Illinois at Penn State Football: The Tale of Two Freshman QBs

The Illinois Fighting Illini travel to University Park to take on the Penn State Nittany Lions this Saturday in a matchup of two teams that are led by freshman quarterbacks.

Nathan Scheelhaase and Robert Bolden have both shown signs of promise as well as inexperience thus far in the 2010 season.

Both quarterbacks now have one Big Ten game under their belts.  They also share the something else about their Big Ten debuts, defeat.

Scheelhaase and the Illini hosted the Ohio State Buckeyes, losing a tough one 24-13.

Bolden and the Nittany Lions suffered a 21-point loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium.

The two quarterbacks will square off next Saturday, both looking to lead their team to a much needed victory in Big Ten conference play.

Last week against the Buckeyes Scheelhaase struggled against one of the Big Ten’s best defenses completing only 12 passes for 109 yards and rushing 11 times for 12 yards.  Scheelhaase’s touchdown on an impressive opening drive should not be forgotten amid the inconsistent performance from the redshirt freshman.

Bolden fared a little better than his upcoming counterpart and against the Big Ten’s best defense.  Facing the tough Hawkeyes defense, Bolden completed 20 passes for 237 yards and helped the Nittany Lions offense gain 301 yards against an Iowa defense that allows only 242.2 yards per game.

To this point in the season, Bolden has the edge over Scheelhaase throwing for 1035 yards compared to Scheelhaase’s 489.  Despite playing one more game, the Penn State quarterback has thrown the same amount of touchdown passes as Scheelhaase (3 TD Passes each), but has thrown two more interceptions (Bolden – 6, Scheelhaase – 4). 

Saturday’s game will feature defenses that will not make these two freshman’s jobs any easier.  Although Illinois and Penn State do not boast the top defenses in the Big Ten, they both rank within the top five in points allowed per game, yards allowed per game, and total pass yards allowed.

Upper class running backs Mikel Leshoure and Evan Royster, two of the best running backs the Big Ten has to offer, will help take the pressure off of their young quarterbacks.  Leshoure currently ranks fourth in the Big Ten in rushing yards with 478 yards in only four games and has scored three touchdowns.  Royster has run for 353 yards, which is good for eighth in the conference, and one touchdown.

Penn State and Illinois have many of the same qualities: freshman quarterbacks, experienced running backs, above average defenses, and well known coaches, Paterno for success, and Zook for failure.

This week six matchup will be another tightly contested Big Ten contest.  The freshman quarterbacks will continue their rollercoaster seasons.  In an offensively challenged matchup, the Illini will outlast the Nittany Lions.

Prediction: Illinois 14…Penn State 10