"We just knew that drive for us was going to be our season," Moye said.
For most of the day, the Nittany Lions offense looked anemic. But that changed when they took over with 3 minutes, 5 seconds left in the game at their own 20-yard line.
After a couple of earlier dropped passes by his receivers, coach Joe Paterno decided to make the change. Team doctors had told Paterno that Moye, who was hurt slipping down the stairs in his apartment, could play if the team needed him, but to be careful.
"I said to [quarterbacks coach] Jay Paterno, 'You tell Mike McQueary we want our best receivers in the game. We can't afford to drop a pass,' " Joe Paterno said about the final drive. "They decided we go with Moye."
To get the drive rolling, quarterback Matt McGloin hit Moye for a 20-yard completion. But on third down, Moye dropped a catchable ball.
It didn't take long for the lanky 6-foot-5, 210-pound receiver to redeem himself. On the next play, facing fourth and 6, Moye went deep to clear the field underneath for teammate Justin Brown. Moye beat cornerback Justin Green, looked back to see McGloin unexpectedly launch the ball toward him, adjusted to it, and was held when he went up to reel in the ball.
Pass interference was called, giving the Nittany Lions a fresh set of downs at the 17-yard line.
"He was open, so I threw it to him," said McGloin. "That's really what it came down to."
Moye caught a 9-yard pass on the next play, and Silas Redd scored three plays later to give Penn State the lead.
Though he said he felt fine, Moye will have an extra week to rest before Penn State hosts Nebraska on Nov. 12, for which he said he will "definitely" be ready to go.
Contact staff writer Jake Kaplan at jake.kaplan1@gmail.com.
