Bradley, Penn State notch win
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Silas Redd attempts to dive over the pile into the end zone on fourth-and-1 in the third quarter Saturday in Columbus, Ohio. He was stopped, but the Nittany Lions still prevailed to set up a showdown in Wisconsin Saturday. -
Stephfon Green breaks loose for the first of his two touchdowns Saturday == a 39-yard run in the first quarter. -
Jordan Hill makes a key fumble recovery in the third quarter against Ohio State.
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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Penn State turned to the wildcat formation Saturday to scratch out an impressive win at Ohio State.
Backup tailback Stephfon Green ran for two touchdowns and Anthony Fera kicked two field goals -- all in the first half -- as the Nittany Lions held on for a 20-14 victory against the Buckeyes before 105,493 at Ohio Stadium.
No. 21 Penn State (9-2, 6-1 Big Ten) clinched at least a share of the Leaders Division title and earned interim coach Tom Bradley an historic win -- the first of his career and first of the post-Joe Paterno era.
The Lions can win the division crown outright and earn a berth in the inaugural Big Ten championship game Dec. 3 with a win Saturday at No. 17 Wisconsin (9-2, 5-2).
"It's been our goal all year to play for the Big Ten championship and now we got a chance to do it and it feels great," quarterback Matt McGloin said.
Penn State not only improved to 4-0 on the road this season, the Lions ran their record to 7-1 in games decided by 10 points or fewer. The 20 points were the most scored by Penn State at the Horseshoe since 1964, a span of 12 games.
"This win, this isn't about me," said Bradley, 1-1 since replacing Paterno, who was fired Nov. 9 amid a child abuse sex scandal involving former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky. "It's about the players, the team. I don't think any team in the history of major college football has been through so much in such a time period."
With tailback Silas Redd slowed by a shoulder injury, Bradley did something Saturday that Paterno rarely did the first nine games this season -- he turned to the wildcat.
"We had it in the back of our minds for a while now," offensive coordinator Galen Hall said. "We just thought it would open up the run game."
The Lions, who finished with 239 yards rushing, ran roughly a dozen plays out of the formation. They used freshman wide receiver Bill Belton and oft-injured redshirt sophomore wideout Curtis Drake at quarterback to take direct snaps from center Matt Stankiewitch.
Drake had three carries for 50 yards and Belton four for 16 yards.
First Published November 20, 2011 12:00 am
