While Penn State's offense and defense racked up big numbers in Saturday's victory over Youngstown State, its special teams units performed less soundly.

The game's opening kick set the tone for Penn State's special teams play on Saturday. Returners Rodney Kinlaw and A.J. Wallace converged at the three-yard line to field the kick. Kinlaw caught it, then, after a short and unspectacular run, was brought down at the Lions' 12-yard line.

The kicking game also left much to be desired.

Sophomore kicker Kevin Kelly missed three field goals, all at the north end of the field.

His first try of the day, a 30 yarder with 1:02 to play in the first quarter, was way off, a result that Kelly attributed to rushing through the kick and striking the middle of the ball.

"You know, even Tiger Woods misses a chip shot once in a while," head coach Joe Paterno said.

Paterno revealed that Kelly, a lefty kicker, had been hooking his kicks right in practice and might have overcompensated during the game.

Kelly's two other misses came in the fourth quarter, both from 38 yards out. One was wide right, the next was wide left.

"The last two field goals I hit perfect," Kelly said. "The first one hooked a little bit, and the second one didn't come back enough to go in."

Kelly's shaky day came on the heels of Penn State's field goal unit committing three non-kicking errors

in the team's first two games. With snapper Jay Alford and holder Jason Ganter coming under fire, the Lions switched to their backup tandem of Patrick Weber and Kevin Suhey. The new pair committed no such errors on Saturday.

The day wasn't all bad for Kelly, who did put three through the uprights, including a career-long of 49 yards.

"I know I can make the distance ones and I know I have the leg," Kelly said. "It's the short ones that you're supposed to make and on Monday and Tuesday the ones that they'll [coaches] be harping on."

Coaches will also try to correct the penalties in the punt return game, which cost Penn State significant yardage against the Penguins.

Derrick Williams had two big punt returns - including one that would have given the Lions starting field position at the Youngstown State five yard line - nullified because of illegal blocking penalties.

"You've got to roll with it and stay positive and keep everybody up," linebacker Dan Connor said of watching big plays like that called back. "You've got ups and downs in football...you can get over stuff like that easily."

Williams said the key to getting over those plays is to focus on doing better the next time. With a stiff challenge coming up this week at No. 1 Ohio State, the Lions will take to the practice field in hope of shoring up the special teams against the Buckeyes.

"People don't realize how much of a factor special teams are," Williams said. "Every day we're out there working on our special teams, just like it's offense or defense. It can take over a game in the same way."