CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Rodney Kinlaw started the game. But Austin Scott conveniently factored in after a Kinlaw fumble.
Maybe this whole dual-running back system isn't going away.
But, at least from the outset, it looked like Penn State was picking one. Kinlaw made his first career start, supplanting Scott for the first time this season. And he was successful early. In fact, into the second quarter, it appeared that Kinlaw might be on his way to earning the job outright -- until he put the ball on the ground.
Just a week ago at Michigan, it was Scott who was yanked for his fumbling problem. He was pulled in favor of Kinlaw in the third quarter and didn't play the remainder of the game. He fumbled twice against Buffalo, allowing Kinlaw to see significant action.
On Saturday, it was Kinlaw who fumbled on the Penn State 41-yard line, bobbling the ball as he fell backward to the ground.
Illinois recovered and scored two plays later on a 29-yard Arrelious Benn touchdown reception.
Scott was promptly inserted when the Nittany Lions got back the ball.
"They were both good backs," Illinois linebacker J Leman said after the game. "I think they can be successful with both."
It was one of the more balanced Penn State rushing attacks this season. In past games, Penn State has tended to lean on one back more than the other. Not so against Illinois.
Kinlaw finished with 66 yards on 16 carries. Scott had 52 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries and saw significant time as the game progressed. Royster came in at the very end, but didn't rush the ball. None were made available to the media.
Up to the fumble, which happened with about 11 minutes remaining in the first half, Kinlaw rushed the ball eight times for 36 yards, including a 12-yard run off the right end on his first carry of the game.
But Penn State's rushing game wasn't called upon to be spectacular. Quarterback Anthony Morelli's had success passing in the first half, going 11 of 17 for 176 yards at the outset. But when Kinlaw was utilized, he did well, rushing for an average 4.5.
He was used exclusively until the fumble.
When Scott entered at 10:28 in the first half, he continued the steady effort. He had six carries for 34 yards -- a 5.7 average -- in the first half.
Things balanced out in the end. And ultimately, all of it amounted to little in the loss.
Asked if he was pleased with how Kinlaw handled his first start, Joe Paterno said, "I'm not very pleased with anything."
