Nittany Lion pass defense too soft for regimented Badger attack

By MICHAEL SIGNORA
Collegian Sports Writer

They had forgotten what it's like to lose. On Saturday, the Wisconsin Badgers provided a reminder.

Thanks in large part to quarterback Darrell Bevell's systematic dissection of the Penn State defense, the visitors were able to continually move the football down the field, en route to the 17-9 triumph at Beaver Stadium.

Bevell completed 18 of 22 passes for 192 yards with no interceptions, consistently connecting for key third-down completions. Of the 16 first downs Wisconsin picked up, 11 came via the air.

"They ran a lot of things to try and confuse us," cornerback Brian Miller said. "That's part of the game though. I think they saw what Rutgers did as far as a lot of crossing patterns and pick plays and they tried to do the same thing."

Short passes that turned into substantial production was a winning formula for the upset-minded Badgers. Bevell looked to tailback Carl McCullough out of the backfield often, as the redshirt sophomore made four receptions for 24 yards.

Flanker Michael London was a daunting presence, catching six passes and turning quick tosses into lengthy gains.

This style of passing offense thwarted the Lion defenders for the second consecutive week, as Rutgers tight end Marco Battaglia was frequently able to take five yard grabs 20 yards upfield. The Rutgers lightning attack scorched the defense, as the Scarlet Knights were able to throw for 347 yards.

"We're going to have to do something about it -- obviously," Coach Joe Paterno said. "We're not very good at it. Their timing was good and (Bevell) hung in there. He didn't panic and we were not able to get to him. It's a combination of things, really."

Great Wisconsin pass protection contributed to the porous Penn State defense, as the Lions were held without a sack for the first time this season. That allowed Bevell to get comfortable, and the result was one of his best performances as a Badger.

The quarterback directed his troops to 11 third-down conversions, constantly advancing for the necessary yardage and beyond. And when possession of the pigskin was at stake, he completed nine of 11 attempts.

"Everything they ran in terms of the passing game was to the outside of the field," defensive back Kim Herring said. "That prevented the safeties from getting breaks on the ball. They did what Rutgers did the week before. They rolled guys out into the flat and threw it to them all day."

On an afternoon in which everything went the way of the cheeseheads, Wisconsin became the first team to taste success in Happy Valley since the Lions lost to Michigan in 1993.

While the sweetness of success resounds in the hearts of the joyful Badgers, Penn State has sampled the bitter pill of defeat. It was a taste they would have rather lived without.