Nittany Lions cruise, trounce Oregon State 45-14

The 31 point spread was closer than it could have been. Penn State sat starting QB Daryll Clark and RB Evan Royster with 5 minutes left in the 3rd quarter and the senior WRs would play sparingly the rest of the way. Penn State (2-0) looked better than their #19 rank, scoring almost at will against an overmatched Pac-10 team.

The Nittany Lions jumped out to a 28-0 less than 19 minutes into the game. Royster scored the 1st, 3rd, and 4th Penn State TDs. Clark connect with TE Mickey Shuler for the 2nd. After the Beavers cut the score to 28-7, Clark hit senior WR Jordan Norwood for a 22 yard score. Norwwod would have a career game, racking up 8 catches for 116 yards and a TD. Clark's final drive was capped off when he breached the goalline on an intimidating 18 yard fight for the end zone.

There weren't too many negatives for the Nittany Lions during this rout. Perhaps the most dissapointing play was an injury. In the 4th quarter, DE/LB Jerome Hayes was injured during an Oregon State return. No word as of yet of the severity of the injury. Some believe that he may have suffered another knee injury, just like last season. Besides the Hayes injury, Royster also fumbled at the Beavers 1-yard line to start the 3rd quarter. The defense also looked shaky at times but made some big plays, such as Josh Hull's and Mark Rubin's INTs. The pass coverage and LB blitzes still need some work.

Overall the game went quite well for 19th ranked (and soon to be higher) Penn State football team. The Nittany Lions have two more OOC games before the Big ten season starts in Happy Valley versus Illinois. Penn State should march to easy victories at Syracuse (9/13) and in beaver Stadium against Temple (9/20).