The Morning Call from Allentown, Pennsylvania • 41

NO BUCKING WARRIORS THE ODDS: Ohio State rolls, 35-12, Page 5 WORRIES: ESU upset by Bentley, Page 6 FOOTBALL EXTRA THE MORNING CALL SECTION CC SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2005 PENN STATE 34, AKRON 16 mm US'," s-T 'V 1 t'Vy i 1 i- 'i, J': I i PENN STATES JORDAN NORWOOD (24) beats the Akron defense to end career-high seven passes for 61 yards in the victory. PENN STATE POSTGAME report cmd Rushing offense No wonder Penn State threw 32 times, even in constant rain. The run game needs some tuning. Passing offense Anthony Morelli had the sharpest debut of any PSU quarterback in 20 years, and this might be the deepest group of receivers ever. Running defense Akron back Dennis Kennedy is slippery, but his 59 yards were negligible.

Passing defense Five sacks and two interceptions prove this defense is much quicker than last year's. Special teams Rain contributed to the botched kicks, and the kickoff return was fumbled by a freshman. Roughing the punter on fourth-and-31, however, was inexcusable. Overall grade TOP 25 SCOREBOARD No. 1 Ohio State 35, N.

Illinois 12 No. 2 Notre Dame 14, Ga. Tech 10 No. 3 Texas 56, North Texas 7 Wash, state at No. 4 Auburn, late No.

5 West Virginia 42, Marshall 10 No. 6 Southern Cal at Arkansas, late No. 7 Florida 34, Southern Miss. 7 No. 8 LSU 45, Louisiana-Lafayette 3 No.

23 Tennesse 35, No. 9 Calif. 18 No. 10 Oklahoma 24, UAB 17 No. 11 Fla, State at No.

12 Miami, Monday Kentucky at No. 13 Louisville, today No. 14 Michigan 27, Vanderbilt 7 No. 15 Georgia 48, W. Kentucky 12 No.

16 Iowa 41, Montana 7 No. 17 Va. Tech 38, Northeastern 0 No. 18 Clemson 54, Florida Atlantic 6 No. 19 Penn State 34, Akron 16 No.

20 Nebraska 49, Louisana Tech 10 No. 21 Oregon 48, Stanford 10 No. 22 TCU at Baylor, today No. 24 Arizona State, idle No. 25 Texas Tech 35, SMU 3 QUOTABLE "I think they got their ears kicked in today.

Simple as that" JOE PATERNO on his offensive line's performance 1 I I 1 i Paterno finding a way to get his best athletes on the field Lions' new starting QB throws three touchdown passes. By Beth Hudson Of The Morning Call STATE COUEGE Anthony Morelli stood on the sideline at the end of Saturday's game with a wide grin on his face. And if his smile said anything, perhaps, it was simply, "Whew." "It was my first start since high school," Morelli said. "I was looking forward to it all week had some trouble sleeping." No wonder. Morelli came into Penn State's season opener with high expectations and very little game experience.

A highly regarded junior quarterback from Penn Hills High School, he had thrown just 33 passes in his first two seasons as a Nitta-ny Lion. Nonetheless, Morelli earned high marks on his first test as a starter, completing 16 of 32 passes for 206 yards and three touchdowns to lead Penn State over Akron, 34-16, on a rainy day at Beaver Stadium. He didn't throw an interception and actually opened the day with a perfect 42-yard touchdown pass to Deon Butler, who was waiting in the end zone. "We planned that out last night that we were going to throw that," Butler said. "Their corners were sitting flat-footed, and we knew we could get by them.

Anthony wanted to show off his arm first play, and that was a great throw by him." PSU PAGE CC2 "They weren't very hospitable," Lafayette coach Frank Tavani said. "We wound up practicing in the women's softball outfield. We got treated a little bit like second-class citizens, but that's OK. We were ready to go." Were they ever. The Leopards opened their 125th season in dream fashion.

They took the opening kickoff and methodically pieced together a textbook drive. Mike St. Germain and Ryan Nase anchored an offensive line that gouged huge holes in the Sacred Heart defense that senior tailback Jon Hurt used to jumpstart a LAFAYETTE PAGE CC8 fx Michael KuM The Morning Call career. Norwood caught a Eft Comment MARK W0GENRICH STATE COUIGE Normally, rainy days and openers elicit few moments of insight, particularly at Penn State. This game? The exceptioa The Lions' 34-16 victory over Akron on Saturday gave away plenty about the team, much more than last year's slumber against Central Florida The most interesting nugget to emerge? Coach Joe Paterno Michael Kubel The Morning Call PENN STATE COACH JOE PATERNO, giving instructions to Andrew Quarless (10), mixed things up Saturday by using a 3-4 defense.

zone for touchdown, the first of his His offseason protestations aside, Paterno delivered a four-linebacker set upon Akron with marvelous results. Sophomore linebacker Sean Lee got his first start, freeing middle linebacker Tim Shaw to take on a new role as an endoutside linebacker hybrid, which he just loved. "Getting to chase quarterbacks all day?" he said. "How can you not love it." This summer, though Paterno wouldn't address the 3-4, defensive coordinator Tom Bradley acknowledged the WOGENR1CH PAGE CC2 DeniM Sanchii The Morning Call NEW LEHIGH COACH ANDY COEN had his debut spoiled by the weather, and Albany. teams lived up to their name and made the difference.

Jason Fralicker kicked three field goals, helped by Rashad Barksdale, who totaled 55 yards on two punt returns to LEHIGH PAGE CC8 hi Lafayette rallies past Sacred Heart 25-14 Lehigh's first outing a cold slap in the face is getting his best athletes on the field, even moreso than last year. Herewith, a few observations from a surprising day: Paterno continues to insist Penn State isn't interested in the 3-4 defensive formation, despite what actually showed up on the field Saturday. "It. basically was a four-man line most of the day," Paterno said. Yeah, fine, whatever you want to call it.

Even Akron coach J.D. Brookhart wasn't fooled. "They use those backers in a way that I think they should," Brookhart said. crowd and a disappointing 17-16 setback that spoiled his debut and marked the Mountain Hawks' first opening-day loss since 1997. Two bad snaps on punts led to eight Albany points, including what would prove to be the game-winning touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Lehigh got a gift touchdown on Micah Greene's 52-yard run with a fumble, but had too many slips, bobbles, drops and assorted other mis-cues to overcome an Albany team that was big, strong and more talented than expected. While both teams struggled to hold on to the ball, combining for 12 fumbles (two that were lost), Albany's special Jon Hurt and Brad Maurer lead the Leopards to the win. By Don Bostrom Of The Morning Call FAIRFIELD, Com Lafayette and Sacred Heart had never met in a football game before, but it didn't take the Pioneers very long to disrespect the two-time defending Patriot League champions. The Leopards got caught in Friday traffic and arrived at the Fairfield campus a little late for a scheduled practice. When the players tried to take the field, the marching band refused to yield.

Special-team problems make the difference in a 17-16 loss to Albany. By Keith Groller Of The Morning Call It wasn't supposed to begin like this. When Andy Coen was hired as Lehigh's head coach last January, he probably envisioned a season opener with gorgeous late-summer weather, a huge crowd at Goodman Stadium and a resounding victory over Albany. Instead, when it arrived on Saturday, Coen got the blustery, wet remnants of Tropical Storm Ernesto, a sparse home.