EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Daryll Clark made Todd McShay eat his words.
ESPN's NFL draft expert said on an early Saturday morning program Clark was an interception machine in big games.
But 310 yards, four touchdowns, three school records -- and no interceptions -- later, Clark turned in his best performance of the season, likely leaving Spartan Stadium as the Big Ten's first-team all-conference quarterback, as well. The all-conference team will be announced at 8 p.m. Monday on the Big Ten Network.
"That was a low blow," said Clark, who set school records for single-season touchdowns (23) and yards (2,770) and career touchdowns (42). "But it's whatever. I get a lot of criticism from all kinds of people, but I don't play for that. I don't go out and try to make plays and try to impress those analysts on ESPN."
For those watching, Clark was as impressive as he's been this year, particularly in the third quarter when he went 6-for-6 for 130 yards and three touchdowns.
Unlike last year's career effort against Michigan State at Beaver Stadium, when Clark threw for 341 yards and four touchdowns, the senior captain struggled in the first half because of pass protection issues.
Once Clark felt comfortable in the pocket, the Spartans' suspect pass defense blew assignments on tight end Andrew Quarless and fullback Joe Suhey for long touchdowns. All four of Clark's touchdowns went for at least 27 yards.
After playing poorly last week against Indiana, Clark said he felt like he owed his teammates.
"He definitely puts a lot of pressure on himself," running back Evan Royster said. "Any quarterback does. He's the center of our offense. He came out cool and confident. We got a little frustrated after the first couple drives, and then the second half, we just came out and fired off on them."
Playing his final regular season game in a Penn State uniform, Clark was the last player to sprint to the Penn State section of fans in the corner of the stadium and slap hands.
In two years, he has gone 21-4 as a starter, but critics still point to his shortcomings in big-time games.
Saturday, Clark was lying in bed in his hotel room watching TV when he heard McShay's comments.
"It really caught me off guard when I heard about it," Clark said. "I just put it in the back of my head and said, 'Look, you still have to come out and play. This is a big game for this program.' "
He said quarterbacks can't play angry because they might try to do much to silence critics.
Joe Paterno told Clark last week in practice he was aiming the ball, something Clark said was happening early in Saturday's game.
But when he set his feet and made the right reads, Michigan State -- and perhaps McShay -- was silenced.
"Daryll has gotten a lot of criticism because he hasn't quote-unquote won the big game or played well in the big game," quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno said. "He's proven he's a big-time quarterback. A couple guys were talking about Todd McShay this morning, and he made the comment that Daryll was an interception machine in big games. Todd McShay's opinion is not something many of us share."
