Nittany Lions Cream
CORNHUSKERS
&
Put the Bulldogs on
a Leash
As my friends and I watched the game against
Nebraska, jumping through the air after every score,
we spontaneously started blurting out one-word
questions. “ Championship?” asked my one friend,
a die-hard Penn State fan since birth. “ Heisman?”
asked another friend, a huge fan of Penn State
Quarterback Zack Mills. “Pizza?” asked another friend, who does
n’t like football so much, but loves just about anything with pep
peroni and mushrooms on it.
We eventually decided to order some food. But deciding
whether the Nittany Lions are a championship-caliber team with
Heisman-worthy players proved to be more difficult than calling the
local pizza joint.
The reason for our debate? The Nittany Lions absolutely
crushed Nebraska 40-7 and proceeded to beat Louisiana Tech in a
49-17 rout the following week. Both games were solid all-around
performances that have the PSU faithful as excited as they’ve been
in two years.
The success has revolved around the versatile play of
Quarterback Zack Mills. Whether he’s running the option, throwing
deep, or taking the snap and running up the middle, the red-shirt jun
ior is making the big plays to give his team scoring opportunities.
True, he’s not putting up Heisman-like numbers, going an unspec
tacular 14-21 for 163 yards and a touchdown against Louisiana
Tech. He has, however, become the leader that PSU needed to get
off the ground.
Then there’s Marcus “all I do is score touchdowns”
Robinson. He’s become the offense’s most feared weapon, scoring
two touchdowns against the Comhuskers and three against La. Tech,
Penn State Coach Joe Patemo has used his freshman back-up QB
consistently in the red zone, often as the wingman for Mills’ option.
Robinson has run the ball only 13 times for 104 yards, yet is tied for
the team lead in touchdowns with 5. his solid sowings are proving
JoPa’s assessment that Marcus is too athletic to be kept on the
bench.
Rounding out the offense is Johnson, Johnson, and Johnson.
That is Larry, Tony, and Bryant Johnson. Running back Larry
“don’t call me grand ma-ma” Johnson has gained 374 yards rushing
with four TD’s, already eclipsing Penn State’s top rusher for last
year. Wide receivers Tony and Bryant Johnson are the two favorite
targets of Zack Mills and are always a threat to go deep.
The offense has resembled a well-oiled machine in the pre
vious two games, executing plays almost perfectly and not turning
the ball over once. The only thing scarier to opposing defenses is
perhaps the new Penn State Nittany Lion bobblehead doll. (Parents,
don’t buy this one for the kids, it will most likely give them night
mares).
The main obstacle for Penn State is that defense wins cham
pionships. Though they have shown a knack for getting the timely
turnover, allowing 367 yards per game will not get the job done,
even if your offense is averaging over 400. To their credit, they
have scored two touchdowns that were key turning points in the last
two games.
With nine games remaining, PSU will need to win a few
more times convincingly before being labeled a serious contender
for the national title. Upcoming away games at Ohio State,
Michigan, and Wisconsin, all ranked in the top 20, will prove if
they’re worthy. If they get past these games, the Lions will be
rewarded with mostly home games to finish the year.
By Pete strella
Assistant Layout Editor