#21 Penn St at #15 Wisconsin - 10/5/2002

Penn State handed 5-0 Wisconsin its first loss of the season, winning 34-31 behind a potent offensive attack led by quarterback Zack Mills and a dominant defensive performance by their star-studded defensive line. Despite playing with an injured shoulder, sophmore QB Zack Mills completed 21 of 37 passes, for 287 yards, and also rushed for 14 yards and 1 TD. Defensively, Penn State was led by All-American DT Jimmy Kennedy's 4 sacks and 5 tackles-for-loss, and All-American DE Michael Hayens chipped in 2 sacks as well, part of Penn State's game-high 8-sacks.
From the outset, Penn State moved the football up-and-down the field on their way to 486 yards of total offense. However, they led just 13-7 and a 65-yard interception return by Wisconsin DB B.J. Tucker gave Wisconsin a 14-13 lead late in the 2nd-qtr. Penn State answered with a 24-yard TD run by All-American RB Larry Johnson to give the Nittany Lions a 21-14 halftime lead. Penn State kept the pedal to the floor to start the 3rd-quarter, with Larry Johnson racing 43 yards down the right sideline. Unfortunately, Johnson would injure his hamstring later in the drive that was capped off with a 1-yard TD run by FB Sean McHugh.
Behind the passing of Brooks Bollinger, Wisconsin was able to trim Penn State's 28-14 lead to 28-23 in front of a rocking Camp Randall crowd, but the clutch passing of Zack Mills led to two Robbie Gould field goals, and Penn State recovered a late onside-kick to preserve the win.
(game highlights as requested)