The Morning Call from Allentown, Pennsylvania • 45

FIRST Promo headline headline here Phils top Marlins, move back to .500 root Game Day C2-J College Football C4-7 Baseball C8-9 Scoreboard CD H.S. Football C12 -jf i -3 PENN STATE POSTGAME REPORT CARD Rushing offense PAGE CX PAGE C9 Iowa owned the middle and took Michael Robinson out of the game. Lions' option didn't work. Passing offense SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2002 THE MORNING CALL SECTION IOWA 42, PENN STATE 35 (OT) huili imupy in Bigpumj. mm Mit mm, 1 mmm- urn 111,11111111 jp yi Mills shook a jittery start and several knockdowns to throw for the most yards in PSU history.

Receiver Bryant Johnson was world class. Running defense 4 1 1 'V rally ends IOWA'S CJ. JONES (left) caught the Zack Mills leads PSU into OT but misfires on the final play. By Beth Hudson Of The Morning Call UNIVERSITY PARK Zack Mills' final pass bounced off the back of Joe Iorio's helmet and Guy Wathen Associated Press Saturday. 26-7 halftime lead, Iowa watched it evaporate in the final eight minutes of regulation.

It started innocently enough when Mills and Larry Johnson connected for a 36-yard touchdown pass. Penn State still trailed 35-20. But after the Lion defense LIONS PAGE C4 at historic Franklin Field to snap the Engineers' 26-game regular season win streak. Lehigh, which had the longest regular season winning streak in Division I-A or I-AA, fell for the first time in a non-playoff game since losing 28-24 at Colgate in November of 1999. It has probably been that long since head coach Pete Lembo felt as agitated.

"It never should have come down to that last field goal," LEHIGH PAGE C7 kind of situation the Eagles went out of their way to have Donovan McNabb avoid as a rookie early in 1999. After using the No. 2 pick of the 1999 draft to select McNabb out of Syracuse, Eagles coach Andy Reid went with journeyman quarterback Doug Pederson as Philadelphia's starting quarterback for the first nine games of that season. McNabb sat out his first NFL EAGLES PAGE C3 st reak 1 pass to lead the Hawkeyes in a 42-35 their 42-35 overtime victory. Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions were left to wonder how they could have lost after scoring 22 fourth-quarter points to send the game into overtime.

"We were kind of in the same situation two weeks ago against Iowa State and didn't answer the bell," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. "The biggest thing we talked about after that Adam Butler Associated Press TIGER WOODS and Mark Calcavecchia embrace after Woods and Davis Love III won their match Saturday. assessment a moment later. "The atmosphere of this competition is going to get RYDER PAGE C10 EAGLES KICK0FF Who: Eagles vs. Texans When: Today, 1 p.m.

Where: Veterans Stadium TV: FOX are 20 times better than the guys they're playing against on a given week. We're more equally matched." At 1 p.m. today inside Veterans Stadium, the expansion Fred Russell had far too many lanes that were far too roomy. QB Brad Banks made some big runs, too. Passing defense Two missed third-down tackles loomed large.

And third-down conversions still too easy. Special teams Iowa's blocked extra point that went for a 99-yard two-point conversion was a critical meltdown. Overall grade Two grades, really. D- for the start; A for the near-comeback. Michael Kubel The Morning Call QUOTABLE "I thought the officials made a couple of lousy calls on the other side of the field." PSU COACH JOE PATERNO Who vented at referee Dick Honig (and raced off the field to grab the back of his shirt) after the game.

PLAY OF THE GAME AT FIRST BLUSH a third-quarter fluke, D.J. Johnson's 99-yard return of a blocked PAT provided two ultimately crucial points. STAR OF THE GAME BRYANT JOHNSON Penn State receiver got to balls he never has before, leaping, stretching and adjusting to catch 8 passes for 146 v.rds and two touchdowns. TOP 25 SCOREBOARD No. 2 Oklahoma vs.

S. Florida, late No. 3 Texas 49, Tulane 0 No. 5 Va. Tech 30, W.

Michigan No. 6 Ohio State 45, Indiana 17 No. 7 Florida 41, Kentucky 34 No. 8 Georgia 41, New Mex St. 10 No.

11 Tennessee vs. Rutgers, late Iowa 42, No. 12 PSU 35 OT No. 13 Washington 41, Idaho 27 No. 14 Michigan 45, Illinois 28 No.

16 Wash. St. 48, California 38 No. 17 NC State 56, UMass 24 No. 18 USC vs.

No. 23 Oregon late No. 19 Iowa St. 36, No. 20 Nebraska 14 No.

22 LSU 31, Miss State 13 No. 24 Texas vs. Louisiana Tech, late No. 25 Colorado St. 32, Nevada28 r'7 it- 1 7 A i i 'i first and this, the last, touchdown dropped harmlessly to the grass.

That was it a strange ending to a Big Ten opener that was at times frustrating, at times thrilling and, ultimately, disappointing for the Penn State football team. When the pass hit the ground, exuberant Iowa players charged on to the field, grateful to leave Beaver Stadium with then slammed his foot into it. Emotions are running high at the Ryder Cup, and for good reason. Not since 1991 has golfs most pressure-packed event been dead-even after two days and 16 matches. All that remains are a dozen singles matches today before a raucous and partisan crowd, who've been cheering as though more than just a gold trophy is at stake.

"It's been a complete waste of time; we should have just come out with singles," Colin Montgomerie said jokingly. He offered a more serious seasons at Fresno State, Carr's numbers and everything else have taken a beating and bruising through three weeks in the NFL. The first pick of this year's draft has completed 28-of-69 passes for 331 yards and two touchdowns. He has thrown four interceptions. "We averaged 300-some yards passing per game last year," Carr said, looking back to Fresno State.

"It's a different kind of football game. There aren't guys on your team who "i overtime win over the Nittany Lions game is how we could learn from it." The Lions (3-1) are now 5-5 in Big Ten openers and have lost their last three. In addition, Iowa (4-1) became the third team to beat Penn State in three consecutive seasons. For a while, though, it looked as if the Hawkeyes had learned little from their loss to Iowa State. After building a rincG1 By Keith Groller Of The Morning Call PHILADELPHIA Not this time.

For the second straight week, a mistake-prone Lehigh team dug itself a 24-7 hole through three quarters against an Ivy League opponent, only to stage a late rally. But this comeback fell just a few feet short. Matt Douglas was just wide right on a 29-yard field goal attempt with 1:22 remaining, allowing Pennsylvania to hold on for a 24-21 Saturday night h's The heat is on: Ryder Cup dead even Today's singles matches will decide it, with history on the side. By Doug Ferguson Of The Associated Press SUTTON COLDFIELD, England American players, wives and caddies huddled around Tiger Woods to celebrate a clutch performance he rarely delivers in the Ryder Cup. Behind them on the 18th green at The Belfry, Sergio Garcia hurled his ball into the lake, kicked over his bag and In tale of two quarterbades, Can enduring tough times Texans (1-2) will throw Carr to the Philadelphia Eagles (2-1), whom oddsmakers rate as three-touchdown favorites.

"Being from Fresno, I'm used to being in that position," Carr said. "But I don't think I've seen a 20-point line for an NFL game in a long time. It's a credit to how Philadelphia is playing. I always enjoyed being an underdog, but 20 points is a lot." What Carr faces today is the Unlike McNabb, Tcxans rookie is being forced to learn on the job. By Larry 0'Rourke Of The Morning Call PHILADELPHIA Forget wolves.

The Houston Texans already have thrown David Carr to the Cowboys, Chargers and Colts. After producing 69 touchdown passes in his final two.