It was a cool overcast day in Happy Valley but the spirits of the Penn State<92>s Nittany Lions remained high after a 17 <96> 13 victory as the seniors took to the field one last time in front of a crowd of 108,607 fans to battle for the Land Grant trophy against Michigan States Spartans.
<93>I didn<92>t see anyone crying or anything like that,<94> said junior linebacker Dan Connor.
<93>Not that I<92>d rat them out anyway,<94> he joked.
<93>Playing here in front of these fans is always emotional,<94> said senior linebacker Paul Posluszny.
While the focus of the day was on the seniors, both teams had their share of mishaps.
Early in the game as Lydell Sargeant of the Lions was setting up a block for a punt return, the ball grazed his leg making it a fumbled ball that was quickly covered by sophomore Anthony Scirrotto who was on the return.
The mistakes continued, however, and the Spartans struck first turning an Anthony Morelli fumble into a touchdown with 5:15 remaining in the first quarter.
<93>We turned the ball over four times,<94> said defensive end Tim Shaw of the blunders while responding to a question asking why the game turned out the way it did.
After regaining control of the ball, Penn State put it in the hands of Tony Hunt who was immediately hit hard by Travis Key of the Spartans forcing a second fumble in as many possessions. This was also the first of two Hunt fumbles and it appeared that Hunt became the hunted early in the game.
<93>We just weren<92>t taking care of the ball,<94> said Morelli of the fumbles.
This time the Spartans had to settle for a field goal bringing the tally to 10 <96> 0 with 3:19 remaining in the first quarter.
The second quarter appeared to show more promise for the Lions<92> who moved the ball early putting a drive together and capping it off with a 10-yard touchdown pass by Morelli to tight end Andrew Quarless at which point the scoreboard read 10 <96> 7 with 8:80 remaining in the half.
<93>He<92>s a big target,<94> said Morelli. <93>He<92>s got great hands and he makes plays.<94>
The Lion<92>s defense was able to hold the Spartans once again and the Lions<92> were driving down the field once again when yet another fumble was forced on Hunt on their own 43-yard-line.
The Spartans turned yet another fumble by Hunt on the Lions<92> own 43-yard into points as they hit a field goal with 1:11 remaining in the half giving them a six-point lead bringing the Lions<92> turnover tally to a total for four going into the half.
Penn State finally takes the lead with 4:47 remaining in the third on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Morrelli to wide-out Jordon Nordwood making it 14 <96> 13.
After Anthony Scirrotto forcibly separated Michigan State wide-out Terry Love from the ball and forcing the punt he blocked the punt giving the Lions<92> the ball on the Spartan 20-yard-line but they were unable to put any points on the board.
<93>Causing a fourth down and then blocking a punt gets us in a better situation out there,<94> Scirrotto said. <93>It feels pretty good to be able to do that.<94>
The Lions then concluded the scoring in the game with a field goal with 4:28 remaining on the clock.
Morelli said he wasn<92>t necessarily happy with the win but at 8 <96> 4 he wasn<92>t upset, either.
<93>We came off with a win and now we get to go to a bowl game,<94> said Morelli of the victory.
With the victory the Lions move to 12 <96> 11 <96> 1 in the series against the Spartans, 11 <96> 3 since joining the big ten in 1993 and the Lions have never lost at home to the Spartans.
