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Football: Penn State running game is stepping up

Football: Penn State running game is stepping up

Check out the Big Ten statistics through three games and there is one surprising number: Penn State is third in the conference in rushing offense, with 207.7 yards per game. For a team with four first-year starters on the offensive line, this is a pleasant development for offensive coordinator Galen Hall.

Penn State rushed for 389 yards Saturday against Youngstown State, the most in a game in four years. The previous time the Nittany Lions ran for more was the final regular-season game in 2002, when they compiled 390 against Michigan State, of which 279 came from Larry Johnson in a little more than a half's work.

Saturday's ground assault came against a decidedly weaker opponent, so it's difficult to determine exactly where the Penn State rushing game stands at this point. Youngstown State plays in Division I-AA and could not stand up to the bigger and stronger Penn State front line.

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But this was the third consecutive game that the running game improved. After a weak first outing against Akron, when Penn State backs rushed for 76 yards on 27 attempts (2.8 average), the Lions were solid at Notre Dame (158 yards) before the breakout performance against Youngstown State.

Granted, 62 percent of this season's rushing yards came against Youngstown State, which is about the 10th best football team in the state of Ohio. The best team in Ohio, and perhaps the country, awaits Penn State Saturday, at which time the Lions will receive a better indication of how good the running game is.

Penn State travels to No. 1 Ohio State Saturday in Columbus. The Buckeyes, after some trouble stopping the run in their first two games, shut down Cincinnati's run game. They held the Bearcats to 11 yards on 22 carries. Ohio State is giving up 106.3 yards per game on the ground (eighth in Big Ten) and yielding 293.7 yards per game (sixth in the league).

"They have a great front seven [on defense]," Penn State center A.Q. Shipley said. "We know they're going to be very active."

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Shipley is one of the four first-year starters on the offensive line. Penn State coach Joe Paterno expressed great concern over their progress during preseason camp, but their play has improved steadily since the opener against Akron, a performance Paterno ripped, saying the line "got their ears kicked in."

On Saturday, senior running back Tony Hunt ran for 143 yards, his first 100-yard game of the season and the eighth of his career. Hunt had gained just 110 yards in the first two games.

"We're getting better every week," Hunt said. "Right off the bat the line did a good job of pushing guys off the ball. We went out there and established the run early."

"It's great," quarterback Anthony Morelli said of the resurgent running game. "They were sitting back in coverage and didn't want to get beat deep. That's why Tony is back there. He's a great running back and is there to make great plays."

The other ballcarriers ran well, too. Backup running back Rodney Kinlaw had 86 yards on six carries, receiver Derrick Williams had 56 yards on nine carries, mostly from tailback, and freshman receiver A.J. Wallace had 76 yards on a reverse.

"The offensive line continues to open up holes for us to run through," Kinlaw said. "They're opening big holes."

Shipley said the improvement of the four new offensive line starters is a direct result of game experience.

"It definitely gives us great confidence to put up almost 400 yards rushing," Shipley said. "Tony is starting to get confidence in us. As an O-line we're starting to get confidence.

"I just think we needed a little game experience with each other. When you play with new faces week in and week out, it's different. We kept the same lineup for most of the game. We're starting to get a feel for each other."

Three weeks ago, Penn State's passing game was perceived to be the strength of the offense. Anthony Morelli threw for three touchdowns in his first career start. Penn State's receivers are considered to be among the best groups in the country.

But since the first half of the Akron game, there has been little to write home about in the passing game. Morelli has one touchdown pass in the past two games, a meaningless 2-yard toss to Deon Butler late in the blowout loss to Notre Dame Sept. 9. The passing game looked especially out of sync Saturday against Youngstown State, Morelli completing just 11 of 27 passes for 154 yards.

It now appears the running game must excel if the Lions are to have any hope of an upset at Ohio State. It has come a long way in three weeks, but can it do the job against the No. 1 team in the nation?

"We still have work to do," tackle Levi Brown said. "Every week you try to get better. You don't want to be peaking at the beginning of the season. You don't want to peak early and then taper off. We definitely do have work to do. But I'm very comfortable that we'll go out and compete at O-State and get the job done."

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What: Penn State (2-1) at Ohio State (3-0).

Where: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

When: 3:30 p.m. Saturday

TV/Radio: WTAE/WEAE-AM (1250)

First Published: September 18, 2006, 4:00 a.m.

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