No. 2 Penn State Holds On to Defeat Maryland, 17-15

Penn State came within a fingertip of losing its grip on an undefeated season and a shot at the national championship.

Linebacker Duffy Cobbs’ deflection of a two-point conversion pass with 14 seconds left Saturday saved a 17-15 victory for the second-ranked Nittany Lions over unranked Maryland.

Penn State Coach Joe Paterno hopes the near upset will “bring us down to Earth.

“We’re missing too many scoring opportunities, particularly early in the game when you can put people away,” Paterno said. “We’ve got to get the killer instinct. Until we do that, we’ll find ourselves in some tough games like this.”

Penn State (9-0) got two nine-yard touchdown runs from tailback D.J. Dozier and a 36-yard field goal by Massimo Manca.

The Nittany Lions also had three interceptions, one resulting in an 82-yard return by defensive tackle Pete Curkendall.

Maryland (4-5) scored on Dan Henning’s 27-yard pass to John Bonato to make it 17-15 with 14 seconds left. Then Cobbs broke up Henning’s pass to James Milling in the end zone.

Trailing, 7-3, earlier in the final period, Maryland was poised for the go-ahead touchdown at the Penn State seven. But Curkendall intercepted Henning’s pass and ran to the Maryland nine. Dozier scored on the next play.