PENN STATE RB Haynes worries Nittany Lions in matchup with Central Florida

Coach Joe Paterno wants his team to cut down on turnovers.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -- For a year now, the recipe for success against Penn State has been simple -- establish the run game, and you can beat the Nittany Lions.
Enter Alex Haynes, a 5-foot-10, 225-pound, power-running tailback who led Central Florida with 137 rushing yards last week against No. 7 West Virginia. UCF (0-2) visits Penn State (1-1) on Saturday (Noon, 43).
"He's a big guy -- I think he's going to be one of the biggest backs we face," Penn State defensive tackle Jay Alford said.
The Nittany Lions have seen Haynes before. Two years ago, the Golden Knights visited for Penn State's home opener -- and almost pulled off the upset, thanks largely to Haynes, who rushed for 83 yards and a touchdown in that game. Penn State led 27-9 in the fourth quarter when Haynes scored the first of two late touchdowns for the Golden Eagles, who pulled within 27-24 before time ran out on their upset bid.
UCF coach George O'Leary said he didn't look much at that game in preparing for Penn State, but the Nittany Lions haven't forgotten, and they know what they need to do to win.
"We've got to show everybody that we can stop the run," Alford said. "That would be the big priority."
Turnover problems
That, and holding onto the ball.
In a 21-7 loss last week at Boston College, quarterback Zack Mills was picked off four times, and fullback Paul Jefferson fumbled once.
"I think Penn State moved the ball very well against Boston College. I think it's very hard to overcome turnovers in Division I," O'Leary said. "That's really what was the downfall there as far as driving the ball down the field, and they just had some turnovers. You can't have that, especially when you're on the road."
It's a particular concern against a team like UCF, which has a positive turnover ratio in its two games so far, a statistic that Penn State coach Joe Paterno attributes to team speed.
"When you look at them, they scare you because of the fact that they do have tremendous potential," Paterno said. "There isn't any place they don't have speed."
Knowing that this is Penn State's last chance to tune up before the Big Ten season, Mills said he's taking personal responsibility for keeping the turnovers to a minimum.
"We have to protect the football," Mills said. "They're going to put us in some situations where we're going to have to make some plays -- they're going to blitz us -- so I have to do a better job of throwing the football. I can't make interceptions."