Seniors left out in the cold in final performance

For nearly one half, IU (3-8, 1-6 Big Ten) fought like a dog that was tired of being beaten and battered and finally snapped back against No. 16 Penn State (8-3, 4-3 Big Ten), a team they have never defeated.\nAnd then Larry Johnson came to play. The Nittany Lions senior running back shredded the IU defense and the record books Saturday with 327 yards rushing on 28 carries and led Penn State to a 58-25 win in the final game of the season at Memorial Stadium.\nIn addition to breaking his own school record for a single game performance, Johnson became the single-season leading rusher in Penn State history, passing Lydell Mitchell's total of 1,577 yards in 1971.\n"I say he has to be one of the better backs I've ever seen," coach Gerry DiNardo said.\nThe Nittany Lions exploded in the second half after clinging to a 28-18 lead at halftime.\nThey had their share of fits in the first half, though.\nIU's offense was unable to move the ball early, going three-and-out on their first two possessions. The defense was able to pick up the slack though.\nAfter allowing Penn State to score on its first possession, the defense took matters into its own hands -- or at least into the hands of freshman cornerback Buster Larkins, who picked off a pass tipped by senior defensive lineman Kris Dielman and returned it 59 yards for a touchdown midway through the first quarter.\nBut sophomore kicker Bryan Robertson's point after attempt was blocked, and IU stayed down 7-6.\nThe woes of Penn State sophomore quarterback Zack Mills continued on the next possession as freshman linebacker John Kerr intercepted the ball at the Lions' 28-yard line.\n"I was just reading the quarterback's eyes, and I just happened to be in the right place," Kerr said.\nIU capitalized on the turnover with a six-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Tommy Jones to sophomore wide receiver Courtney Roby.\nThe score led to another failed point after attempt, as senior holder Gibran Hamdan was stopped cold in a fake attempt for the two-point conversion.\nIt took exactly one play for the Nittany Lions to answer, as Johnson broke loose on a 69-yard run for his first touchdown of the game, giving Penn State a 14-12 edge.\nIU responded with a methodical 18 play, 80-yard drive that ended with Jones hitting senior tight end Stephen Anthony for a one-yard touchdown pass.\nIU set up for a two-point conversion attempt, and got it. But the play was waved off for an illegal formation on the offense, moving the ball back five yards and bringing out the kicking unit.\nOnce again, the point after was botched after a bad snap, giving the Hoosiers three touchdowns and 18 points to show for it.\nTwo plays later, Johnson struck on a 43-yard run. After taking a 21-18 lead on Johnson's second touchdown, Penn State never looked back.\nPenn State senior offensive tackle Matt Schmitt blamed the Lions slow start on the "unique" conditions at Memorial Stadium.\n"We're used to a louder stadium and a little better field conditions," Schmitt said. "It was like playing on the beach."\nWith temperatures waning along with the sunlight, the second half was no day at the beach for the Hoosiers, who were outscored 30-7.\nJohnson scored Penn State's next touchdown from one-yard out.\nA 27-yard field goal by sophomore kicker Robbie Gould gave Penn State a 38-18 lead at the end of the third quarter.\nIU was able to respond early in the fourth with a 6-yard touchdown run by freshman Yamar Washington that capped off a drive that went 80 yards and lasted over eight minutes.\nJohnson killed any hopes of a comeback three minutes later with his fourth touchdown of the game, this one coming on a 41-yard scamper down the sideline.\nFreshman cornerback Damien Jones said IU lost its focus in the second half.\n"We went out in the beginning and had our mind on defense and making plays," Jones said. "In the second half, we kind of lost sight of that."\nPenn State scored twice more in the fourth quarter. The first touchdown came from junior cornerback Rich Gardner, who intercepted a Jones pass and returned it 35 yards to pay dirt.\nThe Lions final touchdown came with two minutes left to play, as sophomore running back Mike Gasparato plunged into the end zone from three yards out. By that time, Penn State coach Joe Paterno was letting everyone in for some action -- including backup junior kicker David Kimball, whose extra point attempt was blocked.\nIU's season wraps up next week at Purdue when the Hoosiers battle the Boilermakers for the Old Oaken Bucket.