Penn State a Pushover Even for Toledo, 24-6

So much for Penn State taking out its frustrations on poor old Toledo.

Chester Taylor ran for 141 yards, including two touchdowns, and Tavares Bolden threw for 140 yards and one touchdown as Toledo beat Penn State, 24-6, on Saturday at State College, Pa.

Penn State, which had never lost to a Mid-American Conference opponent, fell to 0-2 for the first time since 1990.

“It’s the biggest win of my career,” said Toledo Coach Gary Pinkel, who improved to 3-3 against the Big Ten. “It’s great for the conference. It’s great for the University of Toledo.”

It’s not so great for Penn State.

After gaining only 142 yards in its 29-5 loss to USC last Sunday, Penn State had 166 against Toledo--64 in the first half.

“I think we need to take a realistic look at whether we are any good,” Penn State Coach Joe Paterno said. “We have not played a decent offensive football game in two weeks.”

Toledo (1-0) hadn’t beaten a top opponent since opening the 1997 season with a 36-22 victory over Purdue.

Taylor had touchdown runs of 13 yards and one yard as Toledo took a 17-0 halftime lead. The Rockets made it 24-0 on a 13-yard pass from Bolden to Lyle Green on the first possession of the third quarter.

Penn State has lost five consecutive regular-season games for the first time since dropping seven in a row in 1931.

No. 15 Purdue 48, Central Michigan 0--It took a goal-line stand in the final minutes at West Lafayette, Ind., to preserve Purdue’s first shutout in nearly nine years.

By then the outcome was determined with Drew Brees passing for 318 yards and three touchdowns, and Steve Ennis scoring on three one-yard runs in his first collegiate start.

It was Purdue’s first shutout since a 35-0 triumph over Northwestern on Oct. 17, 1981.

No. 21 Illinois 35, Middle Tennessee 6--Kurt Kittner threw three touchdown passes to Greg Lewis as Illinois overcame a sluggish start at Champaign, Ill.

The Blue Raiders, in their second year in Division I, used a no-huddle attack effectively in the first half but then succumbed to Illinois’ depth and the stifling heat.

The temperature reached the mid-90s, but the readings on the artificial turf at Memorial Stadium reached 128.

Lewis’ tied a school record for most touchdowns in a game by a receiver.

Minnesota 47, Louisiana-Monroe 10--Asad Abdul-Khaliq threw three touchdown passes before suffering a concussion in the second quarter of Minnesota’s rout at Minneapolis.

Abdul-Khaliq, a 20-year-old freshman, absorbed a helmet-to-chin hit from Henry Whitehead on a cornerback blitz with 3:18 to play in the half. He was replaced by junior college transfer Travis Cole.

Abdul-Khaliq, who completed 12 of 18 passes for 161 yards, is expected to return for Saturday’s game against Ohio.