BEST RUN: On the first possession of the third quarter, Nebraska QB Jammal Lord scrambled for a 14-yard gain on third-and-9. It was a key play in the 16-play, 80-yard TD drive.
BEST CATCH: WR Tony Johnson made a leaping, one-handed snag along the sideline for a 16-yard gain. That set up Penn State's first touchdown.
WORST PASS: Nebraska WR Ross Pilkington was wide open in the back of the end zone, but Lord badly underthrew him. Yaacov Yisrael made an easy interception.
BEST TACKLE: Before RB David Horne could turn the corner on a option-toss play, Penn State CB Alan Zemaitis slammed him to the ground.
BEST HIT: DT Ed Johnson crunched Lord on a rollout and caused a fumble. Lavon Chisley recovered at the 29-yard line, and Penn State scored a touchdown three plays later.
BEST HUSTLE: Pilkington flattened Rich Gardner, kept running downfield, then shoved Chris Harrell out of the way. That sprung RB Josh Davis for a 42-yard run.
TURNING POINT: Nebraska moved the ball 80 yards on 16 plays -- all on the ground -- to start the third quarter. Lord's 3-yard TD run gave them a 15-10 lead. It took eight minutes off the clock.
THE CLINCHER: Penn State blocked a field-goal attempt and took over at its 20 with 12:24 left in the game. But the Lions' drive stalled after five plays, and they were forced to punt.
BEST CALL: Nebraska hammered away at the interior of Penn State's defensive line in the third quarter.
D'OH: Johnson had a tough game. He dropped two third-down passes, both of which would have gone for first downs. In the first quarter, he ran the wrong pattern, and CB Fabian Washington came up with an interception.
TRASH TALKING: Nebraska LT Richie Incognito was jawing all night with Penn State's defensive line -- especially DE John Bronson, who earlier in the week had said Incognito was "nothing special." On one play, Incognito knocked Bronson down and finished it off with a little shot to the helmet.
NOTABLE STAT: Penn State's offense had the ball for just 130 seconds in the third quarter.
INJURY REPORT: DE Tamba Hali sustained a lower leg injury late in the second quarter. He returned in the second half. ... Defensive ends Sam Ruhe (sprained knee) and Pat Hall (burner) did not make the trip.
UP NEXT: Penn State (1-2) plays host to Kent State at 1 p.m. Saturday.
-- By Rob Biertempfel
