Penn State’s halftime stalemate against Illinois in Beaver Stadium on Saturday was the first Nittany Lion game that was scoreless in the first half since 1984 against Alabama.
The last game Penn State held an opponent to zero points was 19 games ago, in a 24-0 victory over Kent State on Sept. 18, 2011.
The last time Penn State didn’t score a point in a game was on Oct. 6, 2001, in a 20-0 loss to Michigan to 15th-ranked Michigan in Beaver Stadium.
That was 130 games ago.
Saturday, even though the snow stopped falling by halftime, was that kind of day. At least for a half.
FIRST QUARTER: Penn State 0, Illinois 0
Snow flurries were flying fast and the temperatures were near freezing when the game kicked off, with Penn State receiving the ball to start the contest. Snow was not accumulating on the field.
The Beaver Stadium stands were about three-quarters full — and only the student section was decked out in white (clothing). The only other white in the stadium were the empty steely white bleachers mostly in the upper southeast corner of the end zone.
Joe Paterno began the game in the coaches box high above the field and it is likely that is where he will spend the game.
To begin the game, the two offenses had a tough time getting started and the two teams traded punts. Matt McGloin started at quarterback for Penn State. Wide receiver Derek Moye, out the past two games with a broken bone in his foot, dressed and warmed up, but he began the game on the sideline wearing a blue knit hat.
McGloin completed his first two passes — to Devon Smith and Michael Zordich — but was short on a third-and-7 to a wide-open Justin Brown.
On a third-and-8 on Penn State’s next drive, McGloin couldn’t connect with Silas on a screen pass — the Lions’ Achilles heel in 2011 — and the Lions had to punt. Illinois took over at its own 32, to begin its second possession of the first quarter at the 8:51 mark.
Dark and dreary weather, quiet crowd, seemingly uninspired offenses.
Justin Brown has fielded two punts for Penn State. One bounced off his helmet, onto the ground, and recovered it. The second one he was a bit shaky on, but held on to give Penn State a first 10 on its own 38.
On a third and 7 from the 41, McGloin dropped back and patiently waited for Brown to cross the field to near the Penn State sideline, where Brown made a 21-yard reception. After a fake reverse to Devon Smith, McGloin then tried to hit Smith along the sideline, but it was incomplete. Silas Redd took over.
Redd, who entered the game with four straight 100-yard games, ran for 13 yards in the middle of the field. McGloin tried to connect with Curtis Drake in the end zone, but Drake had to turn and then caught the ball out of bounds.
Redd came out of the game — stingers again? — and the Lions gave the ball to Brandon Beachum, who lost a yard. McGloin was nearly intercepted on an attempt to Brown. That set up fourth down from the 26.
Anthony Fera came in and missed a 43-yard field goal attempt, kicking into the south end with little wind. He missed. That was Fera’s first miss since a 52-yarder against Indiana. Since then, he had made nine straight field goals. The longest FG in that time was from 40 yards.
On a 1 and 10 from the Penn State 37, Redd ran up the middle and fumbled the ball, and Illinois recovered. It was his second fumble of the year.
Illinois took over at the PSU 37-yard line. On the very first play, PSU safety Drew Astorino made a big tackle, dropping Illinois’ receiver Darius Millines for a six-yard loss. On third down, Gerald Hodges dropped QB Nathan Scheelhaase for an eight-yard loss.
Illinois punted, and Penn State took over at its own 17, but failed to move the ball. Again.
A 33-yard punt by Fera — having a bad day — gave Illinois the ball on its own 44.
Illinois couldn’t move the ball — still, as in Devon Still. Still sacked Scheelhasse for nine yards. It was apprpriate way to end the first quarter: Illinois had just 12 yards rushing and minus four yards overall.
McGloin was having trouble finding his mark for Penn State, connecting on just 4 of 12 passes for 33 yards. Redd had 30 yards rushing.
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SECOND QUARTER: Penn State 0, Illinois 0
After a stout first quarter, in which the Nittany Lion defense held Illinois to minus four yards of offense, the Lion D did more of the same in the second quarter, thanks especially to the linebacker play of Gerald Hodges, Nate Stupar and Glenn Carson.
Defense Sean Stanley added a fumble recovery and an interception of his own — the pick coming on the end of a botched field goal try by the Illini in the final minute of the half.
Meanwhile, fumbles — and a poor performance by quarterback Rob Bolden in the pocket — almost spelled doom for the Nittany Lions.
As it turned out, even though Halloween is just about here, all of the boos In Beaver Stadium — and there were plenty — were for reserved Bolden.
To start the second quarter, Brown almost delivered his own trick, fumbling his second punt return of the day. But luckily for the Lions, they recovered the loose ball.
Bolden — who started the second quarter for PSU after McGloin started the game — was lucky, too. He fumbled once and the ball flew five yards forward, only to be recovered by Lion lineman D’Ontae Pannell.
Bolden was plagued by passing problems, continually getting slammed by rushing Illini D-linemen after holding the ball too long. Each time, he barely squeezed the ball out, as it flew in all directions. He misfired on his first three passes. Brown saved him on the third attempt, keeping the Illini from intercepting the ball thanks to a pass interference call.
Redd was the only reliable option for the Penn State offense, gaining 48 yards for 10 yards.
At the 6:40 mark of the second quarter, Illinois got its initial first down of the game on a 15-yard run by Scheelhaase. One play later, Scheelhaase scrambled 14 yards to the left and into the open field. He was tackled low by Lion CB D’Anton Lynn. Safety Nick Sukay came flying from midfield and banged Scheelhaase in the helmet. The Illini QB fumbled, and Stanley recovered.
Bolden led the Penn State offense back onto the field, his third drive of the day. On a third and 8 from the PSU 43, Bolden took a three-step drop, fired and — had his pass tipped. Penn State punted. Fera has punted six times for 205 yards — a 34.2 yard average.
After a four-and-out by the Illinois offense, Penn State forced Illinois to punt. Reilly O’Toole was in at QB, replacing Scheelhaase, still feeling the effects of the hit by Sukay.
Penn State’s No. 2 QB of its own, Bolden, came back in the game — to a chorus of boos.
Taking over at its own 16, Penn State was whistled for five players in the backfield. Illinois declined the penalty. On the next play, Redd ripped off an 18-yard run.
Then Bolden went back into ‘action.’ He faked an inside hand-off to Stephfon Green, and fumbled the ball. Illinois recovered.
The Illini took over at the 25 and drove for what it looked to be a touchdown run by Jason Ford. But Illinois FB Jay Prosch was called for a motion penalty. That set up a 33-yard field goal attempt. But the snap was Illinois long snapper Zak Pedersen was fumbled by holder Tim Russell.
Russell scooped up the ball, and threw downfield. Penn State’s Sean Stanley intercepted to halt the drive — and keep the score 0-0.
With less than one minute left in the half, McGloin came back into the game.
Halftime Statistics
Hodges led the Lion defense with 10 tackles. Sean has recovered a fumble to go along with his interception. Astorino has two tackles for losses, and Jordan Hill has five tackles.
Redd has 74 yards in 15 carries. He has 943 yards in 2011.
McGloin is 4 of 13 for 33 yards, while Bolden is 0 of 4 with a fumble.
For Illinois, O’Toole is 3 of 4 for 26 yards, Russell the holder is 0 for 1 with an interception and Scheelhaase is 3 of 6 for minus four yards.
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