Oregon State 14, (19) Penn State 45

1234T
ORST (0-2)070714
#19PSU (2-0)142110045

Final

3:30 PM ET, September 6, 2008
Beaver Stadium
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA

Penn State pushes aside distractions, rips Oregon State

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Top 25 Overview
It was over when... Oregon State, already down 14-0, botched a punt, giving Penn State a short field. Two plays later, the game was 21-0.
Gameball goes to... Evan Royster: The Nittany Lions running back carried the ball 17 times for 141 yards and three touchdowns.
Stat of the game... Seven: Penn State has won seven straight home games vs. Pac-10 teams. The average margin of victory: 16.7 PPG.
Team Stat Comparison
 
1st Downs1923
Total Yards342454
Passing250215
Rushing92239
Penalties7-762-15
3rd Down Conversions5-168-13
4th Down Conversions1-40-1
Turnovers21
Possession32:2927:31
Air/Ground Leaders
Oregon State Passing
 C/ATTYDSTDINT
Moevao25/4125002
Penn State Passing
 C/ATTYDSTDINT
Clark14/2321520
Devlin0/3000
Oregon State Rushing
 CARYDSTDLG
Rodgers2299213
Rodgers3904
Penn State Rushing
 CARYDSTDLG
Royster17141334
Clark561124
Oregon State Receiving
 RECYDSTDLG
Stroughter456021
Rodgers644018
Penn State Receiving
 RECYDSTDLG
Norwood8116126
Shuler348124
Scoring Summary
FIRST QUARTERORSTPSU
TD09:34Evan Royster 15 Yd Run (Kevin Kelly Kick) 07
TD05:04Mickey Shuler 5 Yd Pass From Daryll Clark (Kevin Kelly Kick) 014
SECOND QUARTERORSTPSU
TD14:41Evan Royster 28 Yd Run (Kevin Kelly Kick) 021
TD11:11Evan Royster 4 Yd Run (Kevin Kelly Kick) 028
TD05:55Jacquizz Rodgers 12 Yd Run (Justin Kahut Kick) 728
TD01:07Jordan Norwood 22 Yd Pass From Daryll Clark (Kevin Kelly Kick) 735
THIRD QUARTERORSTPSU
TD04:53Daryll Clark 18 Yd Run (Kevin Kelly Kick) 742
FG02:42Kevin Kelly 31 Yd 745
FOURTH QUARTERORSTPSU
TD10:20Jacquizz Rodgers 4 Yd Run (Justin Kahut Kick) 1445
Associated Press

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Another week of off-field drama couldn't slow down No. 19 Penn State.

The Nittany Lions shoved aside the distraction created by the suspension of two defensive starters, then rolled over Oregon State, 45-14 on Saturday.

Fast Facts

• Penn State has rushed for 572 yards and 11 touchdowns in their first two games (238 this week).

• Penn State has won seven straight home games vs. Pac-10 teams. The average margin of victory: 16.7 PPG.

• The Beavers fell to 0-2 vs. Big Ten teams and have been outscored 76-26.

-- ESPN Research

Evan Royster rushed for 141 yards and three touchdowns, Daryll Clark threw two TD passes and the Nittany Lions defense didn't miss a beat when it counted.

"We got to go out and focus on football," said Josh Gaines, a defensive end and team captain. Penn State has had to deal with a string of off-field concerns since April 2007.

"We got a good team here, great players. It showed today," Gaines said. "If we really want to get something done, we can get it done."

In surprisingly easy fashion, too.

What was supposed to be Penn State's toughest nonconference game of the year turned into a laugher early. Oregon State fell to 0-2 for the first time since 2004.

Clark looked poised in the pocket in his second career start, finishing 14-of-23 passing for 215 yards, while also running for an 18-yard score. Jordan Norwood finished with a career-high 116 receiving yards on eight catches, including a 22-yard touchdown reception.

Royster had 112 yards and all three of his touchdowns with 11-plus minutes left in the second quarter.

"We didn't tackle well. We didn't get off the field on third down," Oregon State cornerback Brandon Hughes said. "When that you happens, you can't win a game like that."

Mickey Shuler tiptoed the sideline in the end zone for an acrobatic 5-yard touchdown catch to give Penn State (2-0) a 14-0 lead before the Beavers sputtered on their next drive.

Gaines tackled tailback Ryan McCants for no gain, before fellow defensive end Aaron Maybin leveled the Beavers' Lyle Moevao just as the quarterback released the ball to force Oregon State to punt from their own 37.

That didn't go well either.

The snap to punter Johnny Hekker was wide. Hekker tried to run but was tackled by Penn State's Nate Stupar for a 9-yard loss.

Two plays later, Royster went off tackle for an easy 28-yard touchdown run to give Penn State a 21-0 lead with 14:41 left in the second quarter.

Three-plus minutes later, Royster got terrific lead blocks from receiver Brett Brackett and fullback Dan Lawlor to score easily from 4 yards out on a sweep for a 28-0 lead.

"Everything seemed to go well for us early, and it put them on their heels," coach Joe Paterno said.

By that time, the biggest concern for the giddy student section was whether they could twirl their white rally towels in the air in unison while cheering "We are ... Penn State!" They were headed for the exits by early in the fourth quarter, with the Nittany Lions up by 38.

It was Paterno's 374th career victory, temporarily putting him one ahead of Florida State's Bobby Bowden for most wins among major college coaches. The Seminoles were to play Western Carolina later Saturday.

Regardless, Saturday's win made Paterno feel good about his defense after the Hall of Fame coach didn't play pass-rushing end Maurice Evans or fellow starting defensive lineman Abe Koroma because of an unspecified off-field issue.

Paterno had initially said he would hold out a third player, Andrew Quarless, for the game for the same issue, but the second-string tight end did suit up Saturday. He took part in warmups, but did not play.

Paterno after the game didn't disclose why he changed his mind on Quarless, and said he wasn't sure about when Evans or Koroma would play next.

He was happy, though, with the guys who stepped up to fill the void.

"You got some good [assistant] coaches, and some good kids who realize there's an opportunity for them," Paterno said.

Oregon State had a few highlights, including Jacquizz Rodgers' 12-yard scoring run late in the second quarter, when the freshman broke three tackles up the middle and tumbled into the end zone. Rodgers added a fourth-quarter TD run and finished with 99 yards on 22 carries.

Moevao finished 25-of-41 for 250 yards and two interceptions.

College Football Scores

Other Scores:

Thursday, September 4th
24 South Carolina 17 Final
Vanderbilt 24
Saturday, September 6th
Central Michigan 17 Final
2 Georgia 56
Ohio 14 Final
3 Ohio State 26
Cincinnati 26 Final
4 Oklahoma 52
Miami (FL) 3 Final
5 Florida 26
Southeast Missouri State 3 Final
6 Missouri 52
Troy Postponed
7 LSU
8 West Virginia 3 Final
East Carolina 24
Southern Miss 13 Final
9 Auburn 27
10 Texas 42 Final
UTEP 13
Marshall 14 Final
11 Wisconsin 51
12 Texas Tech 35 Final
Nevada 19
Tulane 6 Final
13 Alabama 20
Louisiana Tech 0 Final
14 Kansas 29
15 Brigham Young 28 Final
Washington 27
Stanford 17 Final
15 Arizona State 41
17 South Florida 31 Final
UCF 24 OT
Utah State 24 Final
18 Oregon 66
Oregon State 14 Final
19 Penn State 45
Mississippi 28 Final
20 Wake Forest 30
UNLV 21 Final
22 Utah 42
Eastern Illinois 21 Final
24 Illinois 47