Slow starts leave PSU playing catch-up
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - The second half of games belong to Penn State. Too bad for the Nittany Lions the opening 30 minutes count, too.
Sluggish starts have left Penn State (3-2, 0-1 Big Ten) playing catch-up the last few weeks and in big road games. While the defense has pitched second-half shutouts each of the last three weeks, safety Nick Sukay isn't about to gloss over the shortcomings, particularly in the first quarter.
"I would give us a 'C' average. We haven't done anything spectacularly," he said. "Obviously our first-quarter letdowns are not too good ... but we show we have ability once we pick it up."
That's the good news for a defense that hasn't allowed a second-half touchdown since the fourth quarter of the Sept. 11 loss at top-ranked Alabama.
But the first half has given Penn State fits.
They fell behind 17-0 at halftime to the Crimson Tide. Two weeks later, Temple's Bernard Pierce ran for two first-quarter scores to give the Owls a 13-6 lead after one quarter.
Last week, Iowa's offense overwhelmed Penn State with 17 straight points before getting shut out in the second half. A 33-yard interception return for a score by Shaun Prater in the fourth quarter provided the Hawkeyes' only other score.
Overall, Penn State has been outscored 54-42 in the first half. After halftime, the Nittany Lions have outscored opponents 54-21.
After the Alabama loss, head Coach Joe Paterno took a tough-love approach in practice in trying to instill more urgency with his players. They responded with a 24-0 shutout of Kent State.
