(State College) It was big game time once again Saturday in Happy Valley. But this big game seemed much different. It was a game that the pressure was squarely on Penn State to win. Penn State’s recent track record against Top 5 opponents has not been good. Its track record against Saturday’s opponent Ohio State was even worse. Ohio State had seemed to have lost a bit from recent champaigns. This was the time and game Penn State had been waiting for. Unfortunately, Ohio State (7-1, 4-1) did not cooperate. The Buckeyes led by a solid defensive performance, handed Penn State (7-1,4-1) its first loss of the season 20-13 at Beaver Stadium.
Drew Allar faced a blistering Ohio State rush all game long that had him rushing from the pocket 10 times. Neither Katron Allen nor Nick Singleton averaged 3 yards a carry. Tyler Warren was held in check most of the game until the final Penn State drive. For Ohio State, former Downingtown West QB Will Howard was poised in the pocket all game long. Will was 16-24 for 182 yards passing. Howard seemed to be one step of Penn State in his RPO game too. Quinshon Judkins 95 yards rushing was tops in the game.
“You can’t be inside the 5 twice and come away with no points” said Penn State Coach James Franklin “That was the game” Coach said. James said the team needs to “flush” this loss. “We can’t allow 1 loss to turn into 2.”
The game started out as planned for Penn State. The Nittany Lions Opening drive was textbook. A 14-play time consuming drive was capped by a 29-yard Ryan Barker field goal. 3-0 at the 6:54 mark of quarter 1. Ohio State’s first drive ended in disaster. Will Howard threw the ball right to PSU’s Zion Tracy. Tracy had a lane to the end zone for a 31-yard TD. All of a sudden it was 10-0 Nittany Lions at the 5:37 mark. As if the INT did not exist, Will Howard drove OSU right down the field. Howard hit a wide open Emeka Egbuka on a 29-yard TD pass. Still in quarter 1 it was 10-7 PSU.
The 2nd quarter was all about Ohio State. Howard hit Brandon Inness on a 17-yard score to put Ohio State in front for good 14-10 at the 11:54 mark. After a PSU three and out, the Buckeyes drove the field again. This time, Howard fumbled going into the end zone to give the ball back to Penn State n a touchback. Penn State had one last shot in the first half. PSU was inside the OSU 5 when Drew Allar had an end zone pass picked off as the half ended. A deflated Penn State went to the locker room trailing Ohio State 14-10.
Ohio State turned its opening 2nd half drive into points. A 46-yard field goal extended the lead to 17-10 at the 10:40 mark. PSU countered with its own Ryan Barker 44-yard field goal to make it 17-13 with 5:03 quarter 3.
Early in quarter 4 a strong Ohio State drive stalled and led to another field goal and a 20-13 advantage with 10:13 remaining. One final hectic drive was left for Penn State. Tyler Warren led the way down the field catching and running the ball down to the 3. Three dive plays were stopped by the Ohio State D, a fourth down pass to Warren fell incomplete. Ballgame. Ohio State survives another frantic effort by Penn State for Big Ten supremacy.
Ohio State heads to off to play Purdue next week. Penn State hosts Washington.
