Royster helps Penn State roll over Michigan

Associated Press

STATE COLLEGE, Pa.

Penn State found the perfect foe to perk up its so-so offense.

Evan Royster ran for 150 yards and two touchdowns, Matt McGloin threw for 250 yards and a score and the Nittany Lions staved off a second-half Michigan rally led by dual-threat quarterback Denard Robinson for a 41-31 win Saturday night.

Royster had 99 yards and two scores in the first half alone against the Wolverines’ porous defense — the worst unit in the Big Ten. An offensive line maligned all season for a choppy running game opened up holes for the senior tailback, who also broke the school career rushing record of 3,398 previously held by Hall of Famer Curt Warner.

After a two-game slide, things are looking up again in Happy Valley after the Nittany Lions (5-3, 2-2 Big Ten) won their second straight and got iconic coach Joe Paterno his 399th career victory.

They’re fretting again in Ann Arbor after a third straight loss for the Wolverines (5-3, 1-3) following a 5-0 start. Michigan fans were hoping Saturday would be the night the Wolverines would get a sixth win and become bowl eligible for the first time in coach Rich Rodriguez’s three-year tenure.

Instead, he’s back on the coaching hot seat. Again.

Robinson was a virtual one-man gang, running for 191 yards and three scores on 27 carries, while throwing for 190 and a score. An open week helped the dual-threat star recover from right shoulder and left knee injuries. He sure looked like a handful after his 32-yard rushing touchdown with 4:01 left in the first tied the score at 7-7.

Down by 21 for much of the second half, Robinson did his best to spark the Wolverines, including a 60-yard touchdown pass to wide-open tight end Kevin Kroger and a 1-yard touchdown plunge on his own in the third quarter.

Robinson’s 4-yard scoring run — his third of the night — got Michigan within 38-31 with 9:25 to go and left most of the 108,000-plus fans at Beaver Stadium nervous in their seats.