In 2004, freshman Mark Rubin was Penn State's most productive wide receiver. Two years and a broken collar bone later, Rubin is buried in the depth chart behind Derrick Williams, Deon Butler and Jordan Norwood.

After Rubin missed his entire sophomore year, the coaching staff moved him to safety before this season, but then decided he could contribute more as a wideout, his natural position. Still, his playing time didn't increase.

"We have the best wide receiver group in the country, so obviously not everybody can play," Rubin said. "I've just been working as hard as I can every day in practice, and when they need me, jump in and play and try and help them."

Saturday, Rubin and the rest of the second- and third-string Nittany Lions received a chance to showcase their talents, as Penn State drubbed the lowly Temple Owls in a game that was largely over after the first quarter. Overall, 57 Penn Staters played, 16 more than the Lions used against Division I-AA Youngstown State.

As the blowout continued into the third quarter, backup players filtered into the lineup. And Penn State didn't lose a step.

Penn State's second- and third-string defense preserved the shutout and helped the Lions hold Temple to just 74 total yards and two first downs, both lows for opponents under head coach Joe Paterno.

There was junior safety Jason Ganter, recording his first career interception, leaping to pick off an errant Adam DiMichele pass. And there was sophomore linebacker Josh Hull bursting through the Temple offensive line to force a DiMichele fumble.

"You go out there every week, work hard during practice to just to try to get a little break and get in there during the games," Hull said. "It's crazy in there."

The backups' play excited Penn State starters, too -- especially with star defensive players like linebacker Paul Posluszny, and defensive linemen Ed Johnson and Jay Alford set to graduate after this year.

"That just goes to show you, Penn State defense, we have depth," starting safety Anthony Scirrotto said. "Even when these seniors graduate, we got guys that are coming in and filling the shoes quickly. We're excited about now, and we're excited about the future, and we're going to try to keep the tradition of the Penn State defense alive."

On offense, the seldom-used Rubin caught one pass for eight yards, backup fullback Dan Lawlor rushed for 20 yards on two carries, and running back Nick Pinchek ran the ball four times in garbage-time.

That's not to say there weren't struggles.

Backup quarterback Daryll Clark showed he can use his legs to create plays, scrambling to the outside and connecting with backup tight end Kevin Darling for a 23-yard pass and scored a touchdown on a 1-yard quarterback sneak, but also showed signs of youth.

Though the redshirt freshman completed four-of-seven passes, he often under threw his targets.

"I was making the right reads. The first couple of passes were slipping out of my hands, slippery ball and everything," Clark said. "But no excuses. If they're open, you've got to put it to 'em."

After the game, Hull said as nice as nice as it was to play in the game, the first team deserved the credit.

"If we get a chance to go in, they're the first people you go up and thank because they're the ones that got the job done for us," he said.

But for the starting Lions, it was all the more pleasurable to earn the win and watch other teammates find the spotlight, albeit just for a quarter-and-a-half.

"It was fun watching them play because they work hard in practice, too, and they don't get necessarily rewarded for it, playing in the game," starting linebacker Sean Lee said. "It was nice to see them get in and play hard."