Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Penn State
Wildcats Derailed By Penn State Running Game
10/19/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct 19, 2002
By DAN LEWERENZ
Associated Press Writer
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Larry Johnson ran for a school-record 257 yards and two touchdowns as No. 20 Penn State routed Northwestern 49-0 Saturday.
Johnson broke the school mark of 256 yards, set by Curt Warner against Syracuse on Oct. 17, 1981.
Johnson had 191 yards in the first half, and was stopped for a 1-yard gain on the first play of the third quarter. Two plays later, Johnson went through the middle of the line and sprinted 60 yards up the left sideline to the Northwestern 5. He ran around the left side on the next play for the rushing record and his second touchdown, giving Penn State (5-2, 2-2 Big Ten) a 42-0 lead.
Northwestern (2-6, 0-4) got within scoring position only once, reaching the Nittany Lion 21-yard line midway through the first quarter. But Tony Stauss was sacked for an 8-yard loss by Gino Capone. The possession ended when David Wasielewski's 39-yard field goal went wide right.
Even when he didn't have the ball, Johnson was dangerous. After putting the Nittany Lions on the Northwestern 2-yard line late in the second quarter, Johnson dived over the line and into the end zone - drawing the entire Wildcat defense and leaving tight end Mike Lukac wide open for a 2-yard touchdown pass from Zack Mills. That made it 21-0.
Mills had a 1-yard touchdown run and threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Tony Johnson, Larry's younger brother, to make it 35-0 at halftime.
It was the 332nd win for Penn State coach Joe Paterno, extending his Division I-A record.
The Wildcats set up their missed field goal with a trick play, as Jeff Backes ran 47 yards on a reverse on the kick return, to the Penn State 46-yard line. The Wildcats tried the same play in the second quarter, but to no avail - Jason Wright was stopped at his own 5.
Larry Johnson put Penn State up 14-0 with a 3-yard run early in the second quarter. He set up the score with a 27-yard run, first going left, then breaking a tackle and cutting back to the right for the big gain.
Sean McHugh scored his first career touchdown, going in from the 1-yard line to give Penn State a 7-0 lead. Larry Johnson set up the score with a 24-yard run, skipping inside a block, then slipping two tackles before being brought down at the 1.
