Orange scheme backfires; No. 7 in the bag
By RICK WEBER
Daily Collegian Sports Writer
Penn State left its offensive game plan
in the hands of Syracuse's young
defense. The result was one of the most
impressive aerial displays in Penn State
football history.
The second-ranked Lions, given some
incredibly open passing lanes by a
stacked-up Orangemen defense, ex
ploded for 293 yards and four touch
downs passing and rolled to a 45-15 win
Saturday before a record Beaver
Stadium crowd on Homecoming.
The Lions, who went into the
traditional clash averaging 204 yards
rushing per game, had every intention of
establishing a ground attack. But when
Joe Paterno and his offensive coaches
saw eight Orangemen stacked around
the ball, the plan was quickly revised.
"They obviously went into the game
with the idea that they were going to stop
our running game," Paterno said. "We
tried to generate a running attack but we
really didn't have much of a chance to do
that the way they were playing. There
was no way to run. They stacked the line
of scrimmage with a lot of people.
"We like to have a balanced attack
we like to be able to run and throw the
football. But if they're going to overload
to stop the run and give you so much
room for the passing game, you almost
have to take it."
According to Coach Bob Phillips, who
is in charge of the quarterbacks and the
passing game, Syracuse's decision may
have paid dividends against some other
teams but not Penn State, which has a
receiving corps comparable to any in the
country. .
"They were trying to cover deep with
only three people, which is tough to do
against good receivers,': Phillips said.
"And some of their coverages weren't
real good. They have good people back
there, but they were in a scheme that
was designed to stop the run. We were
able to pick them apart. 'We probably
could have thrown on every down."
.Penn State didn't throw on every
down, but when it did, the result was
something to behold. Quarterback
Chuck Fusina was on target throughout
Grabs four passes for 112 yards
Fitzkee main man in air show
By DARLENE HROBAK
Daily Collegian Sports Writer
It was evident from the Lions' second play from scrimmage
in Saturday's 45-15 win over Syracuse it was to be a Scott
Fitzkee day.
Quarterback Chuck Fusina hit his senior split end with a 21-
yard touchdown pass only 2:05 into the football game, but that
was only the beginning. Fitzkee caught four passes for a total
ofll2 yards, including another touchdown.
"Scott played his usual game," Fusina said. "I feel bad for
the other receivers because I look to Scott maybe too much.
But when you have a great' receiver like him, you can't help
it."
Fu - sina teamed up with Fitzkee for an aerial attack that had
Syracuse defenders shaking their heads in confusion and had
trivia buffs looking for Fitzkee's name in the Penn State
career record books
Fitzkee's two touchdown catches Saturday tied him with Ted
Kwalick and Chuck Herd for the Penn State record of 10 and he
is now in third place on the all-time receiving yardage chart
with 1,089 yards, being only the sixth receiver in Lion history to
surpass 1,000 yards.
"I never think about it ( the records) when I'm playing,"
Fitzkee said. "I see it written somewhere or hear it from
someone andthen it's in my mind. But it's the furtherest thing
from my mind when I'm playing. .
"The only goal I have is that I want to do my best for the rest
of the team."
That he's certainly been doing. Fitzkee, who also takes care
of the punting duties, already has 27 receptions this year and is
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Scott Fitzkee was just a blur to Syracuse defenders Saturday. The senior split
' end was in top form, hauling in four Chuck Fusina passes for a total of 112 yards
and two touchdowns.
Collegian sports
the
daily
the game, completing 15 of 27 passes for
293 yards including passes of 65, 52, 48
and 21 yards. Fusina said it was not his
best passing effort this year, even
though he racked up the second highest
yardage total of his career.
"I thought I was sharper in the last
game, even though I did have four
touchdowns today," *Fusina said. "Our
receivers had some great catches. They
were more wide open because of
Syracuse's defense. I still don't think our
passing game is where we want it to be.
We still haven't had that perfect game, I
really don't know what a perfect game
would be, but I guess that's what we're
looking for."
Fusina got the Lions on the board two
minutes into the game with a perfect 21-
yard strike to Scott Fitzkee, who was
wide open in the left corner of the end
zone.
Fusina got his second touchdown pass
of the game on the 48-yard screen pass to
fullback Matt Suhey. This one, however,
was the work of Suhey and the offensive
line. On third and eight, Fusina faked a
pass to the left, rolled right, and dumped
the ball off to Suhey, who cut back
behind the blocks of guard Eric Cun
ningham and center Chuck Correa] and
raced down the right sideline for the
touchdown.
"It was a real nice call because
Syracuse was charging hard and
stunting the linebackers a lot," Correal
said. "The linebackers are the ones who
have to read the screen and get out there
for it. •
"We set up the pass protection just for
a second, then two offensive linemen
went out to one side. Then Eric and . I
went out the right side on a slower
screen and Matt got the pass. It opened
up real nice. Eric got rid of the first man
and I took out the second guy with a low
block."
Fusina got his third touchdown pass of
the first quarter after Syracuse had
narrowed the gap to 14-9. On third and 10
from the Syracuse nine, tailback Mike
Guman,made a diving catch of Fusina's .
aerial in the end zone.
The Lions got an unexpected touch
down one minute later when Mickey
averaging 16.9 yards per play and 65 yards per gaine. What
more could a coach ask for?
"Fitzkee has been great all year actually he's been great
for two years," coach Joe Paterno said. "Last year he was
excellent but we didn't get the ball to him enough because we
kind of got into a groove with Cefalo." ,
But Saturday Paterno and the Lions were in just the right
groove with Fitzkee. It became evident early that Syracuse's
game plan was to shut down Penn State's running game, so the
Lions went to the pass and their speedy split end.
Fusina threw touchdown passes to Fitzkee of 21 and 11
yards. Fitzkee's longest reception of the day came near the
close of the first quarter when he streakid past Syracuse
defensive halfback John Patterson for a 65-yard pass play.
That carried the ball to the 26-yard line and set up State's third
touchdown.
"I'm definitely spoiled by him ( Fusina )," Fitzkee said. "I
don't think there's a better quarterback around. He definitely
makes me look good. The receiver's supposed to catch the ball
if the quarterback puts it anywhere near him."
This year Fitzkee has extra motivation because it's his last
in the blue and white of the Nittany Lions.
"I definitely think this is the best year I've had since I've
been here," Fitzkee said. "I've been catching the ball more
and I've been learning so much more everything a receiver
should do. It's my last year and I really want to make it special
because I've been having such a great time here.
"And," he added, "it will be really nice if I do get any
records." .
Urquhart btirSt in from the left side and
blocked Jim Goodwill's punt into the end
zone where Matt Millen pounced on it. It
was unexpected because Penn State was
setting up a return and not really.trying
for a block.
"That was supposed to be 'a 'return,"
Millen said, "but Mickey got around the
end to block it. After he blocked it, it was
just sitting in the end zone so I was
trying to hit it on the, right angle. I
wanted to come in on it slow so I
wouldn't knock it away."
That play was just part of the superb
play Paterno got out of the kicking
teams. Other plays came from Mike
Guman, who returned a punt 37 yards,
and Bruck Clark, who - leapfrogged the
Syracuse line to block a second-quarter
field goal attempt.
"Those things are' all plusses,"
Paterno said. "If we hadn't gotten points
out of our. kicking game, it would have
been a much tougher game."
Tougher because of a couple of
mistakes one by the kickoff coverage
team which let Syracuse's Joe Morris
return a fumbled kickoff 83 yards to the
Penn State three yard-line, and the other
by Joel Coles, who futhbled at the Penn
State 18 on a kickoff return to begin the
second half.
- But the Lions were bailed out by a
tough defense that stiffened and forced
the Orangemen to kick field goals.
"I was pleased how well we played
defensively outside of a couple of great
passes and a couple of traps," Paterno
said. "Overall, we played a better
defensive game than I thought we could
play against them."
EXTRA POINTS: Syracuse became
the first team to score on Penn State in
the first quarter when kicker Dave
Jacobs made a 29-yard field goal. The
field goal also accounted for the first
points the Lion defense had allowed in 11
quarters dating back to the Southern
Methodist
. game . . . Linebacker Rick
Donaldson and defensive back Joe
Diminick were not 100 percent recovered
from their injuries and did not play.
Paterno said they would have played
had the Lions really needed them.'
Monk.• An orange with extra juice
By GARY SILVERS
Daily Collegian Sports Writer
Following the Lions' 45-15 romp over
the Orangemen Saturday, a touching
scene occurred in the Syracuse
lockerroom.
As running back Art Monk toweled off
outside the showers, he was approached
by a handicapped child who had waited
over a half an hour after the game to talk
to him in person.
.
"I just wanted to tell you how much I
enjoyed watching you today," the
youngster said. "You were out there
every play, weren't you?"
"It certainly looked that way didn't
it," Monk replied. "I just wish I could've
done a little better out there for you."
"You played good enough for me, Art.
How much more could you have done?"
The answer is simple nothing. Monk
does it all on a football field; he's an
absolute dream to a coach. In Saturday's
game alone he played five different
positions.
As a rusher, he gained 23 yards on 15
attempts. As a receiver, he caught four
passes for 34 yards. As a punt returner,
he flagged down two for 11 yards. As a
kickoff returner, he ran back five for 123
yards. He even had a chance at quar
terback, completing his only pass of the
afternoon for a five-yard gain.
"I used to play everything in high
school," Monk said, "so it's just a
matter of the team using me where they
think I can help."
, Lynn Lrudinsky*
Penn State quarterback Chuck Fusina dodged his share of the Penn State record for most yards passing by a
Syracuse defenders Saturday as he passed for 293 yards, , quarterback 315, set against North Carolina State last
the second highest game total of his career. Fusina holds year.
Record books take beating also
Records, records, and more records
That was the story at Beaver Stadium
Saturday in Penn State's 45-15 thrashing
of Syracuse. Trivia nuts had a field day
looking through the Penn State press
guide as players like Chuck Fusina and
Scott Fitzkee set new marks and made
.greet
records.
For starters, Fusina's 293 yards
passing was the second highest total in
Lion history. Fusina holds the record of
315 yards, set last year against North
Carolina State.
Fusina, who went into the game
holding or sharing 13 Penn State
records, added two more to his collec
tion. His four" - touchdowns passing tied
Penn State-Syracuse Statistics
TEAM STATISTICS
Penn Stale
First downs
Rushes-Yards
Passiqg Yardage
...sir 1,
Total 'ardage 445
Passesi att -comp -int I 29-15-1
Punts-Ave 7- tf o
Fumbles-Lost 2-1
Penalties-Yards 7.74
u=n
21-11144 15
11-3.3.11 15
First Quarter
Ss racuse
Penn State Filzkee 21 pass from Fusma
( Bahr kick)
Syracuse —Jacobs 29 field goal
Penn State M. Suhey 48 pass from Fusina
( Bahr kick I
Syracuse— Hartman 1 run (pass failed) '‘
Monk's strongest area, according to
the junior, is pass receiving. Last year
the running back caught 41 for 590 yards,
including 14 in a single game against
Pittsburgh. This year, however, with
quarterback Bill Hurley out of the
lineup, he's grabbed a total of just 15 in
seven games.
"When Hurley first left, everyone was
shocked," Monk said. "We couldn't keep
sulking because it wasn't gonna do us
any good. We just learned to work with
what we have.
"With Tim Wilson in the lineup things
are a lot different. The timing's
changed. When you're used to having
one quarterback do one thing and you're
forced to have it done another way, it's
pretty tough on the receivers. Still, with
proper execution, it shouldn't really
matter who's throwing the ball."
Despite the fact Wilson only hit his 30
percent average in the completion
department (six for 20), Syracuse coach
Frank Maloney did see some bright
spots Saturday afternoon.
"Wilson improved tremendously," he
said, much to the media's dismay. "He's
still a few light years away from being a
great quarterback, but I think he inn.-
proved a few light years today. We ran
some audibles for the first time all
season and he handled it rather well.
"He did get pretty flustered on some
occasions, however. All our time outs
were called because he called the wrong
formations. This is only his first year at
the game record set by Tom Sherman in
1967. The four TD's passing also tied the
stadium record set by Sherman and
Pittsburgh's John Hogan in 1972.
Fusina established the Penn State
career total offense
.touchdown record
with the 11-yard touchdown pass to
Fitzkee early in the third quarter. He
now has 39 career total offense touch
downs (35 passing and four rushing),
breaking the old record of 38 set by
Lydell Mitchell.
Fitzkee was not to be outdone by
Fusina. The senior split end from Red
Lion, Pa., moved into third place on
Penn State's all-time career receiving
yardage chart with 1,089 yards. He is
only the sixth Lion receiver to gain over
Penn State Guman 9 pass from Fusma i Bahr
kick)
Penn Stale Millen recovered blocked punt in
end zone i Bahr kick)
Syracuse—Jacobs 25 field gall
Penn State Bahr 50 field goal
Third Quarter
Syracusi Jacobs 33 field goal
Penn State Futzkee 11 pass from Fusina
( Bahr kick)
194
24 7 1
6 41
6-4
441
Fourth Quarter
Penn State M. Suhey 4 run (Bahr kick I
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Penn State Moore 13 for 37 yards; M. Suhey 7
for 34; Guman 10 for 25; Coles 4 for 19, Alguero 3
for 14; Torrey 6 for 12; McClelland 1 for 12; Fusina
3 for 0; Donovan 1 for -I.
Syracuse Ilartman 11 for 39 yards; Monk 15
quarterback, though, and it's a tough
little errand being sent out to face
Maryland and Penn State back-to
back."
The Orangemen had their hands full
all day long with Lion tackles Bruce
Clark and Matt Millen, who seem to be
proving week after week that humans
can be just as tough to run against as
concrete walls.
"Those two guys are for real," Monk
said. "They're definitely the best two
tackles I've ever played against. They
just work great together."
Good observation. Take the case of the
blocked field goal in the second quarter
when Clark leaped high into the air to
bat the ball down and teammate Millen
recovered almost instinctively.
"Whenever an outside guy blocks a
field goal, it means it's a great in
dividual play," Maloney said. "The snap
was good, the timing right ,and
( placekicker Dave) Jacobs was ready.
He's just an incredible football player
that Clark, a super athlete."
Modest too. Just take the case of the
blocked punt in that same quarter when
Clark allowed Millen to touch the ball in
'the end zone for a touchdown when he
could have easily touched it himself. But
when Clark heard footsteps behind him,
he thought the man charging in was
Mickey Urquhart, the one who blocked
the punt.
"He (Urquhart) deserved the touch,"
Clark said. "Then I saw it was Thun-
Second Quarter
onday. Oct. 23, 1978-12
1,000 yards on receptions and now ranks
eighth with 55 career receptions.
His two touchdown receptions
Saturday gave him 10 for his career,
tying the Penn State record held by All-
American Ted Kwalick and Chuck Heriliti
Matt Bahr also set a record a
personal one, ,at least. Bahr's 50-ya'rd
field goal at'the end of the'first half was
the longest of his career. ,
Saturday's attendance of 77,827
established a new Beaver Stadium
record, breaking the old record of 77,704*
for the Southern Methodist game this
year.
Finally, Penn State extended :its
winning streak to 15 games, longest of
the nation's major colleges. The LiQns
have scored in 135 consecutive games:
for 23; Wilson 16 for 22; Warner 2 for 22; Matichak
4 for 5. Morris 4 for 2.
Penn State Fusina 15 of 27 for 29.1 yards and
four touchdowns (one interception): Caporzoll It of
2 for 0.
Syracuse Wilson 6 of 20 for 76 yards lone
interception), Warner 0 of 3 for 0. Monk I of I for
Pass Receiving
Penn State Fitzkee 4 for 112 yards. Bassett 2
for 67; M. Suhey 2 for 49, Pankey 2 for 26, Guman (
2 for 22; Moore 2 for 14, Scovtll 1 for 3.
Syracuse Monk 4 for 34 yards, Williams 2 for
22; Jones 1 for 2,5,
Penn Slate Futzkee 6 for 36 2 average, Jones I
for 47 0 '
Syracuse —Goodwill 7 for 46 8 average, Team I
blocked.
dermouth (Millen). Afterwards, Ma#
came up to me and said, 'Thank you,
Bruce.' I told him he better thank me."
'Meanwhile, Maloney watched in
disgust. "We would have walked in at
halftime with a seven-point lead if: it
wasn't for the specialists today. You
have to be flawless when you play, a
great team like Penn State and we were
the farthest thing from it. We're very
inexperienced."
If that's the case, the upcoming Penn
State-Maryland game (November :40
ought to be a real classic. Both teams
are experienced, both are undefeated:(7-
0) and both have given Maloney
migraine headaches.
"On offense, Penn State's a better
football team than Maryland," Maloney
said. "They're stronger at quarterback
and have a much better passing attack.
The two teams' running games art
comparable.
"Defensively, both teams are solid. I
can't give an edge to either. Maryland
might hold a slight edge in kicking, but
all things considered it should be a great
'patch up."
Monk agrees. "Penn State will have kilt
warm-up game for them next week
(West Virginia), but the week after that
could very well decide their whole
season. I'll say one thing, though, if Penn
State continues to play the way they
have been, no team is gonna beat them;.
they'll be No. 1 for sure. All they have t6AI
do is keep winning."