STATE COLLEGE — Tyrell Sutton looked like he was in the clear after he caught a short pass and turned up field.

Not so fast, thought Penn State linebacker Paul Posluszny, who pulled the Northwestern running back down from behind in the fourth quarter of the Nittany Lions' 33-7 win over the Wildcats on Saturday.

The game was well in hand by then, but the play sent another message: Posluszny is getting more comfortable both with the black brace on his right knee and with his role in Penn State's improving defense.

That might be bad news for Penn State opponents, especially with critical games looming this weekend at Minnesota and at home in two weeks against No. 6 Michigan.

"Coming into this game, we all felt comfortable and we had a great scheme," Posluszny said. "We felt that if we did everything that we practiced, they wouldn't be able to score on us."

They came close to pitching a shutout. The Wildcats' only score came on a drive that started at the Penn State 16 after Northwestern linebacker Nick Roach picked off an Anthony Morelli pass.