Carolyn Kaster, Associated Press Penn State's defense has been tough on opponents lately. Saturday, the Lions' Tyrell Sales, left, and Joe Cianciolo, center, tackle Northwestern's Sherrick McManis in the third quarter. Click photo for larger image.

Penn State got what it wanted, but only after a wild day of scoreboard watching.

The game against Minnesota at noon Saturday will go on as scheduled because the Minnesota Twins captured the American League Central Division on the final day of the Major League Baseball season. The game against the Gophers will be at the Metrodome in Minneapolis.

Penn State almost had an unplanned off week. If the Detroit Tigers had won yesterday, Penn State's game against the Gophers would have been moved until Nov. 25 because of a conflict with the Metrodome. Detroit led the Kansas City Royals by three runs going into the eight inning, but lost in extra innings, 10-8. That loss, coupled with the Twins beating the Chicago White Sox, meant there would not be a stadium conflict and the game could go on as planned.

Penn State coach Joe Paterno and the players favored playing the game as scheduled for several reasons. They have some momentum after beating Northwestern, 33-7, Saturday; they wanted to spend Thanksgiving with their families; and Paterno did not believe it would be fair to Michigan if Penn State had an extra week to prepare for the Wolverines, the opponent Oct. 15.

"I would love to play," Penn State linebacker Paul Posluszny said Saturday. "We have something good going right now. We just need to keep playing."

Penn State (3-2, 1-1) leads the series against Minnesota, 5-4. The Lions won last year at Beaver Stadium, 44-14. Minnesota (2-3, 0-2) lost at home to No. 6 Michigan, 28-14, Saturday night.

The game will be televised. The Big Ten Conference will announce which network will carry the game today.

Long distance

Deon Butler broke O.J. McDuffie's 14-year-old record for most receiving yards in a game, against Northwestern. He had 11 receptions for 216 yards and caught three passes of 40 yards or more.

After the game, Butler received a congratulatory phone call from McDuffie.

"I think it hit me when he called me after the game," Butler said. "That is a great honor to be up there with guys like that. Watching all the old highlight films and seeing the catches, the routes they ran, and the big games they played in ... just to be on the same sheet of paper with those guys is amazing. It's something I will always cherish and something I will remember for the rest of my life."

Defense impressive

Penn State's defense has allowed just three touchdowns the past three games and is creeping up in the conference and national rankings. The Lions are second in the Big Ten in rushing defense (81 yards per game), third in total defense (259 yards per game) and fifth in scoring defense (19 points per game). The Lions are 19th in NCAA Division I-A in total defense and 22nd in rushing defense.

"The defense is just out there making plays and getting the crowd into the game," defensive tackle Ed Johnson said. "It helps us get momentum and helps the team a lot. We just went out there and tried to have fun."

Shaw out

Senior defensive end Jim Shaw missed the game against Northwestern because he had arthroscopic knee surgery last week. No timetable has been given for his return.

Sophomore Josh Gaines started in Shaw's place. Shaw's injury meant more playing time for freshmen Maurice Evans and Jared Odrick. Evans had three tackles and 1.5 sacks; Odrick had two tackles and Gaines one tackle against Northwestern.

Brown expected back

Starting left tackle Levi Brown missed the game with a sprained knee, but Paterno was hopeful he would be able to return against Minnesota. Junior Chris Auletta played in place of Brown and performed well.

Penn State rushed for 233 yards and did not allow Anthony Morelli to be sacked.

Quick hits

The game against Northwestern was the 275th at Beaver Stadium. Penn State is 220-55 there since the stadium opened in 1960. ... The Lions have won 11 consecutive home games. ... Senior RB Tony Hunt moved past Lenny Moore and into 11th place on the school's career rushing list. Hunt has 2,459 yards and trails Eric McCoo by 59 yards for 10th place. ... Hunt became the first Penn State back to gain 100 yards in three consecutive games since Larry Johnson in 2002. ... Senior LB Paul Posluszny had 10 tackles against Northwestern and needs 47 to break Greg Buttle's career mark of 343.