Tale of 2 quarterbacks: Penn State’s Daryll Clark shines while Michigan’s Tate Forcier slumps

JoePa says Penn State’s Clark doesn’t get his due

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — JoePa says Daryll Clark doesn’t get his due.

If the Penn State quarterback can keep playing like he did at Michigan, he should be in for plenty of praise.

Clark tied his career high with four touchdown passes and didn’t turn the ball over, leading the 13th-ranked Nittany Lions to a 35-10 win against the Wolverines for their biggest win of the year.

“Clark played a great game,” Penn State coach Joe Paterno said. “I don’t think he’s gotten the credit he should get.

“I think Daryll Clark has been a darn good quarterback for a couple years.”

The last time Clark threw four TDs was last season when he put the Nittany Lions in the Rose Bowl with a 49-18 win over then-No. 17 Michigan State.

Clark broke a school record Saturday with the 55th TD of his career. He has thrown for 36 scores and run for 19, surpassing the mark Zack Mills set earlier this decade.

Paterno can point to that accomplishment and Clark’s 18-3 record to back up his unsolicited point. But doubters have fodder when they look at how he fared in his three losses.

Clark completed just 46 percent of his passes with twice as many interceptions (six) as TD passes (three) in two setbacks to Iowa — this and last season — and against USC in the Rose Bowl.

When Clark was told what JoePa said about him not getting the credit he deserves, the senior shrugged.

“When I hear people say that, I laugh because that’s not why I play,” Clark said. “I play for the team, the coaches and to get the ‘W’ every time we step out on the football field. Whether you feel like I’m credible or not really doesn’t make a difference as long as we’re winning.

“We’ve won four straight and we have another tough opponent next week in Northwestern.”

The senior from Youngstown, Ohio, might have to wait to silence his remaining critics until Nov. 7 when Penn State hosts the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Tate Forcier won’t have to wait that long.

He’ll get a chance Saturday at Illinois to show he can win a road game after losing his first two opportunities against Michigan State and Iowa.

“I want people to expect me to play like I did at the start of the year,” Forcier said.

Forcier made two game-winning throws late in games against then-No. 18 Notre Dame and Indiana to help Michigan win its first four games, all of which were at home.

He hurt his right shoulder in his fourth game against the Hoosiers, and hasn’t been the same since.

Forcier connected on 62 percent of his passes for seven TDs with just two interceptions and ran for 127 yards and two scores in September. He hasn’t completed half of his attempts since then and has two passing TDs, three interceptions, 63 yards rushing and no scores on the ground.

“I think we have to remember that he’s a true freshman, and not expect too much too soon,” Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said.