When it looked across the line of scrimmage last Saturday, the Penn State defense had to be glad to see Anthony Thomas finally absent from Michigan's backfield.

By the end of the afternoon, however, the Lions had to wonder if there really was that much of a difference between the A-Train and his replacement.

Converted fullback B.J. Askew rumbled all over the Beaver Stadium turf during the Wolverines' 20-0 win, overcoming a fired-up Penn State "D" to finish with 27 carries for 122 yards, both career highs.

"They gave us a lot of different looks and we had to keep adjusting," said the 6-3, 228-pound junior from Cincinnati.

The Lions defense, after surrendering 164 yards to Miami's Clinton Portis and 200 to Wisconsin's Anthony Davis, was uncharacteristically staunch against the run.

Until his key 18-yard jaunt during Michigan's final drive of the second quarter, the Lions had held Askew and the Wolverines offense in check. All Michigan had to show for their efforts for the first 28 minutes of play were six points.

"I think our defense played pretty well," said Penn State linebacker Gino Capone. "We held them to two field goals in tough situations."

But the Lions could not contain Askew on that crucial run, nor could they prevent Michigan from scoring two touchdowns in two minutes and 29 seconds.

And it was Askew who provided the necessary spark the sputtering Wolverine offense needed.

"You can't say enough about B.J.," said Michigan quarterback John Navarre. "Game in and game out, and in practice, he's going to run hard, over and over."

Tailbacks Walter Cross and Chris Perry were tabbed as the most likely replacement candidates for Thomas, who graduated last spring after breaking nearly all of the Wolverines' career rushing marks. But thus far, it has been Askew that is the team's "go-to guy."

"B.J. is off to a very good start in his junior year," said Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr. "Playing fullback a year ago was not an easy adjustment for him, but I think it made him a better football player. He's a guy that right now is carrying the load for us."

Michigan's leading rusher in 2001 welcomes the added responsibility, as well as comparisons to the A-Train, even if they come with a price.

"I don't know how Anthony quite felt," a grinning Askew said in the locker room. "But I'm a little sore."