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The stats for Penn State’s two rookie wide receivers have been modest. Allen Robinson and Bill Belton have only a few touches between them so far this season.

Rest assured, there’s at least one local who has noticed their contributions.

Wyoming Valley West’s Eugene Lewis will be joining them on the Nittany Lions’ receiving corps next season, and seeing two more wideouts play as true freshmen for Penn State has encouraged the Spartans standout.

Lewis, rated as one of the top receiver recruits in the country by multiple services, has said one of the reasons he picked Penn State was the opportunity to play a bit right away. The fact that Robinson and Belton are both expected to travel with the team and play in Saturday’s game at Northwestern reinforces that belief for Lewis.

“Exactly. It definitely shows that I have a great possibility of getting (early) playing time out there,” Lewis said last week after Valley West’s win over Hazleton Area. “I think if I just work hard and just go out there and play like I play, I’ll be fine.”

Lewis has been much better than fine in his senior season as the Spartans quarterback. Against the Cougars last Friday, he racked up 155 yards on the ground, 123 through the air and scored five total touchdowns. In the first half.

His team up 46-7 at the break, he didn’t need to take the field after that in a 66-21 win.

On the season, Lewis has 1,137 yards rushing (8.6 ypc) and 20 touchdowns in seven games while going 49-of-84 passing for 739 yards, with eight scores and seven interceptions. And for good measure, he has two two catches for 21 yards.

Lewis took in Penn State’s game against Alabama from the Beaver Stadium sideline last month and is hopeful to get back to Happy Valley for one of the Lions’ final two home games against Illinois or Nebraska.

Though he doesn’t have a date set yet, Lewis also expects to head to campus for his official visit after the season before formally signing with Penn State in February.

“I’m still going to talk to the coaches about (the official visit),” Lewis said. “I’m trying to get back down there for a game soon. I definitely want to see them play.”

Beachum expected back

Junior tailback Brandon Beachum should see the field against Northwestern, according to offensive coordinator Galen Hall, who directly oversees the team’s running backs.

Beachum, who started the year as the top backup to Silas Redd, has missed the past four games with a sprained foot.

“He’s practiced all week,” Hall said Thursday on the team’s weekly radio show. “There’s a very good possibility Brandon will play along with Curtis Dukes and obviously Silas. Stephfon Green has been back with us as well.

“Right now were as healthy as we have been at our tailback position.”

As for Joe Paterno, call it a game-time decision.

Penn State’s 84-year-old-coach spent all of last week’s game against Purdue up in the booth after aggravating his sore right hip a week earlier against Iowa.Team play-by-play man Steve Jones said a decision on where Paterno will spend the game won’t be made until Saturday.

Top receiver Derek Moye is confirmed to be out against the Wildcats as he recovers from a broken bone in his left foot.