EVANSTON—Northwestern continued it’s disappointing path to a no Bowl season while Joe Paterno joined another legend Eddie Robinson with 408 career Coaching wins. NU’s  defense was bad in the first half,and by the time they adjusted in the third quarter,so did Penn State,and the Nittany Lions won 34-24.This one started as if it would be as high scoring as the 54-50 Northwestern win over Michigan in 2000. Penn State’s Chaz Powell fumled the game’s opening kickoff and NU’s Jeravin Williams fell on it at the PSU 34. Seven plays later on a fourth down, Dan Persa’s quarterback sneak opened the scoring. This time Powell returned the kickoff 54 yards to the Wildcats 44,and after driving his team to the four yard line,Matt McGloin found Justin Brown for the game tying score. The Cats were then forced to punt after Persa was sacked twice and Brandon Williams kick was fair caught at the NU 45,from where McGloin hit a wide open Devon Smith in the front of the end zone. The Cats responded,going 87 yards in ten plays with Persa hitting backup QB Kain Colter with an 11 yard TD pass to tie the game 14-14 after one quarter. The second period saw PSU got 56 yards,but have to settle for a 37 yard field goal by Anthony Fera. The Wildcats started at their 25 and with Colter mostly at QB, he scrambled for a 46 yard gain to the Nittany Lions 7, Two plays later Colter ran off right tackle and scored to put Northwestern(2-5, 0-4) back in front 21-17.Penn State answered,but with a Fera 33 yard field goal to close to within 21-20.The Wildcats continued to move the ball on the PSU defense. On a third and long, Persa hit Jeremy Ebert with a 54 yard bomb to the PSU 15, the Nittanly Lions held and Jeff Budzien kicked a 25 yarder with :47 left in the half. But NU’s porous defense couldn’t stop Penn State(7-1, 4-0) as the Nittany Lions went 63 yards in 7 plays and Stephon Green bowled over from the one with :07 left as the visitors took a 27-24 lead into the locker room.

Northwestern started the third quarter and drove to the Penn State 18,but then disaster struck when Persa had a pass deflected and it was picked off by Gerald Hodges who returned it 63 yards to the NU 18,and on the next play,Silas Redd burst up the middle,untouched for a touchdown and the first two possession lead of the night 34-24 for PSU which is how the third quarter and the game ended as the fourth quarter was scoreless.

LES