Memories of four losing seasons in the past five years are close to being evaporated for the Nittany Lions.

Penn State finished its non-conference schedule with a perfect 3-0 record. Not only is the PSU defense intact and playing solid football again, but the offense has found its legs and is producing for the first time since the 2002 season.

The beleaguered Michael Robinson still has quite a bit to prove when Big Ten play gets under way this weekend at Northwestern, but he has put the two best games of his college career on the board in consecutive weeks.

Seven days after throwing for 220 yards and three TDs vs. Cincinnati, Robinson completed 14-of-23 passes for 274 yards with three TDs and one interception in a40-3 win over Central Michigan. Robinson also ran for the opening score of the game.

If Robinson was able to take advantage of everything the defense gave him, it was WR Deon Butler who hammered home the speed advantage the Nittany Lions showed throughout the game. He caught five passes for 108 yards, including TD receptions of 54 and 24 yards in back-to-back possessions in the second quarter.

"There's going to be good times and there's going to be bad times, so you just try to stay humble," Butler said. "I'm just glad I'm able to contribute this early this season."

Joe Paterno believes he has a good team that is getting better each week. "If we're not where we ought to be," said Paterno, "we're close."

The Nittany Lions will find out when they open the Big Ten season at Northwestern this week.

GAME BALL GOES TO: WR Deon Butler -- The smallish Butler (5-10, 163 pounds) has game-breaking speed. He hit Central Michigan with two big plays in the second quarter that went for touchdowns and gave Penn State complete control of what turned out to be a 40-3 rout.

KEEP AN EYE ON: DE Tamba Hali -- He continues to improve as a pass rusher. He had 2 1/2 sacks against the Chips and head coach Joe Paterno compared him to former Penn State star Courtney Brown.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We prepared for it all week. I feel like we prepared for it pretty well." -- Penn State S Paul Cronin on the spread offense that Central Michigan employed against Penn State. Central Michigan had just 172 total yards -- including 14 on the ground.

LOOKING GOOD: The Penn State defense played as well as ever. The only points Central Michigan scored came on a 31-yard field goal in the second quarter. The Chips got the ball when Calvin Lowry fumbled a punt. Central Michigan didn't gain a yard on three plays before settling for the trey. "I feel like we really brought it all together," cornerback Alan Zemaitis said. "The quarterback (Kent Smith), when he wasn't finding his first read, had to hurry because the D-line was getting so much pressure. Everything was working hand-in-hand."

-- Backup QB Anthony Morelli saw significant action and completed 8-of-13 passes for 107 yards, including a 55-yard TD pass to Ethan Kilmer.

-- LB Tim Shaw was a major force with 10 tackles, three TFL and two sacks.

STILL NEEDS SOME WORK: The Nittany Lions have played two very solid games back-to-back. While skeptics will point out that they came against Cincinnati and Central Michigan, Joe Paterno believes his team is quite solid and ready for Big Ten play. They will get a chance to prove that this week.

-- RB Austin Scott is supposed to provide punch to the running game. He had just four carries for 15 yards against the Chips.

-- The Nittany Lions still can't hold on to the ball for any length of time. Despite the one-sided win, Penn State lost the time-of-possession battle 31:41-28:19. Paterno will trade that loss for a 40-3 victory any day of the week.

ROSTER REPORT: While QB Michael Robinson had a solid game, his third-quarter pass to prized freshman Derrick Williams went sailing over the receiver's head. As Williams leaped for it, he got hit hard by Central Michigan DB Curtis Cutts and went down hard. Beaver Stadium went silent for a moment, but all was well when Williams popped up and was uninjured.