STATE COLLEGE — Tim Shaw was aching for a little time off.

He was a little spent after finishing 12 straight weeks of throwing his 238-pound body against opponents who were often 60 or 70 pounds heavier than him. Shaw was moved from linebacker to defensive end before the season started, so he's a bit leaner than the typical lineman.

Relax and savor the Thanksgiving turkey, Tim. You've got a month off until Penn State (8-4, 5-3 Big Ten) next takes the field.

With injured coach Joe Paterno watching from the press box, the Nittany Lions likely wrapped up a berth in the Outback Bowl in Tampa on Jan. 1 with a 17-13 win Saturday over Michigan State (4-8, 1-7) at Beaver Stadium.

"I'm looking forward to taking next week and getting back to working out, getting refreshed and feeling a little healthier," said Shaw, who had two sacks of Spartan quarterback Brian Hoyer.

Paterno probably wouldn't mind the breather either. The 79-year-old coach broke a shinbone and tore two knee ligaments in his left leg during a sideline collision at Wisconsin on Nov. 4, and had surgery the following day.

Team doctor Wayne Sebastianelli has said that his patient must stay off his feet for at least another month, so Paterno took in Saturday's game with his assistants in the press box.

Offensive coordinator Galen Hall said Paterno suggested a couple of plays late in the contest "that got us some valuable yardage. ... He was very much involved."

Quarterback Anthony Morelli threw for 220 yards and two touchdowns against Michigan State.

"He might have been up there being able to see more, but I didn't notice much of a difference," Morelli said about whether Paterno's presence may have affected playcalling.

The junior helped orchestrate the go-ahead touchdown drive in the third quarter.

Derrick Williams tiptoed along the sidelines on third down for a 23-yard reception. Tony Hunt turned a screen into another 23-yard gain. Morelli threaded a pass through tight coverage to tight end Andrew Quarless for 29 yards before rolling right and hitting wide receiver Jordan Norwood for a 6-yard touchdown catch.

It was the first scoring reception by a Penn State wideout since Deon Butler's TD against Notre Dame on Sept. 9.