SportsDirect Inc. staff
Nov 24, 2012
Penn State 24, Wisconsin 21 (OT): Sam Ficken kicked a 37-yard field goal in overtime and Kyle French's 44-yard attempt to match sailed wide left as the host Nittany Lions overcame Montee Ball setting an NCAA record with his 79th career score.
Zach Zwinak rushed for 179 yards and a touchdown for Penn State (8-4, 6-2 Big Ten), which wore No. 42 stickers on its helmets to honor Michael Mauti. The senior linebacker was relegated to the sideline after suffering a left knee injury during last week's 45-22 victory over Indiana.
After Ficken's overtime field goal squeezed just inside the left upright, French's attempt in the windy conditions sailed comfortably wide to send Wisconsin (7-5, 4-4) into next week's Big Ten championship game versus Nebraska on a sour note.
Curt Phillips tossed a pair of touchdown passes - with the latter one going to Jeff Duckworth from 4 yards out to tie the game at 21-21 with 18 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
With the contest tied at 7-7 midway through the first quarter, Ball scampered around the right end and tiptoed down the sideline for his 73rd career rushing touchdown. Ball moved past Travis Prentice of Miami (Ohio), who set the major college mark for total scores in 1999.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Penn State's Matt McGloin, who had only 47 yards in the first half, finished 19-of-37 for 200 yards and a touchdown. ... The Nittany Lions nearly tied the game at 14-14 on their first possession of the third quarter, but Brandon Moseby-Felder was unable to secure the ball on a pass in the back of the end zone. The play was originally ruled a touchdown, but a video review led to the reversal of the decision and Penn State settled for Ficken's 23-yard field goal. ... Melvin Gordon's second career reception resulted in a 57-yard touchdown for Wisconsin.