Nittany Lions Throttle Eastern Illinois, 52-3Nittany Lions Throttle Eastern Illinois, 52-3

Nittany Lions Throttle Eastern Illinois, 52-3

Oct. 10, 2009

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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa., October 10, 2009 - Penn State scored 38 first half points and held its fourth opponent of the season to seven points or fewer to post a 52-3 win over Eastern Illinois in Beaver Stadium. The No. 14/12 Nittany Lions improved to 5-1 overall, winning for the 31st in their last 34 games in Beaver Stadium. Penn State is 60-12 (83.3) in non-conference games since starting Big Ten play in 1993.

The game was Penn State's 675th contest since Joe Paterno joined the coaching staff in 1950 (492-176-7 record). Eastern Illinois became the 83rd different opponent the Hall of Fame coach has faced.

Penn State scored 28 points in the final 7:27 of the second quarter to take a 38-0 halftime lead, including a 91-yard fumble return by linebacker Navorro Bowman with :05 left in the half. The Nittany Lions scored their most points in a half and a game since tallying 38 in the first half of last year's 55-13 win at Syracuse.

The Nittany Lions have held four of their first six opponents to seven points or less for the first time since 1996. Penn State has not allowed a first half touchdown this season and the defense has permitted a total of five overall.

Senior Daryll Clark was highly effective in leading Penn State to a season-high 553 yards of offense. The Nittany Lions delivered tremendous balance with 285 rushing yards and 268 passing yards. Clark was 13 of 19 for 234 yards, with three touchdowns and one interception. He also ran for a one-yard touchdown to open the scoring. The 2008 first team All-Big Ten quarterback has thrown 20 touchdown passes in the last nine games. Clark was responsible for four touchdowns vs. the Panthers, giving him 49 career touchdowns (31 passing, 18 rushing). He is in third place at Penn State, passing Tony Sacca (41 passing, 6 rushing) today.

Eastern Illinois QB Jack Christensen is sacked by Penn State Jared Odrick during the first half. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)


Chaz Powell made four receptions for 79 yards, including a 51-yard scoring strike from Clark in the second period. Freshman Justin Brown made his first career receptions, with three for 45 yards. Derek Moye made two catches for 43 yards, including a 25-yard strike from Clark with 2:09 left in the half to make it 31-0. Tight end Andrew Quarless had two catches for 36 yards.

Evan Royster ran for 94 first yards on just eight carries and did not see any action in the second half. Royster has 2,253 career rushing yards, moving past Charlie Pittman (2,236 yards) for 13th place in the Penn State annals.

Stephfon Green gained 58 yards on just eight carries, scoring on a 26-yard run in the third quarter. Freshman quarterback Kevin Newsome entered the game in the third quarter and saw his most extensive action. He ran for 49 yards on just seven carries, including a nine-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter to close the scoring. Newsome was 4 of 5 for 34 yards. Sophomore Brandon Beachum gained 28 yards on just four attempts, as nine Nittany Lions carried the ball.

The Nittany Lions recorded 11 tackles for loss, second-highest total of the season, and A.J. Wallace grabbed an interception, in addition to Bowman's fumble return for a score. Penn State limited EIU to 59 rushing yards and 147 through the air for a total of 206. Eastern Illinois came into the game averaging 29.2 points and 371.6 yards per game.

Defensive tackle Jared Odrick led the charge with two sacks, tying his career-best (Iowa 2008). Odrick recorded a career-high 3.5 tackles-for-loss for (-17) yards. Linebacker Josh Hull made a game-high 11 tackles, the fifth straight game he has had at least 10 tackles, and the fourth straight game he has led the Nittany Lions in hits.

Linebacker Chris Colasanti made career-high six tackles and recorded the first sack of his career in the second quarter. Sophomore cornerback D'Anton Lynn had a career-high five tackles and Wallace made a career-high seven stops in addition to his third career interception.

Bowman made five stops, with 2.0 TFL for minus-four yards. Late in the first half, Ollie Ogbu stripped Panther quarterback Jake Christensen and Bowman picked up the pigskin and ran downfield with Wallace in the convoy. Bowman's return was Penn State's first fumble recovery for a touchdown since Tony Davis had an 88-yard fumble return for a fourth quarter score in the 2007 Outback Bowl against Tennessee.

Bowman's fumble recovery was Penn State's longest scoring fumble recovery since the NCAA began permitting fumble returns in 1990. It was also the longest scoring play for the Lions since Derrick Williams had a 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Illinois in 2008.

Penn State took its first possession 85 yards to grab a 7-0 lead. Royster gained 43 yards on four attempts, including a 20-yard burst. Daryll Clark ran seven yards for a first-and-goal at the EIU one and finished the drive with a one-yard touchdown drive, his 18th career TD run, with 7:01 left in the first quarter. Collin Wagner tacked on the PAT kick. The drive was Penn State's longest of the season for yards.

The Nittany Lions drove 70 yards in eight plays on their second possession to take a 10-0 lead. Clark connected with freshman Justin Brown on a 26-yard completion for his first career grab. A 19-yard run by Chaz Powell and an 18-yard Clark pass to Quarless gave Penn State a first down at the EIU 10. Wagner's 25-yard field goal made it 10-0 with :35 left in the opening period.

Penn State returns to Big Ten play when it welcomes Minnesota to Happy Valley on Saturday, Oct. 17 for its 90th Homecoming game. The Golden Gophers are 4-2 (2-1 in Big Ten) and defeated Purdue, 35-20, on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET at Beaver Stadium and the contest will be regionally televised by ABC (ESPN outside ABC coverage area), the Penn State Sports Network and www.GoPSUsports.