Well, the Nittany Lions bounced back — just like I said they would.
Penn State rebounded nicely from last week’s upset loss at Iowa, with
a 34-7 soggy win over Indiana on Saturday at Beaver Stadium.
In this week’s edition of Morelli OnLion, we will take a look back at
Penn State’s 10th win of the season, look ahead to the showdown with
Michigan State and have another edition of 10 Questions.
Let’s start with the Hoosiers.
Looking Back: Indiana
On a day when the offense and defense looked somewhat flat at the
start of the game, the Penn State special teams came to life and gave
the squad a much-needed jolt.
There were several big special teams plays in Saturday’s 34-7 win over
Indiana.
Where to begin?
* There was punter Jeremy Boone making a spectacular touchdown-saving
tackle along the IU sideline.
* Boone punted twice, averaging 51.5 yards per punt.
* Kicker Kevin Kelly hit a beautiful pooch punt that was downed at the
2-yard line.
* In not-so-ideal conditions, Kelly hit 2-of-3 field goals —
connecting from 32 and 36 yards out.
* Special teams whiz Nate Stupar partially blocked an IU punt.
Yes, it was a day to remember for the special teams. And it did not go
unnoticed by Penn State head coach Joe Paterno.
“I thought that was where the game was probably turned around,”
Paterno said. “Their kicking game really hurt them. I think ours
played very well.”
Penn State’s first big special teams play came early in the game.
After Boone boomed a 56-yard punt, Indiana’s Ray Fisher got past the
first wave of Penn State’s defense and scooted down the sideline.
Boone was the last man standing between Fisher and the end zone.
Boone went right for Fisher’s ankles and made the tackle.
“I saw a wall kinda get set up and I started moving all the way to the
left and he stopped. He got around (Tyrell) Sales and I was like ‘oh,
gosh.’ I was lucky that two guys missed me and I was able to get his
legs out,” Boone said of the tackle.
It was the first time in a long time that Boone had to make a tackle.
“It felt great, but I’m definitely feeling it right now,” Boone said
with a chuckle. “I hit him with my shoulder and my back. I felt fine,
but right now my back is a little stiff.”
After the Hoosiers went three-and-out, the Nittany Lions got the ball
back. However, their drive stalled at the Indiana 34-yard line. Penn
State lined up for a field goal, but Kelly took a direct snap and
pooched the ball. The punt took a nice hop and after snapper Andrew
Pitz flailed at the ball, Boone wound up downing it at the 2-yard
line.
“It felt pretty good. They usually look pretty ugly, just like that
one did,” Kelly said, describing the pooch. “The whole point is to get
the ball bouncing. It felt good, but you never know how it’s going to
bounce. Fortunately, it took a good bounce and Andrew and Jeremy were
able to get all the way down the field and stop it.”
Kelly said that the pooch punt is something that the Nittany Lions
don’t practice much, but they have it in their repetoire and dust it
off from time to time.
“Now, we do it once or twice a week. Earlier in the season, we did it
a little bit more. We gradually take it down since we know how to do
it now. We do practice every once and awhile,” Kelly said.
Another big special teams play came late in the first half. With IU
punting from their own 6-yard line, Stupar came free and partially
blocked a punt off the foot of Chris Hagerup. The ball would die at
the IU 20-yard line, and Penn State converted that into three points
just before the intermission.
The blocked punt is becoming one of Stupar’s specialties.
“I just work hard at it. Sometimes you get lucky,” Stupar said.
“Today, I just said, ‘hey, I’m gonna get this one.’ Eventually, you
do.”
Looking Ahead: Michigan State
While some of the so-called experts are expecting Penn State to roll
up Michigan State on Saturday, I’m not among them.
I think this will be a close game and the Spartans will give
everything they have as they try to grab the Big Ten title (they need
to win and Ohio State needs to lose to Michigan for the Spartans to
claim the crown.)
The reason for concern is running back Javon Ringer. He is extremely
tough to bring down and if he gets into to the Penn State secondary,
he’s gone. Penn State cannot start the way it did against Indiana.
With the Rose Bowl and the Big Ten title on the line. I like the Lions
in a squeaker.
Gantdaily.com prediction: Penn State 27, Michigan State 23.
10 Questions: Tony Davis
This week, gantnews.com sits down with cornerback Tony Davis.
GD: Three things always in your refrigerator?
TD: Chicken, Ranch dressing and barbecue sauce.
GD: Who would play you in a movie?
TD: Probably Deon Butler.
GD: XBox or PlayStation?
TD: PlayStation.
GD: The Last Book You Read?
TD: Zero Hour.
GD: Favorite All-Time Movie?
TD: Coming to America.
GD: If I didn’t go to Penn State, I would have gone to?
TD: Ohio State
GD: If not football, what sport?
TD: Track and field.
GD: Your ride?
TD: I drive a ’98 Malibu.
GD: Funniest or best thing Joe ever said to you?
TD: The funniest thing was when Joe slapped me in the helmet, shook my
facemask and ripped my helmet off. It was my freshman year and I was
talking on the sidelines. It really made me nervous.
GD: Favorite Penn State Moment?
TD: I would have to say when we won the Orange Bowl.
Chris Morelli is the award-winning editor of Blue White Illustrated, a
weekly publication devoted to Penn State athletics. He is also a
regular on “Front and Center,” which airs on ESPN Radio in Altoona and
State College. E-mail him at morellionlion@gmail.com.
