ksquared,
You need to relax more - find someone to do that work for ya. That's why God invented teenagers. ;)
Here's the PSU scoop:
Scott shines in first start to lift Nittany Lions over Kent State
By Heather A. Dinich
hdinich@centredaily.com
UNIVERSITY PARK - Penn State coach Joe Paterno is leery of starting true freshmen, especially at the expense of a fifth-year senior. This season, he might not have that luxury.
Paterno started true freshman Austin Scott in place of fifth-year senior Ricky Upton on Saturday and Scott thanked him for it with a career-high 100 yards and three touchdowns in Penn State's 32-10 win over Kent State (2-2, 1-0 Mid-American Conference).
The Nittany Lions improved to 2-2 heading into next Saturday's Big Ten opener against Minnesota, but Paterno said his team might not be ready for the Golden Gophers.
"I like this team and I think they have a chance to be a good football team," he said. "Whether we are good enough to compete in the Big Ten right away, I don't know, but I think eventually it's going to be a good football team."
Prior to Saturday, no Penn State tailback had carried the ball more than 12 times in a game. Scott had a game-high 21 carries and Upton didn't touch the ball until the fourth quarter. Upton has been listed as the starting tailback for all four games, but the job has been shared by several players, including freshman Tony Hunt and backup quarterback Michael Robinson.
"I played Scott more because I think he's ready to play more," Paterno said. "The only thing I feel bad about is we may be bypassing Upton. Every time Upton's been in there, he's done a heck of a job. I thought Upton, he looked quicker today."
Despite his decision to start Scott, Paterno remained adamant that freshmen aren't allowed to talk to the media. Instead, Scott talked to the sports information office.
"I got a chance to get into the game and get a feel," Scott said. "I was looser out there instead of nervous and timid.
"It takes a while to feel comfortable, but I would say around the end of the second quarter, I started feeling better and got a good rhythm," he said. "Being out there for more plays and having more runs helps a lot."
Penn State rushed for a season-high 282 yards and held Kent State to 79. It was the fourth consecutive game, though, the Nittany Lions went three-and-out on their first drive.
Penn State fell behind early in the first quarter when Calvin Lowry fumbled a punt that was recovered by the Golden Flashes' Elijah Brooks in the end zone for a touchdown. Kent State's Travis Mayle increased the lead to 10-0 on the second drive with a 25-yard field goal.
Penn State responded with a 17-play, 80-yard drive that took 7 minutes, 15 seconds and ended in a 1-yard touchdown run by Scott. The Nittany Lions made five third-down conversions on the drive and it was the first time this season they scored in the first quarter.
"I think that was a positive you can take from this game," Penn State junior quarterback Zack Mills said of the scoring drive. "It was good to have a drive that went over nine or 10 plays. Our third-down conversions were also a positive."
Penn State converted 11-of-18 third downs and finished with 26 first downs, compared to Kent State's 11. The Golden Flashes went through three quarterbacks, as starter Josh Cribbs left the game on the third play of the game with an ankle injury and backup quarterback Antwan Smith left the game with a shoulder injury. Third-string quarterback Darryl Polk led Kent State by completing 6-of-14 passes for 53 yards. David Alston was the team's leading rusher with 49 yards on 12 carries.
"You never want to lose your starting quarterback during a game, especially early," Kent State coach Dean Pees said. "It had an impact losing Josh, but they both did admirable jobs for us."
Paterno also switched quarterbacks, and said after the game he's going to give Robinson more playing time behind center and less as a halfback. Neither Robinson or Mills, though, were able to find a rhythm.
It didn't help that their receivers combined to drop six balls. Their inconsistency prompted Paterno to convert Maurice Humphrey from a cornerback to a wide receiver late last week.
Humphrey quickly made the transition and finished as the team's leading receiver with three catches for 37 yards.
"We have to get some people who can make some plays," Paterno said. "We haven't really made a lot of plays with the passing game and I think we have to get to where we get some people who can do it. You can't win in this league unless you have some people who make a couple of plays."
Mills completed 10-of-20 passes for 99 yards and Robinson was 2-of-9 for 29 yards.
Penn State junior Robbie Gould tied the game at 10 with a 38-yard field goal in the second quarter. Penn State went to the locker room with a 17-10 lead after fullback Sean McHugh scored on a 10-yard run.
Scott sealed the win with two touchdowns in the third quarter. Scott, who rushed for a state-record 3,853 yards and 53 touchdowns last year as a senior at Parkland High School, now feels comfortable with the offense.
"At first I was out there and they would call a play and there would be so many plays frambling around in my head," he said. "It made it harder. But, I'm definitely more comfortable with the offense now and can focus on what I need to do on each play.
Frambling? LOL!
AI
