For two weeks now, the Penn State offensive line has been operating without its normal starting line up. But at a glance, you'd hardly notice.

Despite missing All-America left tackle Levi Brown for two straight weeks and starting left guard Robert Price on Saturday to injuries, a patchwork Nittany Lion offensive line has been performing admirably.

With junior Chris Auletta in Brown's stead again and sophomore Gerald Cadogan filling in for Price, the Penn State offensive line gave Tony Hunt plenty of room to run and quarterback Anthony Morelli ample time to throw.

"We can't wait for Levi to get back. He's obviously a team leader and a hell of a football player," right guard Rich Ohrnberger said Saturday. "[But] as far as where we're at right now, I think it was a gutsy performance tonight, and we really showed a lot of people we can get it done in pressure situations."

Hunt finished with 144 yards, the fourth straight week he's rushed for more than 100 yards rushing.

The senior running back also had two rushing touchdowns and his first career touchdown reception.

"The run game is finding its rhythm and the offensive line is doing a heck of a job," Hunt said.

But while the quiet Hunt found it easier to heap praise on his blockers rather than himself, his offensive line said with Hunt running so well behind it, it was hard not to feel confident -- even missing the entire starting left side of the line.

After watching Hunt plow through Golden Gopher defenders all afternoon, Ohrnberger could only think of one word to describe Hunt: Amazing.

"He's unstoppable. It feels like he gets five yards every carry," Ohrnberger said. "Even if you miss a block, or you don't think you did as well on a play, he's going to make up for that."

During one fourth-quarter drive, Penn State called on Hunt eight times, including a stretch of five consecutive plays. On that drive alone, Hunt rushed for 47 yards.

The drive that culminated with a Matt Hahn touchdown reception to put Penn State up 21-14 was Penn State's longest of the year, 7:25 long.

Sophomore center A.Q. Shipley said the 13-play, 82-yard drive was a confidence booster.

"As an offensive line we kind of took the approach we were going to run the ball the whole way down the field and just try and intimidate them," Shipley said. "That's the attitude we took, and we ran the ball all the way down the field. ... It was a good feeling."

That's not to say the offensive line didn't have some hiccups. Auletta committed a false start on the Lions' first offensive play and had another later in the game. Morelli was also sacked once.

Though on the sideline, Brown still found himself getting into some shoving matches. This time, though, it was with his own teammate, fullback BranDon Snow. After Hahn caught his touchdown pass, Snow and Brown engaged in a shoving match.

After the game, Shipley said he didn't even notice the outburst. The only insight Shipley offered about Brown was that "Levi should be back this week."