12 The Daily Collegian
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A glance at the games this week
Michigan at Indiana
12:20 p.m. EDT
The No. 10 Wolverines (5-1, 1-1
Big Ten) have had a week off to
ponder the four turnovers that
let Northwestern beat them and
knock them from the national
championship picture. They beat
the Wildcats in every statistical
category except the one that
matters. Tim Biakabutuka con
tinued his good season two weeks
ago, as his 205 yards versus
Northwestern raised his season
total to 690. Although the
Hoosiers (2-4, 0-3) have taken the
early lead in the worst-team-in
the-conference race, they may be
able to keep Biakabutuka from
fattening those numbers. Their
defense is allowing just 276.8
yards per game. But to find the
Hoosier struggles, don't look to
the defense. It's their offense
that has shown an amazing abili
ty to not gain yards.
The pick: Michigan, 31-6
Purdue at Ohio State
12:30 p.m. EDT (ESPN)
Ohio State returns to Colum
bus for the first time since Sept.
30, and the Horseshoe's probably
never looked better. In the last
two weeks, the No. 4 Buckeyes
(6-0, 2-0) have come from behind
in the second half to win two
games in environments as hostile
as any in college football: against
Wisconsin in Madison and here
against Penn State. In doing so,
they have established them
selves as the favorite for the
Rose Bowl and as one of the best
teams in the land. On offense,
tailback Eddie George has cap
tured some Heisman hype, and
rightfully so. He is fourth in the
nation with his 147.7 rushing
yards per game. But what about
Bobby Hoying? It's time the
quarterback gets his named men
tion as one of college football's
best. He is the second-highest
rated passer in the country. An
Purdue upset (2-3-1, 0-2-1) in this
game would be to hold the Buck
eyes under 50.
The pick: Ohio State, 56-23
Minn. at Michigan St.
1 p.m. EDT
I really thought the Spartans
would be lucky to win two games
this year. I really did. Sure, they
had a fresh start in new coach
Nick Saban, a talented quarter
back in Tony Banks and a strong
running game. But on paper, the
defense looked so bad Saban
asked the NCAA if they could
make a rule disallowing Spartan
opponents to pass unless they
yelled "We're going to pass"
while they were in the huddle.
The NCAA said no, and the Spar
tans (3-2-1, 1-1-1) have given up
424.8 yards per game. But they
have somehow won three games
and have a shot at a bowl bid.
Last week they beat Illinois in
Champaign, adding fuel the fire
being lit under Illini Coach Lou
Tepper's chair. The Golden
Gophers (3-2, 1-1) lost a tough
one to Northwestern last week,
and have also been surprising.
Their running game is generat
ing just under 200 yards per
game, and Coach Jim Wacker
will try to pound the ball down
the& throats.
The Pick: Minnesota, 26-17
Wisconsin at N'westem
12:30 p.m. EDT (espn2)
No. 11 Northwestern (5-1, 3-0)
is the fourth ranked team No. 24
Wisconsin (2-2-1, 1-1) has played
in its first six games, the other
three being Colorado, Penn State
and Ohio State. This should be a
real tight football game, with the
key being turnovers. Bold state
ment there, huh? Turnovers, the
key to a ball game? Wow, is he
ever smart. But seriously, that is
where this game will be deter
mined. Heading into this season,
the Badgers were 11-1 over the
last two years when quarterback
Darrell Bevell did not throw an
interception. In their two losses
this season he's thrown four. The
Wildcats have picked off seven
passes through six games, and
their +lO giveaway/takeaway
ratio is the fifth-best in the land.
That's the main reason Gary Bar
nett's troops are off to their best
start since 1962. But since '92,
Wisconsin is 5-1-1 against ranked
Big Ten teams, and their rush
defense will stuff Darnell Autry.
The pick: Wisconsin, 24-20
Idle: Illinois (3-3, 1-2)
Picks by Brad Young
Engram keeping
Lion drives alive
By ROB AMEN
Collegian Sports Writer
A stifling defense and heroics
from wide receiver Bobby Engram
helped Penn State pulled out a 26-
23 victory over Purdue last week.
Turning the ball over five times, it
was a game the Lions probably
should have lost.
In fact, without Engram, the
Lions could be in staring at a 2-4
record and no bowl hopes instead
of 4-2, 1-2 in the Big Ten, and New
Year's bowl hopes still alive.
But those bowl dreams are not
any easier to achieve this weekend
when the No. 19 Lions visit No. 18
lowa (5-0, 2-0) for a 3:30 p.m. kick
off tomorrow at Kinnick Stadium.
If the Lions hope to avoid anoth
er contest like last week, they will
have to learn to hold on to the foot
ball. And an easy way to do that is
throw it to Engram.
Despite two fumbles on punt
returns this season, Engram has
been the lone consistent offensive
threat for the Lions. True fresh
man Curtis Enis has also shoul
dered much of the work load on
offense, leading the team in rush
ing with 530 yards on 80 carries.
However, things will not come
easy against lowa. Despite being
Clint Holes trying
By MICHAEL SIGNORA
Collegian Sports Writer
Though • urrounded by nearly 100,000 fer
vent fanatics, the defensive back is all alone.
Isolation, solitude and separation are the
unwelcome companions, and when even one
slow stride means disaster, there's no place
to hide.
Nary a member of the Penn State sec
ondary has gone untouched, and the propen
sity to allow the big blast has caused dire
consequences.
For hero Clint Holes, preventing the
explosion tomorrow against lowa at Kinnick
Stadium is a primary objective.
"The main thing to stopping
passes is concentration," the redshirt junior
said. "You may think it's a running play and
all of a sudden the receiver gets a bit behind
you. That can be a problem and we just have
to stay focused"
The pass defense has struggled in 1995,
sitting ninth in the Big Ten.
Surrendering an average of 221.5 yards
per game, the Lions have managed only six
interceptions and allowed 11 touchdown
tosses.
Coach Joe Paterno acknowledges the
need to curtail enemy bombers and also
aims to end breakdowns on third down. The
boss believes his unit is rounding into
form with the team close to becoming
the potent defensive squad Penn State
has been striving for
"I thought we played a solid game
against Purdue," Paterno said. "The
same with Ohio State except for
three pass plays. They're going to
hit those on lots of people. I'm
comfortable with our defense. I
think it's getting better."
The same can be said of
Holes. Expected to provide
depth in the secondary when
the season commenced, the
sudden injury to senior Jason
Collins drastically altered
assignments
Called upon to take control at
the hero spot, the Spring Church,
Pa., native is now feeling comfort
able as the No. 1 man at the posi
tion.
After being thrust into action early at
Rutgers, ingratiating himself into the line
up took time
Joining three defensive backfield
starters and forming a cohesive unit can
not be developed overnight, but results are
starting to show.
"When Clint first got out there I think he
Sedrick Shaw rushes for some of his 1,000-
plus yards last season. The running back
may miss the game tomorrow.
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blown out the last two meetings
with Penn State, the Hawkeyes
enter tomorrow undefeated after
five games for the first time since
1986 and with one of the Big Ten's
toughest overall defenses.
Led by linebacker Bobby Diaco,
the Hawkeyes rank fourth in over ,
all defense while leading the con
ference in scoring defense (12.8
points per game).
"The lowa defense is strong and
tough," Lion Coach Joe Paterno
said. "They have some outstanding
personnel and it will be a chal
lenge."
That challenge will come from
Diaco. The 6-foot-2, 235 pound line:
backer leads the Hawkeyes with 62
tackles but the redshirt Diaco's
greatest game came last week
against Indiana when the redshirt
junior recorded 26 tackles 10
solo three tackles for losses,
forced and recovered a fumble and
broke up a pass.
"There's a lot of confidence on
this football team that we're capa
ble," Diaco said. "There's also a lot
of understanding that everyday we
have to work as hard as we can to
win football games.
"Our 5-0 record isn't going to
beat Penn State," he added. "We're
going to have to."
was a little nervous," cornerback Brian
Miller said.
"He's over that now and it makes a world
of difference. We know he's back there for
us and he's stepped it up."
This was apparent last weekend versus
Purdue.
As Boilermaker quarterback John Reeves
tried to squeeze the football to the tight end,
Holes read the play. Moving more quickly
than the intended target, the hero snagged
the poorly thrown ball, intercepting his first
pass of the season
An 11-yard return set up Penn State deep
in enemy territory.
lowa's Shaw may overcome injury to play
By ROB AMEN
Collegian Sports Writer
So far this season nothing has seemed to
slow down Sedrick Shaw. The redshirt junior
ranks fifth nationally with a 142.6-yards-per
game average and has amassed 713 yards on
131 attempts.
But a groin pull suffered against Michigan
State on Oct. 7 has forced Shaw to miss prac
tice this week and caused the Hawkeye tail
back to be questionable for tomorrow's
game with No. 19 Penn State.
Having Shaw miss the game may be the
best defense for the Nittany Lions (4-2, 1-2 in
the Big Ten). But more likely than not, Shaw
will play and that can only mean bad news
for the Lions.
"He's a really good running back," defen
sive lineman Brandon Noble said, "a scary
guy to have in the backfield. His offensive
line does a lot for him but he does things for
himself. He has good speed, good feet and
can hit the holes."
Shaw has benefited from hitting the holes
fast. He averages 5.4 yards per carry, lead-
.ays later, kicker Brett Conway's
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/
review
lowa cornerback Billy Coats tries to close in on Nittany Lion receiver Bobby Engram during their game last
season. Engram's clutch play may come in handy tomorrow.
In order to do that, Diaco said ball, and if it is not careful, the order to avoid turning the ball
that lowa has to be able to force same thing could happen again over, Richardson said the offensive
turnovers. tomorrow. line has to step up to the challenge
The Hawkeyes turnover margin Lion quarterback Wally Richard- at hand.
is +5, meaning they have forced son said lowa disguises its cover- "After three or four seconds and
and recovered five more turnovers ages and makes things look the nobody is open," Richardson said,
than their opponents. That is some- same so opposing offenses cannot "I need to throw the ball away. I
thing Penn State was very vulnera- tell what the defense is doing until just can't stand back there and hold
ble to last week, turning over the after they snap the ball. And in the ball."
to keep up with hero role
goal gave the Nittany Lions the lead.
"That's definitely a confidence booster
anytime you can pick one off," Holes said.
"It's what you hope to do back there because
an interception at the right time can really
swing the momentum "
Five turnovers put the defense in difficult
situations throughout the afternoon. Still, by
limiting a dangerous offense to 23 points, the
blue and white rose to the occasion, keeping
a season on the brink from tumbling over
the edge.
For Penn State to
continue the climb Al f
toward regaining A
ing a Hawkeye offense that's averaging 32.6
points per game. The Austin, Tx., native
became only the seventh lowa running back
to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season when
he tallied 1,002 yards last season and his 250
yards against Michigan State is second-best
all-time.
But No. 18 lowa (5-0, 2-0) can do more than
just run the ball .
Although the Hawkeyes rank first in the
Big Ten in rushing offense, they also rank
seventh in passing offense and third in scor
ing and total offense.
So Shaw is not the only weapon the Lion
defense will have to address. Redshirt
sophomore quarterback Matt Sherman took
over for Ryan Driscoll last season and has
flourished since. Sherman's record as a
starter is 7-0, leading lowa to its first 5-0
start since its 1986.
"lowa's an excellent football team," Lion
Coach Joe Paterno said. "They're sound with
outstanding personnel. The tailback is one of
the best in the country and the quarterback
has never started a game they lost."
But since Penn State joined the Big Ten,
Friday, Oct. 20, 1995
conference supremacy, lowa's rampaging
rushing threat Sedrick Shaw must be con
tained. Holes is keenly aware of the threat,
but is unwilling to disengage himself from
the primary responsibility
"Shaw's a great talent and we may have to
come up and stop him," he explained. "We'll
be ready to help, but we have to let the front
seven stop the run. Our biggest job is pass
defense."
Penn State is hoping dogged persistence
pays off, as the team once again aims to
shelf the opposing aerial attack. Chances
this week may be better than before, as
Holes rounds into form with his eye on
grounding the Hawkeyes.
=IR
the Lions have owned lowa. The Lions
embarrassed the Hawkeyes 31-0 at Kinnick
Stadium in 1993 before blowing them out at
home last season 63-21.
However, this time, lowa fields a different
team from those in the past. This Hawkeye
team possesses both a serious rushing and
passing attack while its total defense ranks
fourth in the conference.
"(Sherman)'s a drop-back passer, the kind
I prefer to play because he doesn't scramble
as much," Noble said. "He's definitely going
to make things a little tough because they
still have Driscoll."
Despite the depth at quarterback, Hawk
eye Coach Hayden Fry said a key for his
team will be to figure out the complicated
Lion defense.
He said it is difficult to figure out what
the Lions are doing because of the stunts,
"twist-ups" and coverages they run.
"They've played some coverages this year
that I've never seen before in college or pro
ball," Fry said. "From a balance standpoint
run and pass this will probably be the
most difficult preparation that Matt's had."