Monday, Oct. 13, 1997
Back on top
Lions regain No. 1 spot after 31-27 thriller over Buckeyes, Florida upset
By ANDREW KREBSCollegian Sports Writer
As the final seconds ticked off the clock, Curtis Enis broke into a run -- arms spread wide and a giant smile on his face.
Nittany Lion defensive end Chris Snyder celebrates after sacking Ohio State quarterback Joe Germaine. The Lions beat the Buckeyes 31-27 Saturday at Beaver Stadium. (Collegian Photo / David S. Spence - click for full size image)
The Nittany Lions (5-0) came from behind despite Ohio State backup
quarterback Joe Germaine's 378-yard passing effort against the
bend-but-don't-break Penn State secondary.
The Lions came from behind, despite the 302 combined receiving
yards of Ohio State's David Boston and Dee Miller.
The Lions came from behind despite a shaky performance from the
Big Ten's top quarterback, Mike McQueary, who completed just 14
of 30 passes for 129 yards and a touchdown.
Nonetheless, the Lions did come from behind and hours after the
fact, the win took on added significance.
More than a thousand miles to the south, No. 14 Louisiana State
surprised No. 1 Florida 28-21 in the stadium affectionately known
as Death Valley.
The Gators' loss in Death Valley meant the come-from-behind Lions from Happy Valley were the new No. 1 team in the nation.
Penn State tailback Curtis Enis accelerates past Ohio State defensive end Tony Eisenhard for a big gain. The Nittany Lions defeated the Buckeyes 31-27 Saturday afternoon at Beaver Stadium. (Collegian Photo / Kurt Redeker - click for full size image)
"When we looked at each other in that huddle, we said, 'We
worked too hard this summer,' " Enis said with tears rolling
down his face. "All the things we went through -- we got
embarrassed last year by them. We weren't going to let that happen
in our place."
And so it began.
On the first play of the drive, Enis rushed for nine yards. On
the second play, he ran for another seven. On the third play,
McQueary connected with wide receiver Joe Jurevicius for a 13-yard
gain.
Then, on first-and-10 from the Penn State 49-yard line, fullback Aaron Harris took the handoff.
A member of the Penn State Blue Band celebrates the Nittany Lions' 31-27 victory over Ohio State. (Collegian Photo / Michael L. Palmieri - click for full size image)
Harris took the ball toward the corner and 51 yards after the
play began, he crossed the goal line. The largest crowd in Beaver
Stadium history went clinically insane.
After Travis Forney's extra point, the Lions still trailed 27-24,
but the momentum had shifted.
"Obviously, Harris' run really sparked us, but you could
see in their faces they thought they could get it done,"
said Penn State Coach Joe Paterno. "Mike was a guy who probably
struggled the most and he just sucked it up and said, 'We've got
to get it done.' "
Germaine, facing a third-and-20 situation on the Buckeyes' next
possession, hit Boston 10 yards down the field near the left sideline.
Boston slipped Lion cornerback Shino Prater's tackle and sprinted
toward the first down marker. Left tackle Matt Fornadel, though,
made a stellar open field stop three yards from a first down.
Ohio State had to punt.
The drum majors from the Penn State and Ohio State bands exchange gifts as the pregame pep rally in the Bryce Jordan Center. (Collegian Photo / Kurt Redeker - click for full size image)
"I knew the play we ran was a good play," Enis said.
"The safety was out of position and it was just a straight
shot. I wasn't going to try and juke or jive anybody."
Penn State led 31-27 and the Buckeyes couldn't rebound. Their
final three drives ended with an interception, a punt and a fourth
down incompletion by Germaine.
"We went 15 rounds," Miller said. "They just knocked us out with an uppercut that we just couldn't bounce back from."
