Two plays. Five seconds.
Small numbers, but with big meaning for Penn State.
The Nittany Lions’ 2011 season, already 56 days and almost nine games old, came down to two plays on Saturday.
They were 100 yards and less than 60 seconds of game time apart.
Both involved some good fortune, to say the least — one to the point where Penn State literally needed a lucky bounce as those five seconds ticked to a close.
But without them both, Joe Paterno’s historic 409th career victory would’ve had to wait at least another two weeks.
As it was, the Nittany Lions held on as time expired to defeat Illinois 10-7 on an early evening in Beaver Stadium that began in a whiteout of snow and finished with a flurry of activity.
When the snowflakes cleared, an estimated crowd of 62,000 saw a redemptive offense and a resilient defense combine to give the Nittany Lions — ranked 19th in the BCS — an 8-1 record and a 5-0 mark in the Big Ten. They are the only team in the conference without a league loss.
Who would have thunk it?
‘I thought going into the season that we would be undefeated or have one loss at this point,’ said junior Matt McGloin, the Lions’ starting signal-caller for the second straight week.
OK, the confident quarterback thought so. But even he was almost wrong.
And if he had been, it would have been part of McGloin’s own making, as the Penn State offense failed to score in the game’s first 53 minutes. It was in danger of being shut out for the first time in 130 games, when it fell 20-0 to Michigan in 2001.
Then came Penn State’s first of its two Most Important Plays of the Game — and season.
PLAY NO. 1
The first most important play of Penn State’s 2011 season was a fourth-and-6 from the Illinois 42-yard line. Ninety-eight seconds remained in the game
Penn State’s offense, ineffective most of the day, had the ball. Derek Moye ran a streak pattern along the left sideline, into the northwest corner of the end zone.
McGloin dropped back in the pocket. And looked. and waited. Then McGloin lifted the ball, the game, Joe’s 409th victory and the Nittany Lions’ hopes of a Big Ten championship into the air.
The ball spiraled toward Moye — who had missed the previous two games with a broken bone in his foot — as he raced into the end zone.
Illinois defender Justin Green pushed Moye, who dropped the ball. But the referee dropped his flag, signifying pass interference on Illinois.
That was the break the Nittany Lions needed. They took over at the Illinois 17-yard line, and four plays later scored the winning touchdown on a three-yard touchdown run over the left side by Silas Redd. Anthony Fera’s PAT put Penn State ahead, 10-7.
The drive lasted 10 plays and went 80 yards in 117 seconds. McGloin connected with Moye twice on that drive, for 20 and nine yards, and also had completions of 13 and 16 yards to Justin Brown.
‘We knew it was just a matter of time,’ McGloin said.
But the game wasn’t over.
PLAY NO. 2
Illinois’ offense, held to a singular touchdown in the game’s first 58 minutes and 59 minutes, aimed to go 83 yards in 61 seconds if it hoped to win — and fewer yards than that, if it aimed for a tie. A field goal would do, and was still likely — Illinois kicker Derek Dimke entered the game a perfect 7-of-7 on field goals in 2011.
The Penn State defense tried to hold off a furious drive by Illinois, which drove from its own 17 to the Penn State 25. It all came down to one play — again. The Illini used three timeouts, three passes and two runs to travel 58 yards in 56 seconds.
They ran out of time and real estate at the Penn State 25 with five seconds remaining.
Dimke had a good chance to tie the game. Penn State called timeout to ice him, a bit redundant given the chilly and snowy weather that was the order of the day.
‘I think their kid may have been thinking about the earlier one,’ said defensive coordinator Tom Bradley, referring to the third quarter when Illinois botched the snap on a field and was forced to scramble, resulting in an interception by Penn State’s Sean Stanley.
‘That may have messed him up a bit, thrown off his timing,’ Bradley said. ‘That and the grass was wet.’
Penn State’s student section, less than full due to the weather and a desultory first half that ended 0-0, went into action. The students packed the center of the south end zone, creating a wall of white punctuated by waving hands, gloves, hats and hopes.
So, with Penn State 539 minutes and 55 seconds into its 2011 season, Dimke attempted his 42-yard field goal, which sailed through the darkness of the early evening and…
…hit the right goal post and bounced off onto the field to preserve Penn State’s victory.
‘I tried to blow the ball the other direction,’ joked Bradley.
Whew.
Redd finished the day with a career-high 30 carries for 137 yards. It was his fifth straight 100-yard game and gives him 1,006 yards on the season, the 12th Penn State running back to over the 1,000-yard mark.
McGloin completed just 9 of 24 passes for 98 yards, but it was his work on the final drive — and that deep toss to Moye — that mattered. Moye had two grabs for 29 yards, and Brown had three for 50.
Gerald Hodges played a defensive game whose numbers must be seen to be believed — 19 tackles, one sack, one tackle for a loss and one forced fumble. Defensive tackles Devon Still and Jordan Hall each had 10 tackles, while Still had 3.5 tackles for losses.
Paterno got the 409th victory of his 46-year coaching career at Penn State. It moved Paterno, who will be 85 in December, past Eddie Robinson and into the top spot as major college football’s winningest coach.
‘This is a bunch of guys that have stuck together,’ Paterno said. ‘The coaching staff has stayed with some kids that have had some troubles and the kids themselves have reacted to the coaches.
‘I think we have a nice set-up in the sense that we’re a team,’ he added. ‘The coaches and players and if we had played as hard as we played and hadn’t got the bounce here or bounce there, I still would have felt good about this football team.’
Penn State sits atop the Leaders Division and now has a week off to ready for a demanding three-week finish: Nebraska at home on Nov. 12, at Ohio State on Nov. 19 and at Wisconsin on Nov. 26, just two days after Thanksgiving.
Illinois is 6-3 and 2-3, having lost its third consecutive game.
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GAME RECAP
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FIRST QUARTER: Penn State 0, Illinois 0
Snow flurries were flying fast and the temperatures were near freezing when the game kicked off, with Penn State receiving the ball to start the contest. Snow was not accumulating on the field.
The Beaver Stadium stands were about three-quarters full — and only the student section was decked out in white (clothing). The only other white in the stadium were the empty steely white bleachers mostly in the upper southeast corner of the end zone.
Joe Paterno began the game in the coaches box high above the field and it is likely that is where he will spend the game.
To begin the game, the two offenses had a tough time getting started and the two teams traded punts. Matt McGloin started at quarterback for Penn State. Wide receiver Derek Moye, out the past two games with a broken bone in his foot, dressed and warmed up, but he began the game on the sideline wearing a blue knit hat.
McGloin completed his first two passes — to Devon Smith and Michael Zordich — but was short on a third-and-7 to a wide-open Justin Brown.
On a third-and-8 on Penn State’s next drive, McGloin couldn’t connect with Silas on a screen pass — the Lions’ Achilles heel in 2011 — and the Lions had to punt. Illinois took over at its own 32, to begin its second possession of the first quarter at the 8:51 mark.
Dark and dreary weather, quiet crowd, seemingly uninspired offenses.
Justin Brown has fielded two punts for Penn State. One bounced off his helmet, onto the ground, and recovered it. The second one he was a bit shaky on, but held on to give Penn State a first 10 on its own 38.
On a third and 7 from the 41, McGloin dropped back and patiently waited for Brown to cross the field to near the Penn State sideline, where Brown made a 21-yard reception. After a fake reverse to Devon Smith, McGloin then tried to hit Smith along the sideline, but it was incomplete. Silas Redd took over.
Redd, who entered the game with four straight 100-yard games, ran for 13 yards in the middle of the field. McGloin tried to connect with Curtis Drake in the end zone, but Drake had to turn and then caught the ball out of bounds.
Redd came out of the game — stingers again? — and the Lions gave the ball to Brandon Beachum, who lost a yard. McGloin was nearly intercepted on an attempt to Brown. That set up fourth down from the 26.
Anthony Fera came in and missed a 43-yard field goal attempt, kicking into the south end with little wind. He missed. That was Fera’s first miss since a 52-yarder against Indiana. Since then, he had made nine straight field goals. The longest FG in that time was from 40 yards.
On a 1 and 10 from the Penn State 37, Redd ran up the middle and fumbled the ball, and Illinois recovered. It was his second fumble of the year.
Illinois took over at the PSU 37-yard line. On the very first play, PSU safety Drew Astorino made a big tackle, dropping Illinois’ receiver Darius Millines for a six-yard loss. On third down, Gerald Hodges dropped QB Nathan Scheelhaase for an eight-yard loss.
Illinois punted, and Penn State took over at its own 17, but failed to move the ball. Again.
A 33-yard punt by Fera — having a bad day — gave Illinois the ball on its own 44.
Illinois couldn’t move the ball — still, as in Devon Still. Still sacked Scheelhasse for nine yards. It was apprpriate way to end the first quarter: Illinois had just 12 yards rushing and minus four yards overall.
McGloin was having trouble finding his mark for Penn State, connecting on just 4 of 12 passes for 33 yards. Redd had 30 yards rushing.
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SECOND QUARTER: Penn State 0, Illinois 0
After a stout first quarter, in which the Nittany Lion defense held Illinois to minus four yards of offense, the Lion D did more of the same in the second quarter, thanks especially to the linebacker play of Gerald Hodges, Nate Stupar and Glenn Carson.
Defense Sean Stanley added a fumble recovery and an interception of his own — the pick coming on the end of a botched field goal try by the Illini in the final minute of the half.
Meanwhile, fumbles — and a poor performance by quarterback Rob Bolden in the pocket — almost spelled doom for the Nittany Lions.
As it turned out, even though Halloween is just about here, all of the boos In Beaver Stadium — and there were plenty — were for reserved Bolden.
To start the second quarter, Brown almost delivered his own trick, fumbling his second punt return of the day. But luckily for the Lions, they recovered the loose ball.
Bolden — who started the second quarter for PSU after McGloin started the game — was lucky, too. He fumbled once and the ball flew five yards forward, only to be recovered by Lion lineman D’Ontae Pannell.
Bolden was plagued by passing problems, continually getting slammed by rushing Illini D-linemen after holding the ball too long. Each time, he barely squeezed the ball out, as it flew in all directions. He misfired on his first three passes. Brown saved him on the third attempt, keeping the Illini from intercepting the ball thanks to a pass interference call.
Redd was the only reliable option for the Penn State offense, gaining 48 yards for 10 yards.
At the 6:40 mark of the second quarter, Illinois got its initial first down of the game on a 15-yard run by Scheelhaase. One play later, Scheelhaase scrambled 14 yards to the left and into the open field. He was tackled low by Lion CB D’Anton Lynn. Safety Nick Sukay came flying from midfield and banged Scheelhaase in the helmet. The Illini QB fumbled, and Stanley recovered.
Bolden led the Penn State offense back onto the field, his third drive of the day. On a third and 8 from the PSU 43, Bolden took a three-step drop, fired and — had his pass tipped. Penn State punted. Fera has punted six times for 205 yards — a 34.2 yard average.
After a four-and-out by the Illinois offense, Penn State forced Illinois to punt. Reilly O’Toole was in at QB, replacing Scheelhaase, still feeling the effects of the hit by Sukay.
Penn State’s No. 2 QB of its own, Bolden, came back in the game — to a chorus of boos.
Taking over at its own 16, Penn State was whistled for five players in the backfield. Illinois declined the penalty. On the next play, Redd ripped off an 18-yard run.
Then Bolden went back into ‘action.’ He faked an inside hand-off to Stephfon Green, and fumbled the ball. Illinois recovered.
The Illini took over at the 25 and drove for what it looked to be a touchdown run by Jason Ford. But Illinois FB Jay Prosch was called for a motion penalty. That set up a 33-yard field goal attempt. But the snap was Illinois long snapper Zak Pedersen was fumbled by holder Tim Russell.
Russell scooped up the ball, and threw downfield. Penn State’s Sean Stanley intercepted to halt the drive — and keep the score 0-0.
With less than one minute left in the half, McGloin came back into the game.
Halftime Statistics
Hodges led the Lion defense with 10 tackles. Sean has recovered a fumble to go along with his interception. Astorino has two tackles for losses, and Jordan Hill has five tackles.
Redd has 74 yards in 15 carries. He has 943 yards in 2011.
McGloin is 4 of 13 for 33 yards, while Bolden is 0 of 4 with a fumble.
For Illinois, O’Toole is 3 of 4 for 26 yards, Russell the holder is 0 for 1 with an interception and Scheelhaase is 3 of 6 for minus four yards.
THIRD QUARTER: Illinois 7, Penn State 0
Illinois’ 11-play, 64-yard scoring drive midway through the quarter snapped a 0-0 deadline. The Illini capped the drive of 4:26 with a 10-yard pass from Scheelhaase to Spencer Harris. Derek Dimke’s PAT gave Illinois a 7-0 lead with 3:32 left in the third quarter.
McGloin got PSU off to a bad start in the half, throwing an ill-advised pass that was picked off by Illinois’ Terry Hawthorne.
Two plays later, PSU cornerback D’Anton Lynn returned the favorite, intercepting Illinois’ Terry O’Reilly. On the ensuing possession, PSU drove to the Illinpis 36, but on a fourth-and-1 call from the Illini 36, McGloin tried a sneak for the first down ad failed.
Near quarter’s end, Penn State’s defense forced another fumble on a hit by Nathan Stupar, and Gerald Hodges recovered.
FOURTH QUARTER
Penn State first got on the board eight minutes into the fourth quarter. But barely.
With the Illini facing a fourth and 10 from its own 37, Justin DuVernois was in to punt. The Nittany Lions put on a furious rush, and Brad Bars came from the left side to block the punt with his left hand.
Penn State took over at the Illinois 31, its best field possession of the day. Ten plays netted the Nittany Lions gained only 18 yards. Redd carried five times for 15 yards, with two of the carries for minus one yard each. McGloin threw an incompletion, a seven-yard toss to Devon Smith for a first down, and took a six-yard sack on third and goal from the Illini 7.
Penn State had to settle for a 30-yard field goal by Fera, and trailed 7-3 with seven minutes left in the game.
When the Illinois defense got the ball back, the Penn State defense held again, forcing the Illini’s DuVernois to punt again. That gave the Penn State the ball to begin its final drive of the day — paving the way for the two biggest plays of the afternoon.
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