Penn State loses conference opener to Minnesota

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -- Justin Fraley's timing was perfect.
Fraley intercepted Michael Robinson's pass on the Minnesota 36, and Marion Barber III gained 49 of his 134 rushing yards on the Golden Gophers' next possession, as No. 24 Minnesota held off Penn State 20-14 Saturday in the Big Ten opener for both teams.
Fraley's interception set up Minnesota's final scoring drive, which took 6 minutes, 17 seconds, and ended with Rhys Lloyd's 30-yard field goal, giving Minnesota (5-0) a 20-14 lead with 2:21 remaining.
"I know that the wide receiver has a landmark to get to. I just tried to get there first, and I did," Fraley said. "That felt like a momentum-changer."
Mills is injured
Michael Robinson, in after Zack Mills sprained his left knee, drove Penn State (2-3) to the Minnesota 15 with 25 seconds remaining, but overthrew Gerald Smith in the end zone on fourth down, turning the ball over and ending the game.
"I talked to them all week about preparing for this to come down to the last play, because that's how it was last time," Minnesota coach Glen Mason said. "We sort of knew it would be like this."
Mason and Minnesota have won three straight against Penn State, including two in Happy Valley. In the last meeting here, on Nov. 6, 1999, Minnesota upset then-No. 2 Penn State 24-23 on Dan Nystrom's last-second field goal.
After Penn State fell behind 14-0, Robinson engineered two touchdown drives in the second quarter, bringing the Nittany Lions to 17-14 on a 10-yard touchdown run with 2:04 remaining.
Officials huddle
After holding the Gophers to three-and-out, Penn State drove to the Minnesota 11, where Robinson's pass was tipped at the line with seven seconds remaining. The field judge first called the pass incomplete, but after the officials huddled it was ruled intercepted by Terrance Campbell. Replays showed the ball hitting the ground.
Nittany Lions coach Joe Paterno came onto the field to argue with officials after the call. At halftime, he ran out to an official at midfield to again challenge the call.
It's not the first time Paterno has had trouble with Big Ten officials. Last year, after a 42-35 overtime loss to Iowa, he raced across the field and grabbed an official by the shoulder to protest a controversial call. After a similar controversial call went against the Nittany Lions in an overtime loss at Michigan, Paterno called for a comprehensive review of Big Ten officiating.
Not as critical
But this time, Paterno was not as critical after the game, saying he didn't see the play and that there was little he could do anyway.
"I couldn't tell if it hit the ground or not. Everyone on our sideline thought it hit the ground and was not an interception," Paterno said. "I said [to the official], 'It bounced,' and he said, 'It didn't.' What else is there to say? I said, 'I think it bounced,' and he said, 'We don't think so.' "
It was Paterno's 600th game at Penn State, and his 444th as head coach. His 338 wins are the most in major college football.
Successful on-side kick
Minnesota started the game with a successful on-side kick, taking the ball at its own 47. Although the Gophers didn't score on that possession, they pinned Penn State deep in its own territory and started their next possession inside Penn State territory. Barber's 11-yard touchdown run gave Minnesota a 7-0 lead.
Laurence Maroney's 4-yard touchdown run capped a 12-play, 99-yard drive to make it 14-0 late in the first.
Austin Scott scored Penn State's first touchdown on a 1-yard option run.