Penn State paints pretty picture of ugly win
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Silas Redd had his third consecutive 100-yard rushing day with 131 Saturday in Penn State's 23-18 victory vs. Purdue at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pa.
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State remained unbeaten in the Big Ten Conference Saturday, but the Nittany Lions will not receive any style points.
They continue to win ugly, which is fine with them.
Tailback Silas Redd ran for 131 yards on 28 carries and scored a touchdown and Penn State's defense forced three turnovers to hold off pesky Purdue, 23-18, before an announced crowd of 100,820 on homecoming at Beaver Stadium.
The win was the fifth in a row for the Nittany Lions, who improved to 3-0 in the Big Ten's Leaders Division and 6-1 overall.
"That makes us one more win undefeated in the Big Ten," quarterback Matt McGloin said. "I don't care if we win by one point or 100 points."
In the winning streak, Penn State has won three games by six points or fewer and another by 10.
This team, which became bowl-eligible Saturday, is starting to draw comparisons to the 1985 team, which won seven of its first eight games by a touchdown or less en route to finishing 11-1 and losing to Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl.
Winning ugly has become a trademark of both teams.
"At the end of the year, they don't say, `You [had] five wins, three ugly wins, three pretty wins and two so-so,' " said defensive coordinator Tom Bradley, an assistant coach on the '85 team.
"We're not going to the prom here. I'm not worried about having an ugly date."
Penn State, ranked No. 25 in the USA Today coaches poll, figures to crack The Associated Press Top 25 later today for the first time since early last season.
"I think us not having the respect is what's helping us out," defensive tackle and co-captain Devon Still said. "It makes us play that much harder."
Penn State's defense had been allowing 250.8 yards per game, but was gouged for 344 yards offense, including 162 on the ground by the Boilermakers (3-3, 1-1).
"We didn't play well today on defense," Bradley said. "We didn't have our usual step."
Even so, strongside linebacker Nate Stupar intercepted two passes, including the clincher at the Purdue 19 on an errant fourth-down throw by Boilermakers quarterback Caleb TerBush with 1:59 remaining.
The Lions also snuffed out a key two-point conversion try by TerBush in the fourth quarter that could have tied the game, 20-20.
First Published October 16, 2011 12:00 am
