Sep 15, 2002 3 min read

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) – After two years of losing records, Joe Paterno and Penn State are back in a big way. Larry Johnson and Michael Robinson had two touchdown runs apiece and Rich Gardner turned his first career interception into a touchdown as the Nittany Lions routed No. 8 Nebraska 40-7 Saturday night.

Paterno, who has more major-college wins than any other coach, got No. 329 in front of a record crowd of 110,753. It was the Nittany Lions’ first victory over a top-10 team since Sept. 18, 1999, when they beat eighth-ranked Miami 27-23.

Penn State played had two lean seasons after that, going 5-6 and then 5-7 – Paterno’s first consecutive losing records in his long career. But with this one victory, the Nittany Lions showed their 75-year-old coach how much they have improved.

Penn State dominated the third quarter, eating away 7:10 before Robinson’s 8-yard touchdown gave the Nittany Lions a 19-7 lead. Mills faked the handoff to Sean McHugh, then gave it to Robinson – the backup quarterback – on the end-around.

Gardner intercepted Jammal Lord’s pass, intended for Ben Cornelson, and returned it 44 yards for a touchdown to make it 26-7. Nebraska tackle Richie Incognito and Penn State end Jeremiah Davis were ejected after the play for unsportsmanlike conduct.

After holding Nebraska to three and out, Penn State got the ball on its own 45. Johnson took the first play 35 yards up the middle, and Robinson – lined up now at tailback – ran for 9 yards, then an 11-yard touchdown to give the Nittany Lions a 33-27 lead with 2:15 left in the third quarter.

Things only got worse for the Cornhuskers in the fourth quarter, when Lord threw his second interception to Lavon Chisley. A personal foul on Nebraska after the play gave Penn State the ball on its own 39.

Johnson ran the ball six times in the possession, including a 2-yard sweep around the right side for the score and a 40-7 lead.

Nebraska’s last possession ended when Lord threw his third interception to Chris Harrell.

Johnson finished with 123 yards and on 19 carries, his first time over 100 yards. Zack Mills completed 19 of 31 passes for 259 yards. Bryant Johnson had eight catches for 147 yards.

Robbie Gould kicked field goals of 20 and 34 yards in the second quarter to give Penn State a 13-7 lead at halftime.

Lord had a 27-yard run as the Cornhuskers went 84 yards in eight plays, tying the game at 7-7 on Judd Davies’ 2-yard run with 10:04 left in the second quarter.

Lord finished with 111 rushing yards on 14 carries. He was 8-for-16 passing for 76 yards.

Larry Johnson made a catch in the flat, then went 21 yards to set up the game’s first score. Two plays later, he took an option pitch at the 7-yard line and broke two tackles going into the end zone, putting the Nittany Lions up 7-0 early in the second quarter.

The last time the teams met was in 1983, when Penn State scored a controversial late touchdown. Quarterback Todd Blackledge hit Mike McCloskey, who was able to drag his front foot and set up the game-winning touchdown on the next play.