Michael Robinson saw the defense closing in on him. He also saw an open receiver on the left side.
Robinson released the ball just in time to connect with freshman Derrick Williams on a 36-yard touchdown pass with 51 seconds left and lift Penn State to a wild 34-29 victory over Northwestern (2-2) on Saturday in the Big Ten opener for both teams in Evanston, Ill.
The lead changed three times in the closing minutes, and the Nittany Lions overcame four turnovers and a 16-point deficit to improve to 4-0 for the first time since 1999.
“That drive was all about heart,” said Robinson, who passed for three TDs and ran for another. “Derrick was kind of upset at halftime because he felt like he could do some things on the outside, but we weren’t getting him the ball. I told him to be patient.”
And for Williams, the first touchdown of his college career couldn’t have come at a better time.
“That’s something that everybody dreams for – especially when it’s my first touchdown,” Williams said.
Robinson completed 17-of- 36 passes for 271 yards and three interceptions. He also rushed for 60 yards. With his TD run, he became the first Penn State player to reach 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 passing in a career.
ACC
Brian Toal’s 1-yard touchdown run in overtime lifted Boston College to its first league victory, 16-13 over host Clemson.
The Eagles (3-1, 1-1) did not score for the game’s final 41 minutes after taking a 10-0 lead at Death Valley. But on a second-and-goal play on their extra possession, Toal moved through the right side for the winning points.
For Clemson (2-2, 1-2), it was a second straight tough home loss. Last weekend, the Tigers lost to Miami 36-30 in triple overtime.
Andre Callender rushed for 116 yards for Boston College, which played without starting quarterback Quinton Porter. Porter injured his right ankle in the Eagles’ ACC debut last weekend, a 28-17 loss to Florida State.
Boston College had a chance to end things in regulation, but Ryan Ohliger was short and right on a 48-yard field goal try with 1:14 remaining.
After Clemson was held on downs, the Eagles got one more shot as they moved into Tigers territory in the final minute. Tye Hill, though, intercepted Ryan as time ran out.
Clemson settled for a 24-yard field goal on its overtime possession for its first lead of the game, 13-10.
Callender looked like he had the game won with a run to the goal line.
Unlike a week ago when the Eagles couldn’t score on seven plays from inside Florida State’s 3-yard line, Toal, a linebacker put in as a running back, slid in for the TD.
North Carolina 31, North Carolina State 24: Barrington Edwards ran for a career-high 129 yards and a touchdown, Matt Baker recovered from a miserable first half to throw for the go-ahead score and the Tar Heels (1-2, 1-1) defeated their rival from just down the road for the 10th time in the past 13 meetings.
North Carolina State (1-2, 0-2), which came in leading the ACC in total offense, gained just 270 yards, nearly 200 fewer than its average. The Wolfpack managed only 13 yards on the ground.
Maryland 22, Wake Forest 12: Josh Wilson returned a fumble 20 yards for a touchdown to lead visiting Maryland.
Keon Lattimore ran for 76 yards and the only offensive touchdown for the Terrapins (2-2, 1-1), who continued their recent dominance against the Demon Deacons (1-3, 0-1). Maryland has won seven straight in the series, including all five matchups since former Air Force assistant Jim Grobe took over at Wake Forest.
Wake Forest’s Micah Andrews, who entered leading the ACC and ranked fourth nationally at 153 rushing yards per game, was held to just 23 yards on six carries.
Nonconference
Blake Field completed 13-of- 20 passes for 200 yards and three touchdowns in the first start of his career, leading host Auburn (3-1) to a 37-14 victory over I-AA Western Kentucky (2-1).
Field got his chance when starter Brandon Cox came down with a stomach virus shortly before game time and was unable to play. Cox is expected to be back in the lineup when Auburn plays South Carolina next weekend.
Vanderbilt 37, Richmond 13: Quarterback Jay Cutler set the school’s total yardage record with 6,769 and also broke the touchdown record with 44 as the Commodores improved to 4-0 for the first time since 1984 by defeating Division I-AA Richmond (1-3).
