JoePa returns as EMU losses bad to Penn State, 34-6

Matt McGloin threw for three touchdowns and Penn State welcomed coach Joe Paterno back to the sideline with a 34-6 win Saturday over Eastern Michigan.

Alex Gillett didn’t have as good a time, though he did have Eastern Michigan moving at times through the air. That was a mild surprise given Eastern Michigan had the sixth-best rushing attack in the FBS entering Saturday.

Gillett finished 18 of 31 passing for 202 yards, and ran for 22 yards on 15 carries. The Eagles finally got on the board with 11:50 left on Fulkerson’s 21-yard field goal.

It surely pleased the 84-year-old Paterno, who paced the sideline in the first half for the first time this season before returning to the press box after halftime with his team up comfortably. The Hall of Famer spent the first three games entirely upstairs while recovering from injuries suffered from an accidental collision in practice Aug. 7.