The Morning Call du lieu suivant : Allentown, Pennsylvania • 35

THE MORNING CALL SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2009 SO YOU KNOW T'iraiii iTf 1 1 NLDS GAME 3: PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES AT COLORADO ROCKIES row Cm mpsPiBdra, Happ's upnert Mj MULTIMEDIA Twitter: Mandy tweets during the game Blog: More In the Phillies Insider themornlngcall.comsports PHILLIES AT ROCKIES 10 p.m. today at Coors Field TV: TBS Radio: WSAN-AM 1470 J.A. Happ was injured Thursday against the Rockies In NLDS Game 2 at Citizen's Bank Park. His post-game X-rays showed he had no bone damage. MICHAEL KUBEL THE MORNING CALL The weather should be more cooperative tonight.

Manuel says Cliff Lee starts Monday. By Mandy Housenlck OF THE MORNING CALL DENVER J.A. Happ has gotten really good at dealing with the unknown. At the start of the season, he didn't know if he'd ever get the chance to start a game for the Phillies after losing out on the fifth starter's spot and landing in the bullpen. As the trade deadline approached, he didn't know if he'd remain a Phillie.

Once the postseason arrived, he didn't know what his role will be. Rotation or bullpen? Finally, there's something etched in stone for Happ. Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said Happ, 26, will start Game 3 of the NLDS between the Rockies and the Phillies. First pitch is tonight at 10:07 p.m. at Coors Field in Denver.

"I've had a lot of anticipation throughout the year," Happ said. "Getting a start is going to be a great opportunity. I'm not going Please see PHILLIES SPORTS 10 Lrli i PENH STATE 52, EASTERN ILLINOIS 3 A day in the sun in Happy Valley Eagles ready to confuse the Bucs Veterans plan to mix it up against young Tampa Bay QB, making only his 2nd start ByNlckFlarro OF THE MORNING CALL PHILADELPHIA A week off to recharge the legs should work wonders for a defensive unit that's going to need them more than the previous three games combined. The Eagles (2-1) for the first time this season will face their first truly mobile opposing quarterback when they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-4). But as far as they're concerned, the more they make Josh Johnson use his legs, the more it plays to their strengths.

Whether they're in attack mode or retreating into a seven-man shell, a look TODAY'S GAME BUCCANEERS AT EAGLES 1 p.m. today at Lincoln Financial Field TV: Fox Radio: WCTO-FM 96.1 Lions' third-string players enjoy some quality time on the field in lopsided victory. By Mark Wogenrieh OF THE MORNING CALL STATE COLLEGE Eastern Illinois got $450,000, Penn State got "a good workout" and the announced crowd of 104,488 at Beaver Stadium got some sun after all. In that sense, the Lions put their sixth-round bye in college football's "every week's a playoff' format to good use. Forgoing its usual nonchalant approach to noon starts, Penn State overwhelmed the overmatched Panthers 52-3 in a game beloved by parents of third-string players.

Though it really didn't give any better indication as to the state of Penn State at the season's midway the game did offer a chance to play eight true freshmen and the scout-team kids who toil away anonymously in practice. Which is why cornerback Knowledge Timmons began looking forward to upcoming opponent Minnesota and its Big Ten-leading receiver, Eric Decker. '1 couldn't stop thinking about him since after last week's Illinois game," Timmons said. Though its season is half over, Penn State (5-1) is without a signature victory or even a signature stretch of four good quarters. As a result, players and coaches had a difficult time grading themselves Saturday, either going low on the scale or stretching to find quantifying evidence.

"I give us a defensive tackle Jared Odrick said of the defense, even though it has allowed just five touchdowns in six games. "Well, those were crucial touchdowns," he quickly added. Meanwhile, quarterback coach Jay Pa-terno said the offense has improved its balance and productivity since the first few games but still lacks any significant late-game achievements. "The Iowa game is the only four-quarter game we've been in, and we didn't play well enough in the fourth quarter to win that," he said. "I think we still have to find out if we have it in our gut to win a game like that." Eastern Illinois certainly wasn't going to provide one.

The Panthers, who entered the game ranked 25th in the Football Champion- Please see PSU SPORTS 6 they showed more often in practice over the last few days, the goal remains the same: to create confusion for a youngster who's making only his second career start. As expected, defensive coordinator Sean McDermott was coy about what his group has in store when asked about it. "You do know other teams listen to these press conferences, right?" he joked, before turning serious again. "Of course, he's a young quarterback and I wouldn't be doing my job if we didn't try to expose some of that, yes." McDermott's veteran-laden squad thrives in these kinds of situations and doesn't expect that to change against the Bucs, who aside from running back Carnell "Cadillac" Williams (5.0 yards per carry) and tight end Kellen Winslow (17 receptions, 155 yards, two TDs), have featured a mostly anemic attack. The Eagles in their last two games have scored more points (56) than the Bucs have for the season (54).

"We're going to blitz him to see if he's on top of his game," defensive end Juqua Parker said. "But at the same time, we've got to contain him and all that. It's going to be fun." "We just have to change up our looks a little bit and do a couple of different things," Please see EAGLES SPORTS 8 MICHAEL KUBEL THE MORNING CALL Penn State's Jared Odrick (91) sacks Eastern Illinois Jake Christensen (11) In their game Saturday at Beaver Stadium In State College. PENN STATE REPORT CARD MULIIMtUIA 2 Ml OFFENSE: A season-high 553 yards of offense with minimal effort though Daryll Clark did throw his seventh INT of the year. Scoring on their first five possessions signaled they were paying attention.

DEFENSE: A DT Jared Odrick owned the line (2 sacks, 3vj TFLs), and the group had 5 sacks overall. It also produced two turnovers, scoring on one. SPECIAL TEAMS: Andrew Oailey's blocked punt was PSU's first this year. And how about testing Ryan Breen on kickoffs? Put his one attempt In the end zone. COACHING: A Kudos to DL coach Larry Johnson Sr.

and LB coach Ron Vanderlinden for managing their banged-up units so well. OVERALL uoiieiy, wiuie pnuiui iiuiii reim 3imc win over Eastern Illinois Blog: More on the game In Nittany Lines themornlngcall.compennstaH Lafayette Leopards roar back to defeat Columbia Lehigh shuts out Georgetown 24 21 LAFAYETTE COLUMBIA III lmlyPllUy I MULTIMEDIA Blog: See Reinhard's game-day blog in SportsTalk. By Klth Grollar OF THE MORNING CALL Smiles replaced frowns. Friendly ban Gallery: More photos from Lafayette's win. themorningcall.comcportstalk ter replaced blank stares.

Loud music supplanted the clatter of cleats LEHIGH 27 GEORGETOWN 0 Defense dominates 2nd half, -offense puts together 88-yard, game-winning final drive. By Paul Rtlnhard SPECIAL TO THE MORNING CALL Maurice White said he talked to the Lafayette football team early in the week about accountability. When it came down to the final minute Saturday night, he had a chance to show them exactly what he was talking about. Stopped on two straight plays from inside the 3-yard line, White summoned all the energy he had when his number was called for the third straight time, and, with 13 seconds left play, he fought his way into the end zone standing up to complete a second-half comeback that gave Lafayette a 24-21 Victory over Columbia. Actually, the entire offensive unit, which struggled at times because its leader, quarterback Rob Curley, had an off night, pulled together after taking possession on its own 12 with 6:09 to play.

Greg Stripe and Kyle Hayes, who may not have the same sense of urgency that the Lafayette seniors have they are, after all, only sophomores made four catches (three Please see LAFAYETTE SPORTS 3 in the locker room. Yes, plenty changed Saturday afternoon at Goodman Stadium. Maybe not an entire season, but the mood around the Lehigh football team significantly brightened in the aftermath of a Please see LEHIGH SPORTS 5 JANE THEREM SPECIAL TO THE MOANING CALL Lafayette's Greg Stripe tries to get past Columbia's Chris Paruch on Saturday in Easton. Stripe stepped up with four catches for 76 yards..