| Score by Quarters | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Score |
| Minnesota | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Penn State | 10 | 10 | 17 | 7 | 44 |
| Scoring Summary | ||
| 1st | 08:53 | PSU - Derrick Williams 13-yard run (Kelly kick) |
| 03:09 | PSU - Kevin Kelly 29-yard field goal | |
| 2nd | 11:34 | PSU - Derrick Williams 5-yard run (Kelly kick) |
| 03:07 | PSU - Kevin Kelly 47-yard field goal | |
| 01:43 | MIN - E. Wheelwright 48-yard pass from Cupito (Giannini kick) | |
| 3rd |
11:45 | PSU - Tony Hunt 5-yard run (Kelly kick) |
| 08:11 | PSU - Tony Hunt 3-yard run (Kelly kick) | |
| 02:33 | PSU - Kevin Kelly 21-yard field goal | |
| 4th | 11:25 | MIN - Jakari Wallace 2-yard run (Giannini kick) |
| 05:38 | PSU - Rodney Kinlaw 10-yard run (Kelly kick) | |
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Beaver Stadium grass, installed just this
week, was greener. The Goodyear blimp hovered in an azure sky that appeared
bluer. And Penn State coach Joe Paterno, smiling as he exited this field
for what seemed like the first time in ages, even looked younger.
No one can say what unbeaten Penn State's convincing 44-14
thrashing of 18th-ranked Minnesota yesterday signaled for a program that
has been draped in trouble instead of the accustomed glory in this new
millennium.
But, for one nearly perfect autumn afternoon anyway, the happiness
was back in Happy Valley.
"Hopefully, that game sent a message that Penn State
is back," middle linebacker Paul Posluszny said.
In what was their most impressive performance since at least
the 2002 season, the Nittany Lions (4-0, 2-0) dominated the previously
unbeaten Golden Gophers in virtually every tangible and intangible category,
likely earning a spot in the top 25 for the first time since the 2003
season.
"We're better," Paterno said. "I wouldn't get
carried away. We've got a lot of tough football teams to play. And we've
got to get better. If they do that, then they can feel pretty good about
themselves."
Penn State's seven-game winning streak is now the third-longest
in the country, behind only Southern Cal's streak of 26 games and Texas'
string of 11. That, however, will be tested next week when eighth-ranked
Ohio State visits for a nationally televised Big Ten nighttime matchup.
Tailback Tony Hunt and quarterback Michael Robinson led a
ground game that outrushed Minnesota (4-1, 1-1), which had been the nation's
No. 1 running team, by 371 yards to 129. Hunt rushed for 114 yards and
Robinson for 112.
An inspired defense held the Gophers' ballyhooed Laurence
Maroney to 48 yards.
After three periods, Penn State had a 31-7 first-down edge.
The Nittany Lions finished with 35 first downs, a total topped only against
Temple 10 years ago during Paterno's 40-year tenure.
"For us, all we heard all week was how great their offensive
line was," Penn State defensive tackle Jay Alford said. "They
were supposed to be all-American, all-world, everything you could think
of."
Robinson, who operated out of the shotgun and ran several
draws among his 18 carries, also threw for 175 yards, completing 13 of
32 passes.
After fumbling eight times in the previous four wins, the
senior quarterback held on to the ball this time, punishing defenders
as he refused
to go down. He sent strong safety Brandon Owens sprawling to the turf when
he lowered his helmet on a second-period collision instead of getting
out
of bounds.
 |
"When your quarterback can lay the boom like that, it really makes you want to try to get every yard you can," said Deon Butler, a redshirt freshman receiver.
"He's a leader. He's a tough kid," Paterno said of Robinson. "He's a football player who happens to be playing quarterback. He could be a heck of a linebacker."
Butler caught six balls, and Derrick Williams, who also ran out of the tailback position on several plays and scored a pair of rushing touchdowns, had four receptions.
"We're very balanced now," defensive tackle Tamba Hali said. "On offense, we can pass the ball and run the ball. And on defense, we've been able to stop the pass and the run. That makes it tough for teams trying to prepare for us."
The defense's three-and-out on Minnesota's three first-quarter possessions established the tenor of this game.
The Nittany Lions' offense responded immediately, going 64 yards on a nine-play drive capped by Williams' spectacular 13-yard scoring run.
Penn State went 67 yards the next time it touched the ball, taking a 10-0 lead on the first of three Kevin Kelly field goals. A 66-yard, 13-play drive that spanned the first and second quarters made it 17-0, Williams racing in from 5 yards out.
Gophers quarterback Bryan Cupito's 48-yard touchdown pass to Ernie Wheelwright near the end of the half made it 20-7, but the Nittany Lions opened the second half with another long drive, this one capped by Hunt's 5-yard run.
"That was the drive that impressed me," defensive coordinator Tom Bradley said. "We came right out and drove it down the field. That let them know we weren't done."
Hunt and third-string tailback Rodney Kinlaw scored the final two touchdowns as an afternoon that delighted the crowd of 106,604 came to a stressless conclusion.
"This is how it used to be around here," offensive tackle Levi Brown said. "What we want to do is let people know it can be like that again."