College football

BCS bowl in Lions' sights

Penn State pounds Wisconsin 35-14 and needs one win to clinch the Big Ten berth.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Michael Robinson threw two touchdowns and ran for 125 yards, and linebacker Tamba Hali led a ferocious defense as No. 10 Penn State beat No. 14 Wisconsin 35-14 on Saturday.

Hali had four sacks to help the Nittany Lions shut down the Badgers' high-scoring attack and tailback Brian Calhoun, who finished with 38 yards on 20 carries after going in averaging 135 yards.

Tony Hunt added 151 yards and two scores for Penn State, which inched closer to claiming the Big Ten's BCS bid. Penn State would guarantee a trip to a BCS bowl if it wins its final regular-season game at Michigan State on Nov. 19.

John Stocco threw one TD and two interceptions for Wisconsin.

Hali, a senior playing his final game at Beaver Stadium, ran around or over most of the blockers Wisconsin threw his way.

Fans waved white rally flags and Guns N' Roses blared over the loudspeakers as Wisconsin opened the second half on offense down 21-0. Calhoun was held to short runs before Hali, on third and 6, ran past guard Jason Palermo and another blocker and sacked Stocco.

Calhoun did get a 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, his school-record 22nd of the season.

Penn State stalled on its next drive, but Wisconsin failed to capitalize. Calhoun was pushed out of bounds on a swing pass for a 5-yard gain, linebacker Paul Posluszny snuffed a short pass for a 2-yard loss and Stocco threw an incompletion after getting pressured from Hali and Scott Paxson.

Robinson hit Butler on a 47-yard touchdown on Penn State's next drive to seal the win. Robinson finished 13-of-28 for 238 yards.

[Last modified November 6, 2005, 01:59:22]