Sep 18, 2005 4 min read

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) – Penn State’s revamped passing attack clicked, the running game hummed and a sea of blue-and-white clad fans roared with approval. The Nittany Lions (3-0) put on an offensive display on Saturday that hadn’t been seen in recent years at Beaver Stadium, while a swarming defense that had eight sacks overwhelmed Central Michigan (1-2) in a 40-3 rout on Saturday.

Michael Robinson was 14-for-23 for 274 yards and three touchdowns – including two to Deon Butler – and ran for another score, while Tamba Hali led the defense with 2.5 sacks and three tackles for losses.

There were lots of smiles after the game. Robinson, grinning as he entered the post-game media room, peeked over the crowd of reporters around Butler and turned in his own question.

“Excuse me, could you tell us about those two touchdown passes you caught,” Robinson asked, drawing chuckles from the actual reporters.

Robinson was pulled in the third quarter and backup Anthony Morelli also had success against the Chippewas, who had allowed an average of 454 yards and 28 points in its first two contests.

It was the 346th career win for coach Joe Paterno, whose teams had limped to losing records in four of the last five seasons. Penn State had struggled largely because of its offense, and this offseason, Paterno said he wanted to open up the passing game behind speedy newcomers like freshmen receivers Justin King and Derrick Williams.

“Obviously, we have a different personality on offense because of the new people involved,” Paterno said.

Penn State opens Big Ten Conference play next Saturday with its first road game of the season, at Northwestern.

“We have a little bounce,” he said. “We’ve got to be careful we don’t go back this week.”

The addition of Butler, a redshirt freshman, to the receiving corps didn’t draw as much attention initially, but he’s certainly making his presence felt now. Central Michigan coach Brian Kelly found out the hard way.

“Here’s what Penn State has now – they’ve got balance in their offense,” Kelly said. “If they couldn’t throw the ball down the field, they would have struggled today like they did last year at times.”

Penn State’s offense dominated from the start. With the Nittany Lions leading 10-0 midway through the second quarter, Robinson hit Butler with a pass at the Chippewa 15. Cornerback Vincent Hicks lunged but couldn’t catch Butler, who ran into the end zone for a score.

On Central Michigan’s next possession, Jay Alford sacked Smith at the Chippewa 3-yard-line. Two plays later, Smith was chased by three Penn State defenders before running out of bounds to thwart the drive.

Smith had amassed 478 yards of total offense in Central Michigan’s 38-37 win last week over Miami (Ohio). Penn State was ready for the nimble passer as Alford, Hali and a swarm of other Nittany Lion defenders were in the Central Michigan backfield all day.

Penn State scored again on its next series when Isaac Smolko made a leaping catch for a 21-yard gain before Robinson hit Butler two plays later to give the Nittany Lions a 23-0 lead.

Robinson pumped his fist after the catch and a chant of “We are Penn State” rose from the 100,000-plus fans on a warm, overcast afternoon. Robinson added a 47-yard touchdown pass to Terrell Golden early in the third quarter.

“Momentum is huge in college football, especially in Beaver Stadium,” said Penn State cornerback Alan Zemaitis. “All your aches and pains, everything goes away when you get out there on defense, especially when we’re winning by the margin that we’re winning by.”

Defensive end Daniel Bazuin’s play provided one of the few bright spots for Central Michigan, getting two sacks by the third quarter and forcing Calvin Lowry to fumble on a punt return that was recovered by Jesse Dailey, who returned 15 yards to the Penn State 13.

It was one of the few times all day that the Chippewa offense was deep in Nittany Lion territory and led to a 31-yard field goal by Rick Albreski.

Bazuin said Penn State’s offensive line gave the Chippewa defense “a heck of a battle up front.”

“They gave us a heck of a ball game,” he said. “I know I’m sore, I’m pretty sure everyone else is pretty sore.”

Robinson and Morelli combined for 381 passing yards, the second-highest total in school history, behind only the 399 passing yards against Iowa in 2002.