STATE COLLEGE, Pa., Sept. 21 (UPI) -- Michael Robinson rushed for three touchdowns Saturday as the 15th-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions remained unbeaten with a 49-17 rout of Louisiana Tech.
Penn State coach Joe Paterno used Robinson, a redshirt freshman who is listed as a quarterback, as a running back in spring drills. He burst on the national scene next week by rushing for a pair of TDs in last week's 40-7 rout of Nebraska.
Against Louisiana Tech (1-2), he scored on runs of 18 and six yards in the first half and five yards midway through the third quarter.
Luke McCown completed 36-of-56 passes for 402 yards and two touchdowns, keeping Louisiana Tech in the game for 2 1/2 quarters. But he also threw three interceptions, including two in a six-minute span of the third period that enabled the Nittany Lions (3-0) to pull away.
Penn State turned a close game into a lopsided affair by erupting for four touchdowns in the final 8 1/2 minutes of the third period.
The Bulldogs closed within 21-17 on McCown's nine-yard TD pass to Ahmad Harris just 2:25 into the second half. But linebacker Deryck Toles' interception at the Louisiana Tech 21 with 9:26 left in the third period set up Robinson's six-yard scamper just three players later.
After an exchange of punts, Ryan Pinckney stepped in front of a pass and returned it 34 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown with 3:09 left.
Larry Johnson completed Penn State's 28-point third quarter with a pair of short TD runs in the final 71 seconds of the period.
