LOOKING AHEAD
Penn State (2-4, 0-2 Big Ten) vs. Purdue (4-1, 1-0), 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Ind. It will be the first meeting since the Nittany Lions defeated the Boilermakers, 22-20, at Beaver Stadium in 2000.
NOTEBOOK
QB Michael Robinson didn't look as if he was making his first career start. Robinson was 22 for 43 for 379 yards and threw two touchdowns with no interceptions. His 379 passing yards ranks second on Penn State's all-time list behind Zack Mills' 399 yards against Iowa last season. "I thought Michael did real well, everything considered," Penn State coach Joe Paterno said. "Especially when we got to the point where we couldn't handle them up front. We had to throw so much. I thought he did a good job. He obviously missed a couple, and they dropped a couple, but I think overall he did a good job." Robinson was starting in place of the injured Mills, who has a sprained left knee. Mills dressed for the game, but only as an emergency quarterback. Paterno said after the game that Mills should be ready to play Saturday at Purdue, but he declined to speculate on who would start. "I haven't got time to think about that," Paterno said. "I'm going to take a good look at this and what we're doing. There's a lot of little things, then I'll make a decision. Even before Zack got hurt, we were using Robinson in a lot of different situations to change the tempo of the game. What we'll do ... I just don't know."
The 73-yard touchdown pass from Robinson to TE Matt Kranchick in third quarter was his first career touchdown pass. It also was the first career touchdown for Kranchick. It was Penn State's longest pass play since Chafie Fields caught a 78-yard pass from Kevin Thompson against Purdue in 1999.
After a couple of encouraging rushing performances, Penn State ran 28 times for just 45 yards yesterday. Freshman RB Austin Scott, who ran for 195 yards the previous two games, was held to 22 yards on 10 carries. He was held out in most passing situations because Paterno said he is not a good pass protector.
With one more loss at home, Penn State will have a losing record at home for the first time since 1965, the year before Paterno became head coach. The Nittany Lions are 2-3 at Beaver Stadium this season and have two home games remaining -- vs. defending national champion Ohio State Nov. 1 and Indiana Nov. 15.
Penn State started Big Ten Conference play with an 0-2 record for the third time since joining the league 11 years ago. The Lions also started 0-2 in 1995 and 2001. The Lions finished those two seasons 5-3 and 4-4. They have never finished conference play with a losing record.
WR Gerald Smith's 5-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter was the first of his career. Smith had a career-high four catches for 71 yards.
Kranchick, a fifth-year senior and former walk-on from Carlisle, Pa., had his best game for the Lions. He caught four passes for 136 yards and scored on a 73-yard pass play. "We were in the huddle, and he just told me, 'Throw it up, and I'll beat him,' " Robinson said. "We have trust in him. He's doing a great job."
Calvin Lowry had two fumbles on special teams yesterday and has three turnovers in the kicking game this season. But Penn State coaches continued to use him after his gaffes yesterday, and there doesn't seem to be a plan to replace him on either the punt-return team or the kickoff-return team. Lowry's second fumble yesterday led to a Wisconsin touchdown just before halftime. He also fumbled a punt against Kent State that was recovered in the end zone for a touchdown.
Wisconsin RB Booker Stanley became the sixth opposing player to rush for 100 yards against Penn State's defense this season. The Lions, ranked last in the Big Ten in rush defense, allowed 234 yards to the Badgers on the ground.
CB Anwar Phillips started in place of Alan Zemaitis and had a tough game. He was beaten by Lee Evans on Wisconsin's first touchdown in the first quarter, then got beat by Brandon Williams for a 20-yard touchdown on a third-and-18 just before halftime. Phillips learned he would start yesterday morning and said he was surprised by the move. "I thought Alan Zemaitis was a better cornerback than I was," he said.
Penn State converted a third down on the opening series, marking the first time this season the Nittany Lions did not go three-and-out on their first series. The Lions got to Wisconsin's 19, but Donnie Johnson fumbled on a reverse, and Wisconsin recovered.
Wisconsin's Jim Leonhard's 65-yard punt return was his second career punt return for a touchdown. He returned one 39 yards against Michigan last season. It was the first punt return for a touchdown allowed by Penn State since a 1999 game against Michigan State.
DT John Shaw, a true freshman from Selinsgrove, Pa., made his first appearance. Shaw is the fourth true freshman to play this season, joining RBs Austin Scott and Tony Hunt and LB Paul Posluszny. Shaw has bounced back and forth between the offensive line and defensive line this season.
LB Gino Capone has led or tied for the team lead in tackles every game this season. He had 11 tackles yesterday, his fifth double-digit game of the season.
Posluszny of Hopewell had three tackles. ... LB Derek Wake had his first sack this season. ... Penn State dropped to 60-19-5 in homecoming games.
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