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Saturday, November 3, 2012
 Instant analysis: PSU 34, Purdue 9
By Josh Moyer
Penn State may have started off slow, but it corrected its mistakes quickly in a dominant 34-9 victory over Purdue.

The Nittany Lions' defense allowed an early field goal -- the only points it has allowed in the first quarter all season -- but kept Purdue scoreless until the game's final play. Penn State's offense also came on strong, as Matt McGloin set a school record by registering the fifth 300-yard game of his career.

McGloin finished with 321 passing yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Penn State improves to 6-3 (4-1 Big Ten) with the win, while Purdue drops to 3-6 (0-5).

It was over when: Michael Zordich scored late in the second quarter. Penn State drove 65 yards in less than a minute to claim a 20-3 halftime advantage as Zordich rumbled 5 yards for the TD. With the way Purdue's offense had played, chances at a comeback were slim at that point.

Game ball goes to: Gerald Hodges. The linebacker sprinted from sideline to sideline and seemed to be around the football at all times. He came away with a team-leading eight tackles -- three of which came in the backfield -- and gave Penn State the boost it needed. The defense dominated, forcing six punts and three turnovers on downs, and Hodges was a big reason why.

Stat of the game: One. That was the number of third-down conversions Purdue converted in its first 12 attempts. Penn State's third-down defense was consistent all game, and the Boilermakers struggled to sustain any drives despite great field position in the first half.

Unsung hero: Zach Zwinak. He was the featured tailback against Purdue, and he didn't disappoint. The 6-foot-1, 232-pound bruiser wore the defense down and rumbled for 134 yards on 21 carries. He played a critical role in balancing this offense and moving the chains.

What it means: Penn State started off slow and usually that's been a foreshadowing of what to expect the rest of the game. Instead, the Nittany Lions adjusted and showed they can overcome a bad start.

Career day: Brandon Moseby-Felder set personal bests in receptions and receiving yards by catching six balls for 129 yards and a touchdown. Moseby-Felder has slowly emerged as the No. 2 wideout on this team, and this was his breakout game.