Nittany Lions roll over Beavers

Genaro Armas

No. 19 Penn State shoved aside the distractions and Oregon State before more than 108,000 fans at Beaver Stadium.

Evan Royster rushed for 141 yards and three touchdowns, Daryll Clark threw two TD passes and the Nittany Lions defense didn't miss a beat without two suspended starters in a 45-14 win Saturday over the Beavers.

What was supposed to be Penn State's toughest nonconference game of the year turned into a laugher early.

Oregon State fell to 0-2 for the first time since 2004.

Clark looked poised in the pocket in his second career start, finishing 14-of-23 passing for 215 yards, while also running for a 18-yard score. Jordan Norwood finished with a career-high 116 receiving yards on eight catches.

Royster had 112 yards and all three of his touchdowns with 11-plus minutes left in the second quarter, benefiting from a dominating performance by the Nittany Lions' offensive line.

Mickey Shuler tiptoed the sideline in the end zone for an acrobatic 5-yard touchdown catch to give Penn State (2-0) a 14-0 lead before the Beavers sputtered on their next drive.

Josh Gaines tackled tailback Ryan McCants for no gain, before fellow defensive end Aaron Maybin leveled the Beavers' Lyle Moevao just as the quarterback released the ball to force Oregon State to punt from their own 37.

That didn't go well either.

The snap to punter Johnny Hekker was wide. Out of rhythm, Hekker tried to run but was immediately tackled by Penn State's Nate Stupar for a 9-yard loss.

Two plays later, Royster went off tackle for an easy 28-yard touchdown run to give Penn State a 21-0 lead with 14:41 left in the second quarter.

Three-plus minutes later, Royster got terrific lead blocks from receiver Brett Brackett and fullback Dan Lawlor to score easily from 4 yards out on a sweep for a 28-0 lead.

By that time, the biggest concern for the giddy student section was whether they could twirl their white rally towels in the air in unison while cheering "We are ... Penn State!" They were headed for the exits by early in the fourth quarter, with the Nittany Lions up by 38.

It was Joe Paterno's 374th career victory, temporarily putting him one ahead of Florida State's Bobby Bowden for most wins among major college coaches. The Seminoles were to play Western Carolina later Saturday.

Regardless, Saturday's win had to make Paterno feel good about his defense after the Hall of Fame coach didn't play pass-rushing end Maurice Evans or fellow starting defensive lineman Abe Koroma because of an unspecified off-field issue.

Oregon State had a few highlights, including Jacquizz Rodgers' 12-yard scoring run late in the second quarter, when the freshman broke three tackles up the middle and tumbled into the end zone. Rodgers added a fourth-quarter TD run and finished with 99 yards on 22 carries.

But that was about it for the Beavers in rowdy Beaver Stadium.

They were outgained 454-342 - and many of those Oregon State yards came with the game well out of hand.

Moevao finished 25-of-41 passing for 250 yards and two interceptions.