No. 13 PSU gets lift from big plays, 3rd-down success

October 19, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — From an off-balance catch in the end zone to a fourth-down tackle at the goal line, Penn State came through in the clutch.

The Nittany Lions are back on track three weeks after a crushing loss to Iowa, using big plays to keep pace in the Big Ten race.

“They said I had big stuff on my plate, so I took it and ate it,” said cornerback A.J. Wallace, who combined with Navorro Bowman to stuff Minnesota on a fourth-and-goal from the 1 in Penn State’s 20-0 victory Saturday. “It gives you a confidence boost, but you can’t hold on to it too long.”

Not with a trip to Michigan coming up next, anyway, where Penn State hasn’t won since 1996.

For one day, though, the Nittany Lions (6-1, 2-1) can take pleasure with a three-game winning streak and a victory over the Gophers. Penn State moved up one spot in this week’s AP Top 25 poll to No. 13.

The hapless Gophers were the latest offense to feel the pressure from the Nittany Lions D, which put on its most complete performance of the season.

Minnesota had the ball for just 18 minutes and gained a season-low 138 yards. They ran only 40 plays, the fewest by a Penn State opponent since at least 1977.

Bowman and Wallace dished out hits on the plays that Minnesota did manage to get off.

A top recruit coming out of high school, Wallace is finally living up to some of the hype in his senior year in Happy Valley. He answered the coaching staff’s challenge to contain Eric Decker, Minnesota’s career leader in receiving yardage.

“(Wallace) rooms with me now and we’ve been talking this whole week,” Bowman said. “I tell him, ’You have to step up to the plate.”’

It’s exactly what Bowman has been doing since returning to the lineup in Week 4 from a sore right groin. The injury is no longer a concern, as evidenced by his explosive burst that allows him to get into the backfield to take down opposing running backs.

He should only get better with fellow top linebacker Sean Lee easing back into the lineup after missing the previous three games with a sprained left knee.

Lee played mostly on passing downs, joining with Bowman in helping to hold Minnesota to just 3 of 11 on third-down conversions.

Penn State converted 11 of 17 times on third down, continuing a season-long trend of success in the clutch. They were a Big Ten-best 55 percent on third down coming into Saturday’s contest.

The third-quarter drive that finished with Daryll Clark’s 1-yard touchdown plunge epitomized Penn State’s day. Two straight illegal procedure penalties pushed Penn State to third-and-12 on its 13 before Clark hit Chaz Powell for a 15-yard gain.

Later, Evan Royster had a 23-yard run to the Minnesota 36 — one of the Nittany Lions’ season-high eight plays for at least 20 yards.

Clark hit tight end Mickey Shuler on another third down before finding receiver Graham Zug for a 20-yard pass. Clark scored two plays later for a 20-0 lead late in the third.

The Gophers (4-3, 2-2) are worst in the Big Ten in stopping opponents’ third-down conversions at 48 percent.

“Our guys made a lot of plays today, but it’s the third downs that are the ones that continue to bite us,” said Minnesota coach Tim Brewster. “We just have to continue to emphasize and continue to work on third down.”

Penn State’s Derek Moye chipped in with his own big third-down catch, turning to his right at the last second to snare Clark’s pass for a 25-yard gain on third-and-10 in the first quarter. It was one of several athletic plays by Moye, including the toe-dragging reception at the side of the end zone that was ruled a touchdown after a replay review.

With Moye’s quickness and lean, 6-foot-5 frame, it’s easy to see why Clark looks for him for big plays.

“We were in some tight situations ... and he used his height to go up and make some big catches for us,” Clark said. “It is vital that we have a player like him on the team.”