PSU Notebook: Odrick, Hahn done for the season
By Eric Thomas
Last updated: Sunday, October 21, 2007 12:54 AM EDT
Assistant Sports Editor
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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. —- Matt Hahn was in the midst of the best game he’s played all season.
And on one clutch drive, in which Hahn tore off a 14-yard run, a play he took off and threw a shoulder into the Indiana defender chasing him, Hahn’s season came to an end due to a torn ACL.
The senior finished the afternoon with five carries for 43 yards, an 8.6 yards per rush average and provided solid run blocking all game long for backs Rodney Kinlaw and Evan Royster.
The bad news didn’t end there for Penn State as defensive tackle Jared Odrick, already playing with a broken hand, suffered what appears to be a broken ankle. He too is done for the season.
Late in the fourth quarter as he was being helped back to the locker room on crutches, Odrick told the Lancaster Sunday News that the injury was a “broken leg.”
“Hahn’s got an ACL and Odrick has a broken ankle.”
“That’s three good football players we’ve lost in the last two games,” said head coach Joe Paterno referring to the loss of defensive end Jerome Hayes a week ago in the win over Wisconsin.
The loss of Hahn means Cumberland Valley’s Dan Lawlor likely slides into the starting fullback role against Ohio State next Saturday night.
Right guard Mike Lucian did not make the trip to Bloomington due to a concussion suffered last week against Wisconsin.
The coaching staff rotated the spot between John Shaw and Stefan Wisniewski. Wisniewski, the true freshman, started the game, while Shaw, who has been out with a knee injury, saw extensive time starting in the second quarter.
Lucian was tested for a concussion on Monday and then again later on in the week according to Paterno, and was unable to go.