No. 3 Penn State breaks Michigan hex 46-17

[October 20, 2008]  STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -- Polishing off Joe Paterno's greatest nemesis, No. 3 Penn State ended a dozen years of disappointment against Michigan.

Behind the running of Evan Royster and a few momentum-shifting plays by the defense and special teams, the Nittany Lions withstood the Wolverines' early flurry and snapped a nine-game losing streak to their Big Ten rivals, 46-17 Saturday.

Paterno wasn't on the field to enjoy his team's highest-scoring game against Michigan, relegated to working from the press box for a third consecutive week because of a sore hip and leg. Surely, his 380th victory looked just as good from the bird's-eye view.

Even more important for JoePa's team: When the first BCS standings come out on Sunday, Penn State should be no worse than third. 

[Associated Press; By RALPH D. RUSSO]

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