Joseph Vincent Paterno, facing the near-inevitability of a third losing season in his past four of a beyond-brilliant Penn State career, looked time-worn after a predictable 28-14 loss to No. 18 Purdue.

The Nittany Lions (2-5), who play three-plus hearty quarters against their Big Ten brethren, always seem to find a way to lose this type of game.

Yesterday's villain was a Purdue punt returner named Anthony Chambers, who returned a first quarter Jeremy Kapinos punt 42 yards to set up a one-yard Brandon Jones touchdown that gave the 5-1 Boilermakers a 7-0 lead, then in the second quarter, ran a booming Kapinos 58-yarder 76 yards to score a touchdown from which the Lions never fully recovered.

"It looked like the kids today were certainly hustling," Paterno said, assessing an effort that shone with promise one minute, then dragged its hearty fans through the depth the next.

"That first drive, they played the (Purdue) running game hard; it's tough out there and they wear down over a period of time..."

The Lions defense stiffened near the goalline in that first series, smacking two-touchdown scorer Jones, the guy who replaced academically ineligible 1,000-yard rusher Joey Harris. Jones nearly fumbled the touchdown away as Gino Capone punched the ball loose.

In other years, pick your era: a Jack Ham, Matt Millen, Shane Conlin or LaVar Arrington would have punched the ball loose an instant sooner and Purdue would still have been searching for its opening T.D.

But this year, the Boilers have scored on their opening drive in all six games. "Jones did some of the things we know he can do," Tiller said. "This was his type of game because he's a physical guy."

And the Lions continue to deal with the reality this is the most physical of leagues. Purdue, far better known for its new-age passing game, has been gouging out the yardage behind a 300-pound average offensive line which again dominated.

"It's one of the realities you deal with when you decide to play in this league," said Lions center Dave Costlow. "The Big Ten is the most physical league in the country."

Chambers' killer plays and a 42-yard Ben Jones field goal that countered a first-quarter Tony Hunt 4-yard T.D. that tied it briefly, and Purdue seemed destined to take at least a 17-7 lead into halftime, as quarterback Kyle Orton drove the Boilers deep into Lions turf in the two minutes.

But in a highlight-reel moment for the Lions, cornerback Alan Zemaitis slashed in front of intended receiver Ray Williams, snatched Orton's pass at full gallop and dipped and dove past various Purdue defenders en route to a 90 yard interception that produced a 3-yard Michael Robinson to Isaac Smolko touchdown pass and the Lions were within 17-14.

"I felt good, like we had a lot of momentum going into the second half," said Zemaitis, a typically-athletic man-to-man defender.

They all did. And to boot, they stopped the Boilers cold on Purdue's first possession. When Calvin Lowrey returned Brent Slaton's punt to the Purdue 49, the scenario was never better for the Nitts to grab this game by the nape of the neck.

Instead, the offense fell out of sync again and with it, Penn State's chances for victory. "They took advantage of little mistakes we made -- mental and physical," said Robinson, a sophomore who was starting only his second game.

"They were running the ball successfully and they kept us off the field."

It was water-torture slow. A 73-yard, 14-play drive resulted in Ben Jones' 32-yard field goal and a 20-14 lead and the Lions simply couldn't recapture their offense.

There were moments like Robinson's hefty right sideline pass for Tony Johnson that would have landed the Lions on Purdue's 13, but Jacques Reeves committed a "smart" pass interference and and instead, Penn State got a first down on Purdue's 30. An intricate flanker reverse got blown up by Purdue's quick defense and Robinson, desperately trying to wall off Stuart Schweigert, got flagged for a clip that pushed Penn State back to the Purdue 47.

The Lions never recovered.

"I didn't play well, that was a reflexive play," he said, injecting a little gallows humor. "I'm sure y'all will write something nice about me. But I couldn't get into my rhythm."

Instead it was the Boilers -- particularly Brandon Jones, who had a career day (149 yards in 29 carries and a fourth quarter 1-yard T.D., that iced it) -- who were positively symphonic.

"We took a big step backward today," Paterno assessed finally. "Purdue is the best team we've played, a sound solid football team. We're playing the best guys we have, but they just have to learn the game. If you lose the ball game, it's tough to see any bright spots."

There is one -- sort of. Next week the Lions are off. But then they have to face Iowa (5-1) in Iowa City.

"This year is a learning experience," Robinson said. "But we're tired and frustrated."

Extra Points

STUART SCHWEIGERT, the Boilers' All-American safety, did not start and played sparingly as a result of an off-campus team rules violation...Penn State's AUSTIN SCOTT, a promising freshman running back, contracted mononucleosis and did not make the trip and left guard SCOTT DAVIS, a prime time run blocker, missed the game with an ankle sprain...Purdue's JEROD VOID, who led the Boilers' huge running day in last week's 43-10 win over Illinois, was sidelined early with a high ankle sprain. The win was Purdue's first over Penn State since the Lions joined the Big Ten...Purdue visits Wisconsin Saturday.