#21 Penn St at #15 Wisconsin - 10/5/02

Penn State handed 5-0 Wisconsin its first loss of the season, winning 34-31 behind a potent offensive attack led by quarterback Zack Mills and a dominant defensive performance by their star-studded defensive line. Despite playing with an injured shoulder, sophmore QB Zack Mills completed 21 of 37 passes, for 287 yards, and also rushed for 14 yards and 1 TD. Defensively, Penn State was led by All-American DT Jimmy Kennedy's 4 sacks and 5 tackles-for-loss, and All-American DE Michael Hayens chipped in 2 sacks as well, part of Penn State's game-high 8-sacks.

From the outset, Penn State moved the football up-and-down the field on their way to 486 yards of total offense. However, they led just 13-7 and a 65-yard interception return by Wisconsin DB B.J. Tucker gave Wisconsin a 14-13 lead late in the 2nd-qtr. Penn State answered with a 24-yard TD run by All-American RB Larry Johnson to give the Nittany Lions a 21-14 halftime lead. Penn State kept the pedal to the floor to start the 3rd-quarter, with Larry Johnson racing 43 yards down the right sideline. Unfortunately, Johnson would injure his hamstring later in the drive that was capped off with a 1-yard TD run by FB Sean McHugh.

Behind the passing of Brooks Bollinger, Wisconsin was able to trim Penn State's 28-14 lead to 28-23 in front of a rocking Camp Randall crowd, but the clutch passing of Zack Mills led to two Robbie Gould field goals, and Penn State recovered a late onside-kick to preserve the win.
(game highlights as requested)

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• Penn State
• PSU
• 2002
• Wisconsin
• Badgers
• Zack Mills
• Larry Johnson
• Bryant Johnson
• Tony Johnson
• Gerald Smith
• Casey Williams
• Jimmy Kennedy
• Michael Haynes
• Derek Wake
• Cameron Wake
• Bryan Scott
• Robbie Gould
• Brooks Bollinger
• Anthony Davis
• BJ Tucker
• Brandon Williams
• Jonathan Orr
• Dwayne Smith
• Joe Paterno
• Big10
• Penn State football
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• football
• Big Ten
• Camp Randall Stadium
• Barry Alvarez
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