EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Alan Zemaitis wasn't a very good high school football player; he confessed to that after the game.

The senior cornerback from Rochester, N.Y., never had three interceptions in a game before. Not in college, not in high school, not anywhere.

He has played huge in big games before, the way he did against Ohio State in 2003 when he took a Craig Krenzel pass 78 yards to the house. The way he did at home against Wisconsin a few weeks back when he intercepted John Stocco in the end zone as the Badgers tried to make it a contest.

So the surprising part is not that he picked Drew Stanton off three times on Saturday. What's surprising is Stanton continued to throw in his direction, as Zemaitis could have left Spartan Stadium with even more than his three picks.

"I just made some good jumps on the ball today," Zemaitis said. "I watch film; it'll give you some tips but you have to play everything honest."

As a whole, Penn State's defense was statistically stronger a season ago. In 2004, the most points it gave up were 21 to Boston College in Week 2. Of course the offense wasn't very good, which basically meant there was tremendous pressure on the defense to hold teams consistently.

This season, the Lions defense has allowed more points on average, particularly early in games, bending slightly but hardly ever breaking.

"For some reason, we always get it together right before they get ready to punch it in," Zemaitis said. "Something big happens. Today it was me, during the other weeks it was somebody else."

Against Wisconsin it was senior defensive end Tamba Hali, recording a career-high four sacks against the Badgers. Against Ohio State it was Calvin Lowry with a timely interception of Troy Smith. Perhaps Zemaitis wanted to save his performance for the finale.

"He came through big when we needed him, that's what he does," said junior Donnie Johnson, who recorded his first career interception. "He's the best secondary player I've ever played with, ever seen."

His final interception came late in the third quarter with the Spartans trailing by nine. Defensive end Matthew Rice told the entire defense it was going to get an interception. And when Zemaitis cuddled under the low pass from Stanton, Rice was anything but shocked.

"It encapsulates everything we put into this," Rice said. "It's been investments since day one, from this game last year."

They said this season actually started last year, with the two wins against Indiana and Michigan State at the end of the season. The turnaround has taught this team the value of sacrifice and dedication, among other things.

"Number one lesson is hard work will get you anywhere," Zemaitis said. "With all the hard work we put in, if we failed to get this Big Ten Championship, I would have been rethinking that whole philosophy."

Zemaitis recently talked about someday telling his children and grandchildren about the glory days from his Penn State career. But with a Big Ten title now under his belt, he felt like he could take it a few steps further.

"This is something I'm gonna be on my deathbed remembering," Zemaitis said. "It's more than anything I could ever expect."