Turns out, Penn State might have a defense, too.

The Big Ten's top offense scored only 20 points Saturday against a weak Purdue defense, but the Nittany Lions allowed only a fourth-quarter touchdown by the Boilermakers to improve to 6-0 on the season.

Penn State held Purdue's passing offense, which had been averaging 278 yards per game, to just 158.

Curtis Painter threw for 112 of those -- as well as an interception -- before he was pulled in the fourth quarter for little-used backup Joey Elliott.

The Nittany Lions, who had been averaging 49.8 points per game, got chunks of yards at a time against the Boilermakers but misfired near the end zone. The defense was more than happy to pick up the slack.

"The offense was down a little bit, a little sloppy, but they'll get it together," defensive end Josh Gaines said. "And that's what we do here. When someone's down, another person comes to pick it up. They've been doing it all season for us."

A more physical challenge awaits the defense next week, when Penn State visits Wisconsin. The Badgers' sizable offensive line and bruising running backs P.J. Hill and John Clay will test every part of the Nittany Lions' defense.

SEASON RECAP

Penn State 66, Coastal Carolina 10: Evan Royster ran for three first-half touchdowns as the Nittany Lions jumped out to a 38-7 halftime lead and cruised in their season opener. Penn State rolled up 594 total yards and scored more points in an opener than it has since 1926, the year head coach Joe Paterno was born.

Penn State 45, Oregon State 14: The Nittany Lions scored touchdowns on six of their first nine possessions and never allowed Lyle Moevao and the Beaver offense to get on track. Evan Royster ran for a career-high 141 yards and three touchdowns for No. 19 Penn State (2-0).

Penn State 55, Syracuse 13: Two Nittany Lion quarterbacks -- Daryll Clark and Pat Devlin -- threw two first-half touchdown passes and wide receivers Jordan Norwood and Deon Butler both went over 100 yards, as the No. 17 Nittany Lions improved to 3-0. Penn State outgained the hapless Orange (0-3) by 401 yards and held them to eight first downs all afternoon.

Penn State 45, Temple 3: The Nittany Lions knocked Owls quarterback Adam DiMichele out of the game on the fifth play and piled up 31 of their 45 points in the second quarter. Freshman TB Stephfon Green had 132 of Penn State's 303 rushing yards.

Penn State 38, Illinois 24 -- Derrick Williams scored touchdowns rushing, receiving and on a kick return as the Nittany Lions moved to 5-0 for just the second time in nine years. Daryll Clark threw two touchdown passes and Evan Royster ran for 139 yards as Penn State's offense rolled up 422 yards.

Penn State 20, Purdue 6: Evan Royster ran for 141 yards and a touchdown and Penn State's defense kept the Boilermakers off the scoreboard for the first three quarters as the Nittany Lions improved to 6-0. Daryll Clark completed 18-of-26 passes for 220 yards and ran for a touchdown for Penn State, which converted just 4-of-12 third downs but still managed 422 yards of offense.

Copyright (C) 2008 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.