The last time Penn State shut out an opponent in a season opener was 52 – 0 over Cincinatti in 1981. This year, Florida Internationals youth and inexperience lead the Nittany Lions to a 59 – 0 victory in front of a crowd of 107,689 at Beaver Stadium.
Penn State’s defense put a hurting on the young quarterback and his FIU squad, sacking him 7 times for 50 yards, forcing six fumbles of which the Lions recovered five, only allowing just 114 yards all game, one blocked field goal attempt in the second quarter and allowing only one conversion on 15 attempts for third downs. The FIU rushing attack was completely shut down finishing the game with negative three yards rushing and only 117 yards through the air. However, it wasn’t all good news for the Nittany Lions.
Starting quarterback Anthony Morelli completed 23 passes in 38 attempts for a total of 295 yards. However, he was sacked twice for 17 yard. After the game, Head Coach Joe Paterno said one of the sacks was unnecessary.
“I thought Anthony played well,” Paterno said. “He took the one…about nine-yard sack he didn’t have to take but that was the only one that got him.”
Penn State’s offense started off slow fumbling the ball back to FIU two times in the first quarter. However they picked up steam after the half with four touchdowns in the third quarter. In total they put the ball into the end zone five times on the ground and three times through the air and hit one of two field goal attempts.
Leading the team in yards was Jordan Norwood who totaled 92 yards receiving. Deon Butler had the longest reception for the Lions with a 37 yard pick-up; he finished the game with 66 total yards receiving.
Morelli also hooked up with Mickey Shuler for his first career pass reception and touchdown with the Nittany Lions.
“I thought someone was on my back. I was getting ready for the hit,” Schuler said. “I turned upfield and saw an endzone and I knew I was getting in.”
Shulers’ father, Mickey, caught his last career touchdown for Penn State against West Virginia on October 22, 1977.
Evan Royster led the team with 70 yards rushing, averaging 8.8 per attempt and his first career touchdown. Austin Scott accounted for 46 yards and ran the ball in twice for two touchdowns. Rodney Kinlaw and Nick Pincheck combined for the other two rushing touchdowns and also each fumbled the ball over to FIU.
The closet FIU came to scoring was on a __ field goal attempt late in the second quarter. Jared Odrick blocked the attempt for his first career field goal block. Odrick also recorded the second sack of his career.
Odrick said after the game that Paterno just wants them to play quick.
“That’s all he wants from us; play full speed, know our assignments and do what we do best,” he said.
Younger for FIU went 12 for 25 with his longest pass of the day at 22 yards finishing with a total of 117 yards in his first career start. He hooked up with Greg Ellingson for 37 yards; however he hooked up with L. Singleton for the long of the just one time for 22 yards.
Younger couldn’t get away from the Lion Defense finishing with -15 yards rushing with a 10 yard jaunt for his longest of the game. Julian Reams rushed for a total of 15 yards netting 11 and getting most of that on one rush of 12 yards.
“There are still a lot of things to improve upon, but today was a good start,” said Terrel Golden of the game.
Next up for the Lions are the Fighting Irish Sept. 7th, kickoff is at 6:00PM.
Other notable scores:
Appalachian State 34 #5 Michigan 32 – The first time in history a Division AA team defeated a ranked A team.
