BEST RUN: On Penn State's first drive of the third quarter, TB Larry Johnson Jr. took an option pitch from QB Zack Mills and burst down the right sideline. It went for a 43-yard gain, Johnson's longest run of the season, and set up a touchdown.
BEST PASS: Wisconsin QB Brooks Bollinger scrambled away from danger and spotted Jonathan Orr for a 28-yard TD toss with 1:17 to play.
BEST CATCH: Orr caught Bollinger's pass between two defenders and managed to stay inbounds at the back of the end zone.
BEST HIT: Mills was planted by DE Erasmus Jones and ILB Alex Lewis in the first quarter. Mills injured his shoulder as he crashed to the turf, and played in the pain the rest of the way.
TURNING POINT: Afte
B.J. Tucker's 65-yard interception return gave Wisconsin a 14-13 lead, Penn State struck back in a hurry. Johnson's 24-yard TD make put the Lions ahead for good.
THE CLINCHER: Robbie Gould's 40-yard field goal put Penn State up 34-23 with 2 minutes, 55 seconds to play.
BEST CALL: Penn State coach Joe Paterno opted to let Gould try a 51-yard field goal with 7:36 left in the fourth quarter. Gould nailed it — the longest of his career and the Lions' longest since Ryan Primanti made a 51-yarder in 2000 against Illinois.
WORST CALL: Penn State called a dive play for FB Paul Jefferson on first-and-goal at the 1. Somebody in the press box predicted Jefferson would fumble, and sure enough he did.
BEST SAVE: Mills scooped up the ball at the 1 after Jefferson fumbled, and flopped into the end zone for a touchdown.
D'OH: FS Shawn Mayer was flagged for a late hit on WR Darrin Charles. The penalty moved the ball to the 9. Wisconsin scored three plays later when RB Brandon Williams beat Mayer for a 7-yard TD catch.
NOTABLE STAT: Penn State's defense racked up seven sacks for minus-39 yards.
QUOTABLE: "I thought today was a maturing process for them, because the game went back and forth and they had to hang on at the end." — Penn State coach Joe Paterno
UP NEXT: No. 20 Penn State (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten) plays No. 14 Michigan (4-1, 1-0) at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in Ann Arbor, Mich. The Wolverines were idle yesterday.
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