Oct. 5, 2009
University Park, Pa. -
Complete Release in PDF Format
When: Saturday, October 10, 2009
Where: Beaver Stadium (107,282)
Kickoff: 12:05 p.m. ET
Attendance: 105,000
Series Record: First meeting
Penn State Captains:
No. 17 Daryll Clark, Sr., QB
No. 45 Sean Lee, Sr., LB
Television: The contest will be televised by ESPN Classic to national audience with Dave Lamont and JC Pearson calling the action. The Nittany Lions are appearing on television for the 183rd time in their last 185 games.
Radio: Penn State Sports Network (60 stations)
Radio Team (10th year)
Play-by-Play: Steve Jones; Analysis: Jack Ham
Web stream: www.GoPSUsports.com
Panther Radio Network (Mike Bradd, play-by-play; Jack Ashmore, analysis). XM Radio 197; Sirius 129.
Coaches:
Joe Paterno
Penn State Record 387-128-3 (75.0), 44th Year
Overall Record Same
vs. Eastern Illinois 0-0
60th year on Penn State staff...all-time leader in career wins among FBS (1-A) coaches...300 wins faster than any coach in NCAA history...College Football Hall of Fame inductee in 2007.
Bob Spoo
Eastern Illinois Record 136-110-1, 22nd Year
Overall Record same
vs. Penn State 0-0
The Series: The Nittany Lions and Panthers are meeting for the first time.
This Week
Penn State plays its final non-conference game, hosting Eastern Illinois in the first meeting between the teams. The Nittany Lions are coming off a 35-17 win at Illinois, while the Panthers are coming off a 36-31 loss to Eastern Kentucky. Penn State has a 44-12 record since the start of 2005, the nation's ninth-best record over that span.
Nittany Lions Run Past Illini
Penn State ran for 338 yards, its highest total in three years, en route to a 35-17 win at Illinois.
Leading 7-3 at halftime, Penn State put forth a dominant second half performance, scoring four touchdowns and holding the ball for 19:28. The Nittany Lions out-gained the Illini, 208-8, in the third quarter en route to 513 yards.
Penn State improved to 10-1 in the next game after a loss since the start of the 2005 season.
Stephfon Green (13-120-1) and Evan Royster (17-105-1) eclipsed 100 rushing yards, giving Penn State its first 100-yard tandem since Tony Hunt (151) and Michael Robinson (125) did so in a 2005 win over Wisconsin.
Quarterback Daryll Clark accounted for 258 yards of total offense. Clark was a very efficient 17 of 25 (68 pct.) for 175 yards. He also ran for 83 yards, including a 51-yard burst in the third period, and scored twice. Senior tight end Andrew Quarless tied his career-high with five receptions.
The defense kept Illinois out of the end zone until less than nine minutes were left and with Penn State holding a 28-3 lead. The
Penn State defense has yet to allow a first half touchdown this season and has permitted just five overall in five games.
Linebacker Josh Hull recorded double figure tackles for the fourth consecutive contest with 11.
Jeremy Boone was outstanding, averaging 49.5 yards on four punts to earn Big Ten honors. He had a 66-yard punt, third-longest of his career, and had two punts downed inside the Illini five-yard-line.