in from 5 yards out to increase Penn State’s lead to 20-3 with 1:16 left in the first half. The strong start to the game was important for the Nittany Lions, who won their third straight road game.
“We want to make them adjust to us,” McGloin said. “We don’t want to give them the benefit of being at home. We want to take the fans out if possible, and so far we’ve been able to do that on the road.”
Penn State went right down the field on its opening possession of the second half and McGloin found Jesse James for a 12-yard touchdown pass. On Penn State’s next possession, Moseby-Felder’s 41-yard touchdown catch from McGloin made it 34-3 and sent Purdue’s fans scurrying toward the exits.
TerBush completed a 2-yard touchdown pass to Edison on the last play of the game.
The Nittany Lions are aware that other teams are concerned about bowl eligibility, and they are proud of the fact that they have remained focused without a reward waiting at the end of their journey.
Penn State will hit the road again on Saturday and play at Legends Division leader Nebraska.
“We have to truly focus on the team we’re playing because we need that win,” McGloin said. “We’re trying to get nine wins this season, and that’s our main goal right now. Like I said, we’re just focused on beating Nebraska right now.”
Local Sports
Related Photos
-
Penn State's Jordan Hill is carted off the field after being injured during the first half of Saturday’s game against Purdue in West Lafayette, Ind. Darron Cummings
Discussion
Penn State crushes Purdue
- Local Sports
-
-
Defense attorney: Woman’s death an accident
A defense attorney for a Blair County man charged with homicide in the 1999 death of his daughter-in-law said the woman’s death was accidental.
-
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. -
Pirates roll past Brewers
Wandy Rodriguez allowed one run over seven strong innings and Neil Walker hit a two-run single as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Milwaukee Brewers 3-1 on Wednesday night.
Rodriguez (4-2) gave up six hits, walking one and striking out five. -
Dupuis coming through for Penguins
Dan Bylsma has been hearing it seemingly from the moment he took over at Pittsburgh Penguins head coach four years ago.
Every time the Penguins hit a rough patch, the murmurs about finding a polished winger to play alongside superstar Sidney Crosby pop up. Bylsma understands the sentiment. It’s just that it’s a little misplaced. -
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. -
Penguins advance on overtime goal
Brooks Orpik’s goal would have been memorable even if wasn’t in overtime and didn’t put the Pittsburgh Penguins into the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
When you are a defensive-minded defenseman with only 12 goals in nine NHL seasons, they all tend to stand out. -
Liriano key to Pirates' victory
Francisco Liriano finally got to pitch for Pittsburgh and, just like that, the Pirates looked like a much better team.
He struck out nine and the Pirates teed off on New York’s pitching for an 11-2 win over the Mets on Saturday. -
Shade softball thriving on Karl’s watch
Frank Karl coached the majority of the girls who comprise Shade High School’s softball team from the time they played T-ball and coach pitch.
Karl was there when the group, as elementary-school students, once rallied from an 18-run deficit to win a game, and he hoped to be there when the group reached the varsity level. -
MIKE MASTOVICH: Junior put his stamp on tourney
This year, Junior won’t be on the Point Stadium field for the pregame hoopla associated with opening night of the 69th annual AAABA Tournament.
He won’t watch as dozens of Corvettes and hundreds of baseball players enter through the left-field gate with their respective teams from cities such as Baltimore, New Orleans, New Brunswick and Altoona. - More Local Sports Headlines
-
Defense attorney: Woman’s death an accident
Officials: Truck Hit Bridge Before Collapse
Sheriff: No Sign Killing of 2 Kids Was Planned
Obama Defends Drone Strikes, With Limits
Raw: Jurors Deadlock on Jodi Arias Penalty
Boy Scouts Decision "First Step" Say Activists
Raw: Utah Teen Arrested in Death of His Brothers
Closer Look at Okla. School Where Children Died
Two Suspects in Murder Known to London Police
Boy Scouts Mom Supports Gay Inclusiveness
"Be Ready": NOAA Warns of Busy Hurricane Season
SeaWorld: Penguins Are Coolest Thing in Florida
Obama Renews Call to Close Gitmo
Obama Offers Drone Strike Defense
Raw: Heckler Interrupts Obama on Guantanamo
A Slice of Apple History Up for Grabs
