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Purdue opens Big Ten slate with visit from No. 6 Penn State

West Lafayette, IN (Sports Network) - The sixth-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions hit the road for just the second time this season, as they invade West Lafayette this weekend, for a Big Ten showdown with the Purdue Boilermakers.

Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions had their first conference test last week and passed with flying colors, knocking off Illinois in Happy Valley, 38-24. With the victory, Penn State moved to 5-0 on the season and solidified itself as one of the favorites to win the conference title. In commenting on winning the league opener, Paterno had this to say.

"I have been saying all along that I wouldn't know how good we were until we got into a tough football game; one with a little back and forth to it and that we couldn't do everything we wanted to. That is as important as the record because I think we can now play with a little more assurance."

Joe Tiller's Boilermakers are opening up their Big Ten slate a week later than everyone else. The team has split its first four games, alternating wins and losses. Most recently, Purdue dropped a 38-21 decision at Notre Dame.

This is just the 14th all-time meeting between these two teams, with Penn State holding a 9-3-1 advantage. The Nittany Lions have won three straight in the series.

The Nittany Lions were without one of their top offensive weapons against Illinois, as WR Jordan Norwood missed the game due to a hamstring injury. That didn't prevent the team from rolling up 497 yards of total offense. The team got a supreme effort from senior wideout Derrick Williams, who scored three times, one rushing the ball, one receiving and a third on a 94-yard kickoff return, while finishing the game with a career-high 241 all-purpose yards. It was a breakout game for Williams, who has not quite lived up to the hype lavished on him out of high school. Paterno was certainly pleased with Williams' effort.

"This is really the first chance that he has had to break out. In fact, I told him the other day that it's about time that he break out and have a real big game. He had a big day. He is a heck of an athlete and he is a heck of a competitor."

Of course, Williams wasn't the only one getting the job done. Tailback Evan Royster continued his assault on opposing defenses, rumbling for 139 yards, while QB Daryll Clark threw for 181 yards and two TDs, while rushing for 50 yards and another score.

It has been a balanced offensive effort that has paved the way for a whopping 49.8 ppg thus far. PSU is averaging a robust 515.2 yards of total offense, getting over 200 yards both on the ground (267.6) and through the air (247.6).

Royster has been outstanding, netting nearly eight yards per carry (7.8), while averaging 103.6 yards per game. He is also responsible for seven of the team's 19 rushing scores in the first five games. Clark has completed just over 63 percent of his passes on the year, for 896 yards, with nine TDs and just one INT. He has plenty of targets downfield, highlighted by Norwood (18 receptions, for 318 yards, four TDs), who is questionable for this week. Deon Butler (16 receptions, for 272 yards, two TDs) and Williams (14 receptions, for 188 yards, one TD) provide more than enough depth on the outside.

The Penn State defense received its toughest challenge to date from the Illini, but the numbers on the year remain impressive for this stop unit. PSU is allowing a mere 12.8 ppg thus far, on just 252.2 yards of total offense. In addition, this unit has allowed the opposition to convert just 27 percent of the time on third down.

Linebacker Navorro Bowman has played lights out this season and currently leads the team in tackles (45), with 5.5 TFLs, 3.0 sacks, one interception and two forced fumbles. The defensive line got a big shot in the arm with the return of All-Big Ten Maurice Evans last week. In Evans' absence though, fellow end Aaron Maybin has shined, recording team-highs in TFLs (8) and sacks (6) thus far.

Purdue and Notre Dame were tied 14-14 at the half, but the Boilermakers managed just seven points in the second stanza and fell to the Irish by 17. Quarterback Curtis Painter had a strong outing, completing 29-of-55 passes, for 359 yards and two TDs, while tailback Kory Sheets rushed for 87 yards and a score. Still, Purdue came out on the losing end.

One of the top signal-callers in Purdue history, Painter needs just 70 more yards passing to move into second place on the school's all-time list. He is currently leading an offensive unit that is putting up just over 400 yards of total offense, with 278.2 yards per game coming from his arm. Painter likes to distribute the ball all over the field in Coach Tiller's patented "spread offense." His top targets are Greg Orton (25 receptions, for 287 yards, one TD) and Desmond Tardy (23 receptions, for 366 yards, two TDs).

Defensively, Purdue doesn't have the same up-the-field, attacking style that Penn State does. The team is yielding a generous 26.2 ppg thus far, and has been extremely vulnerable to the run, getting gashed for 194.5 yards per game rushing on almost five yards per carry (4.9). In four games, the Boilermakers have recorded just 21 TFLs and seven sacks. They must find a way to make plays in the backfield this week, before Penn State can get into a groove offensively.

Middle linebacker Anthony Heygood has been the top defender to date for Purdue, leading the team in total tackles with 40. He also has one of the team's four INTs and has forced one fumble on the year. Sophomore LB Joe Holland is second on the team with 29 stops. Defensive tackle Mike Neal (12 tackles) paces the team in TFLs (4) and is tied with rush end Alex Magee for the sack lead with two.

10/1/2008 11:14:57 AM

 

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