Making his first start Kevin Thompson was 10-15 for 140 yards, and directed the offense to 6 scores on their first 7 possessions. The rushing attack was led by Cordell Mitchell, who had 99 yards in 16 carries. Freshman Eric McCoo (remember this name)had a 41 yard run on his first carry. The defense limited Southern Mississippi to 9 yards on the ground.
9/12/98 Penn State 48 Bowling Green 3
Joe Paterno got his 300th career win before 96,000 fans and 50 members of the undefeated 1973 squad, who were present for their reunion. Paterno joins Eddie Robinson (408), Joe Gagliardi (343), Bear Bryant (323), Pop Warner (319), and Amos Alonzo Stagg (314), as the only coaches to eclipse the 300 win mark. Cordell Mitchell electrified the crowd with a 77 yard sprint on the first play of the game. He finished with 104 yards on 6 carries. Bowling Green was forced to punt on their first possession, and Bruce Branch returned it 73 yards for a TD. Two possessions later Lavar Harrington returned an interception 16 yards for a touchdown, giving the Nittany Lions a 21-0 lead midway through the first quarter.
9/19/98 Penn State 20 Pittsburgh 13
The Nittany Lion's defense dominated this game, as they recorded 8 sacks for -53 yards. Three of the sacks came after Pittsburgh took possession on their own 43 with 1:38 left in the game. Chafie Fields scored on a 60 yard pass play from Kevin Thompson. Travis Forney added two field goals.
10/03/98 Ohio State 28 Penn State 9
Ohio State recovered a fumble and blocked a punt, both recovered in the end zone for 14 points. The Penn State defense held the number 1 Buckeyes to 14 points, 113 yards rushing, 326 total yards, and forced two turnovers. A 22 yard reception by Nastasi from Thompson set up a Forney field goal. In the second half a 37 yard Nastasi reception set up a Mike Cerimele 1 yard plunge. Cordell Mitchell finished with 81 yards
10/10/98 Penn State 27 Minnesota 17
The defense forced 4 turnovers, had 7 sacks, and limited the Gophers to 90 yards rushing and 224 yards total yards. The Lions rushed for 163 yards against a defense that was second in the nation with a 64.3 yards per game. After Minnesota had cut the lead to 16-10 midway through the third quarter, they pinned the Lions down on their own 9 yardline. Keving Thompson completed a 14 yard pass to Bruce Branch, a 19 yard pass to Corey Jones, and then hit a streaking Jones for a 65 yard scoring play. Travis Forney kicked 4 field goals.
10/17/98 Penn State 31 Purdue 13
The Penn State defense held the Drew Brees aerial attack to their lowest points total in 2 years. The defense recorded 6 sacks for -50 yards, and limited Purdue's ground game to -12 yards. The Lions started the game with a 13 play, 96 yard drive, that consumed 6:04 off the clock. Their next possession had Eric McCoo (remember that name) gaining 49 on the ground, before gathering in a 12 yard scoring pass. McCoo finished the day with 163 yards, the most by a Penn State freshman, since D.J. Dozier's 163 yards in 1983.
10/24/98 Penn State 27 Illinois 0
Penn State earned their first Big Ten home shutout, as the defense record 5 more sacks, and held the Illini to 244 total yards. The offense again started the game with a long drive, as they went 89 yards on 15 plays in 7:09, highlighted by a 47 yard pass play to Chafie Fields from Kevin Thompson. On their second possession Thompson again connected with Fields, this time for 53 yards. McCoo (remember that name) scored from the 2.
11/07/98 Michigan 27 Penn State 0
Let me recap went right for the Nittany Lions.
11/14/98 Penn State 41 Northwestern 10
The defense, well you know, had 5 sacks, and 17 talkles for losses. The Wildcats were held to 22 yards rushing and 13 first downs. Kevin Thompson threw for 170 yards, including 3 catches by Concho Brown for 77 yards. Eric McCoo (remember that name) had a 57 yard scoring run, and a 35 yard run that set up a Travis Forney field goal.
11/21/98 Wisconsin 24 Penn State 3
The Lions had 7 penalties for 69 yards, lost 2 fumbles in the first half, and gave up an 82 yard punt return, as Wisconsin completely dominated the lions, and earned a birth in the Rose Bowl. The defense limited All-American Ron Dayne to 40 yards below his average, but could not contain QB Mike Samuels, who rushed for 89 yards, 6 first downs, and a touchdown.
11/28/98 Penn State 51 Michigan State 28
Eric McCoo (remember that name) gained 206 yards (a school freshman record) on 28 carries. He had runs of 27, 26, 29, and 21 yards, and had a 73 yard run called back. Travis Forney tied a school record with 5 field goals. The Spartans' tailback Sedrick Irvin, who rushed for 238 yards against the Lions in 97, was held to 76 yards, 44 of which were on the opening drive. The Lions did not allow a runner to gain 100 yards all season.
Outback Bowl
1/1/99 Penn State 26 Kentucky 14
The Lion defense was ranked among the nation's top 12 in the four NCAA team statistical categories, allowing just 15.4 points per game. The Wildcats were No. 2 nationally in passing (412.2 ypg) and third in total offense (534.2 ypg), averaging 37.9 points. So something had to give. After Tim Couch led Kentucky to 180 yards in the first quarter and a 14-3 lead, the defenseive adjustments took over the game. They allowed only 127 yards in the second half. Kevin Thompson threw for 187 yards, Eric McCoo (there is no way you won't remember his name after the 99 season) rushed for 105 yards, and Chafie Fields scored on a reverse from 19 yards out. Travis Forney kicked 4 field goals, an Outback Bowl and Penn State bowl record. Courtney Brown was named the game MVP, as he recorded 7 tackles (4 for -26 yards). The game was the 29 bowl game for Paterno, which tied him with Bear Bryant for most bowl games. The victory improved the Lions' record to 22-11-2 (65.7) in bowl contests, tied for third-best in wins and second in winning percentage to Georgia Tech. Penn State has won more bowl games (19) and more New Year's bowls (14) than any school since Paterno became head coach in 1966, as he improved his NCAA bowl wins record to 19-9-1.
