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| Chris Harrell made 12 tackles in the win over Michigan State, part of a defensive effort that produced two sacks, four interceptions and held the Spartans under their per-game average for total yards. |
EAST LANSING, Mi.; November 19, 2005 - It??s been said that to be the best, you have to beat the best.
Standing in the way of Penn State??s conference title was quarterback Drew Stanton, a semifinalist for the Davey O??Brien National Quarterback Award and leader of the powerful Michigan State offensive attack. Coming into the game, the Spartans led the Big Ten in total offense, ranked second in passing offense and third in rushing offense and scoring offense.
Enter the Penn State defense, which was led by Alan Zemaitis and his three interceptions and Dan Connor who made 14 tackles. The tough defense combined with a potent offense helped pave the way for a convincing 31-22 win over Michigan State.
The Nittany Lions solved the Stanton riddle with a season-high four interceptions and stopped the Spartans three times in the red zone, another season-best. Donnie Johnson blocked a punt for a touchdown and the Lions held Michigan State to 401 yards, well below its season average of 507 yards per game.
Something even more significant than winning a Big Ten football championship was on the line in East Lansing, and the Lions delivered. The win gave Penn State its fifth Big Ten championship of the fall, a new conference record for titles by one school. Previous to Penn State's unprecedented success this fall, no single member institution had won more then three of the fall Big Ten titles up for grabs, which include men's and women's cross country, field hockey, football, men's and women's soccer and women's volleyball.
??I??ve been around a lot of good football teams - the kids are the ones who are all fired up and they should be,?? said Joe Paterno after the game.
With the win, the Lions also earn the conference??s automatic berth into the Bowl Championship Series. It is Penn State??s 19th season with at least 10 victories under Paterno, whose career record improves to 353-117-3 in 40 seasons.
| Michael Robinson finished his last regular-season game in a Penn State uniform with 90 yards rushing and 105 yards passing plus one touchdown. |
The Nittany Lions got on the board first when Kevin Kelly connected on a 32-yard field goal, giving Penn State a 3-0 lead after its first offensive possession. Robinson led the lions 65 yards in 11 plays for the score.
Michigan State seemed poised to answer Penn State??s first score on its first possession, but Alan Zemaitis intercepted Drew Stanton on the goal line and ended the Spartan threat. Michigan State had a chance to tie the game at the end of the first period but Matt Haughey??s field goal attempt sailed wide left.
Penn State??s first touchdown was special ?C as in special teams. Donnie Johnson blocked Brandon Field??s punt and Matt Hahn pounced on the loose ball for a touchdown that stretched the Nittany Lion lead to 10-0.
Robinson broke the game open on the Lion??s next possession when he darted up the middle and waded through traffic for a 33-yard touchdown run that gave Penn State a 17-0 lead. It was the longest scoring run of his career.
The Spartans again threatened at the end of the quarter, but this time it was Donnie Johnson who intercepted Stanton in the end zone to squash the Spartan drive.
At the break, Penn State held a 17 point lead.
Michigan State made it interesting in the third quarter when Jason Teague scored on a 25-yard run. The play was the longest rush against the Nittany Lion defense this year and got the Spartans within ten, 17-7.
An interception by Alan Zemaitis and a subsequent 17-yard return late in the third quarter set up Penn State??s third touchdown, a 3-yard strike from Robinson to Deon Butler that made the score 24-7 in favor of the Lions.
| The win gives Joe Paterno his second Big Ten championship. |
Michigan State answered, getting a 4-yard touchdown run from Jeremy Scott to put the Spartans down ten points, 24-14, heading into the fourth quarter.
Midway through in the fourth, the Spartans had a chance at a long field goal but the opportunity was snuffed out by a bad snap. After the Spartan miscue the Lions drained clock with a 10-play, 64-yard drive. Hunt carried six times on the drive - surpassing the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the season - and punctuated the march with a 1-yard touchdown run that sealed the win.
Zemaitis made his third interception of the game on the ensuing Spartan drive to lock things up well before Michigan State scored a touchdown on a 15-yard pass from Stanton to Kerry Reed with less than a minute to go. Stanton??s two-point conversion made the final tally 31-22.
The victory draws Penn State into a tie with the Spartans in the all-time series, which now stands at 11-11-1. The teams have played in the regular season finale the past 12 seasons, with the winner claiming the Land Grant Trophy.
Penn State must now wait until the BCS selection show on Dec. 4 to find out its bowl assignment. Michigan State finishes 5-6 on the season and is not bowl eligible.