Penn State at Illinois Preview

By Darrell Laurant  |   Friday, October 21, 2005  |  Comments( 0 )

College Football
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Whoever made up the 2005 Penn State Nittany Lions football schedule must have been psychic, able to divine through tarot cards or tea leaves that the Nittany Lions would suffer a heartbreaking loss to Big Ten rival Michigan in the seventh week of the season and be sorely in need of relief.

Thus, the next spot on the schedule was reserved for Illinois.

Leading 25-21 -- at Michigan, no less -- with just 53 seconds left last week, Penn State then did everything wrong. First, Joe Paterno's Lions kicked off to Wolverine return specialist Steve Breaston, who hauled the football to midfield. Then they went into a soft prevent defense, allowing Michigan QB Chad Henne to move his team in position for a final dagger, a 10-yard TD pass to Mario Manningham in the back of the end zone as time elapsed.

And if that wasn't bad enough, Penn State learned after the game that star WR Derrick Williams -- generally acclaimed as the difference-maker this season -- had broken his arm and would be out for the rest of the season.

Fortunately for the 12th-ranked Nittany Lions, Illinois doesn't appear to be in any position to rub it in. After season-opening victories over Rutgers (barely) and San Jose State, the Illini has surrendered 35, 61, 35 and 36 points in losing to Cal, Michigan State, Iowa and Indiana. QB Tim Brasic did throw for 230 yards against the Hoosiers, but let the game get away with a costly late interception.

The Nittany Lions' versatile Michael Robinson, given a longer leash by Paterno this season, threw for 239 yards and ran for another 67 against Michigan. For the season, he has accumulated 1,347 in the air and 45 on the ground. RB Tony Hunt rushed for 102 yards last week.

Penn State is 8-1 against Illinois since joining the league in 1993. Game time is at 7 p.m. in Champaign.
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