Penn State opens Big Ten with 35-7 win at Illinois

(AP Photo/Seth Perlman)

By DAVID MERCER

Associated Press

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) Matt McGloin threw for 211 yards and a touchdown and ran for two more scores to lead Penn State to a 35-7 win over Illinois Saturday in the schools' Big Ten opener.

Sophomore running back Zach Zwinak added 101 yards and two touchdowns for Penn State (3-2). The Nittany Lions forced three turnovers and held the Illini (2-3) scoreless for the first 34 minutes.

Linebacker Mike Mauti intercepted Illini quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase twice.

The first came on the Penn State goal line and Mauti returned it 99 yards near the end of the first half - but Penn State failed to score. The second set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Zwinak that put the game out of reach at 35-7.

Scheelhaase threw for 270 yards.

Updated September 29, 2012