Nowhere to run

With Badgers buried, Penn State one step from Big Ten crown. STATE COLLEGE — The images played out from the end of the sweetest November victory in who-knows-how-long ...

Penn State’s Michael Robinson, the quarterback most everyone doubted, walked to the sideline as the applause thundered. His head coach, always faithful, waited for him with a tear falling from his eyes.

Players hugged.

Flashbulbs popped.

Fans chanted.

And huge horses, carrying police in riot gear, trotted onto the field Saturday to protect Beaver Stadium from the expected delirious fans wanting to celebrate this 35-14 victory over Wisconsin.

A victory that moves the Nittany Lions so much closer to a Big Ten title.

Emotions rushed from exhilaration to sadness. From the prospect of playing in a monumental bowl game to the emptiness of leaving behind a career.

“I was taking it in. I wanted to take everything I could in,” said safety Calvin Lowry, describing his walk across the grass at the end. “I wanted to remember the feel, I wanted to remember the smell, the taste, everything. It was tough for me.

“Everything was frozen. It seemed like nothing was moving in my head.”

He remembered how Penn State coach Joe Paterno addressed this team before the game.

“How do you want to be remembered for your last game at Penn State?” he asked his players.

And so these Lions responded in fine fashion, a dominating victory over No. 14 Wisconsin pushing them one game away from a Bowl Championship Series appearance, probably in the Fiesta Bowl or Orange Bowl.

The images flashed for these seniors ...

Defensive end Tamba Hali gave a performance of legendary stature with a school-record seven tackles for loss and four sacks.

Cornerback Alan Zemaitis provided a key end-zone interception that protected an early 14-0 lead.

Robinson enjoyed a remarkably productive day, running for 125 yards and throwing for 238 more.

And then there was Lowry. The much-maligned punt returner fared well, breaking one for 43 yards to go with his five tackles and a pass interception.

Remember that a year ago, these Lions were 0-6 in the Big Ten.

“This team has played so well together that they’re playing themselves into being a great team,” Paterno said. “I think we’re a little better than I thought we’d be.”

As the Lions got off the bus and walked into Beaver Stadium before the game, “I said to Mike (Robinson), ‘Let’s let it all hang out,’” Paterno said. “The crowd was so great, it was tough not to be emotional.”

The feel of this one was set early.

On the fifth play from scrimmage, Robinson dropped back to pass and threw long for Deon Butler, who easily blew past coverage and hauled in the pass over his shoulder in the end zone.

Penn State led less than two minutes into this Senior Day game.

The crowd of 109,865 — the second-largest in stadium history — erupted, sensing big things on a strangely balmy late afternoon.

A 9-yard Tony Hunt TD run on the first play of the second quarter made it 14-0.

What followed was that end zone interception by Zemaitis, a long drive and a short TD run. It was 21-0 with still half of the second quarter to play.

And though the Lions wouldn’t score again until 6:17 remained in the game, a tone had been established.

The Badgers were forced to open up the offense far beyond their comfort, forced to throw too much, even for the highest-scoring group in the Big Ten.

The highly-acclaimed Penn State defense pounced, teeing off with a prolonged, heavy rush.

And poor Wisconsin QB John Stocco became a piñata.

A hard hit from the left. A pounding shot from the right.

A blast up the middle.

He was sacked nine times and banged around countless other times on pass plays or scrambles. Every time the Badgers began to move the ball and threatened to rally, Hali or linebacker Paul Posluszny (game-high 12 tackles, five for loss) or some other blue jersey ruined it.

Wisconsin superstar tailback Brian Calhoun was limited to 38 rushing yards, and the Badgers didn’t score until early in the fourth quarter.

And, now, all that is left for the Lions is to rest weary bodies with a bye next weekend and then win at up-and-down Michigan State on Nov. 19.

Do that, and the Big Ten title belongs to them for the first time since 1994.

“I think the week off will be good for us, as long as we stay focused,” Paterno said.

“It’s a good thing,” Zemaitis said, smiling. “My body hurts.”

So there will be time to rest and to prepare — and to think about the rewards that will come with one final victory.

A little bit of extra time to understand just how far this team has truly come.

As the Lions got off the bus and walked into Beaver Stadium before the game, “I said to Mike (Robinson), ‘Let’s let it all hang out,’” Paterno said. “The crowd was so great, it was tough not to be emotional.”

The feel of this one was set early.

On the fifth play from scrimmage, Robinson dropped back to pass and threw long for Deon Butler, who easily blew past coverage and hauled in the pass over his shoulder in the end zone.

Penn State led less than two minutes into this Senior Day game.

The crowd of 109,865 — the second-largest in stadium history — erupted, sensing big things on a strangely balmy late afternoon.

A 9-yard Tony Hunt TD run on the first play of the second quarter made it 14-0.

What followed was that end zone interception by Zemaitis, a long drive and a short TD run. It was 21-0 with still half of the second quarter to play.

And though the Lions wouldn’t score again until 6:17 remained in the game, a tone had been established.

The Badgers were forced to open up the offense far beyond their comfort, forced to throw too much, even for the highest-scoring group in the Big Ten.

The highly-acclaimed Penn State defense pounced, teeing off with a prolonged, heavy rush.

And poor Wisconsin QB John Stocco became a piñata.

A hard hit from the left. A pounding shot from the right.

A blast up the middle.

He was sacked nine times and banged around countless other times on pass plays or scrambles. Every time the Badgers began to move the ball and threatened to rally, Hali or linebacker Paul Posluszny (game-high 12 tackles, five for loss) or some other blue jersey ruined it.

Wisconsin superstar tailback Brian Calhoun was limited to 38 rushing yards, and the Badgers didn’t score until early in the fourth quarter.

And, now, all that is left for the Lions is to rest weary bodies with a bye next weekend and then win at up-and-down Michigan State on Nov. 19.

Do that, and the Big Ten title belongs to them for the first time since 1994.

“I think the week off will be good for us, as long as we stay focused,” Paterno said.

“It’s a good thing,” Zemaitis said, smiling. “My body hurts.”

So there will be time to rest and to prepare — and to think about the rewards that will come with one final victory.

A little bit of extra time to understand just how far this team has truly come.