Offensive output not on Paterno’s mind

Against Iowa, the Penn State coach would prefer his squad not worry about points.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — No. 3 Penn State has had all the answers so far this season.

Can they get over their off-field problems?

Will the defense play well without injured linebacker Sean Lee?

Can the team win with injured Hall of Famer Joe Paterno coaching from the press box?

It’s been a resounding “yes” on all three fronts.

For good measure, though, add another query: How will the Spread HD offense bounce back from its lowest-scoring performance of the year?

After a week off, the unbeaten Nittany Lions (9-0, 5-0 Big Ten) go into today’s contest at Iowa hoping to build on their 13-6 win over Ohio State two weeks ago.

The key is to concentrate on playing well, not necessarily scoring a lot of points, quarterback Daryll Clark said.

“If we focus on trying to light up the scoreboard, I think we’ll get stuck,” said Clark, who is expected to start after suffering a mild concussion against the Buckeyes. “We’ll wind up setting ourselves back.”

Clark (Ursuline High) and the offense have lit up opposing defenses this season, including outbursts of at least 46 points in blowouts of Wisconsin and Michigan.

But the Nittany Lions pulled out an old-school victory against Ohio State, a slugfest that was decided only after the defense got a turnover that led to a 1-yard score for backup QB Pat Devlin midway through the fourth quarter.

Paterno isn’t concerned by Penn State’s offensive output against the Buckeyes. He said the tough Buckeyes defense and field position had much to do with the low score.

“You know, we won the game,” an agitated Paterno said after two straight questions at this week’s news conference about the offense.

“We played a good, tough football game against Ohio State and that’s the kind of game we are going to have to play against Iowa,” Paterno said. “Whether it takes 13 points, 20 points, 27 points, that’s neither here nor there.”

A lot of talk this week has also surrounded the BCS after Penn State was leapfrogged in the standings by Texas Tech. The Red Raiders are in the second spot following their upset over previously top-ranked Texas.

The Nittany Lions insist that their focus is on Iowa, which has the second-best defense (13.2 points per game) in the Big Ten behind Penn State (11.1). The Hawkeyes’ 100.7 rushing yards allowed average is also second behind the Nittany Lions (99.1).

“I don’t think we have anything to prove,” said tailback Evan Royster, who averages 107 yards a game. “I think we can come out and play against anybody, but it’s still going to be a real tough game this weekend.”

Before the Ohio State win, Penn State’s lowest point total of the year came at Purdue in a 20-6 win. They still average nearly 42 points and 226 rushing yards a game.

“Now, how the Iowa game is going to turn out, I don’t know,” Paterno said. “But if you think I’m looking back and saying, ’Well, gee, holy smokes, we didn’t score 50 points,’ you’re nuts.”