How crooked was that "O" behind the end-zone? How sweet was the mini S-Zone in the corner?Man did it feel good to type the score of this one in the title. As we said last night, it wasn't pretty, but at this point, who cares. A win is a win, and when you're playing Ohio State at night in the Horseshoe, you'd take a 3-2 victory and be thrilled about it.
For most of the night, this game was dead even, and you could sense that it would take one huge play from either side to win. In the end, it came in the form of an incredibly untimely turnover by a true freshman QB (and the one of the wildest scrambles to recover a ball that we can remember).
And oh by the way, to the rest of the country, you are welcome. You won't have to see Ohio State in the National Championship again this year. We're happy about it too.
Onto the recap...
1st Quarter
The first quarter was the most boring quarter of football we've seen all season. Both teams seemed to be sort of feeling things out as both defenses really locked things down.
Ohio State started with the ball and seemed to start moving the ball pretty well, but after a few incompletions it was time to punt.
PSU had two big plays on back to back first downs and our hopes were high we might see a first possession score, but two incompletions and a sad run led to a fourth down and a punt.
For Ohio State's second drive, PSU stacked the line against Wells and forced the game onto Pryor. It would be a theme all night as Ohio State tried to force the run, PSU stuffed them, and Pryor was forced to throw.
It worked this time and Ohio State was forced to punt after only 7 plays.
Ohio State probably would have tried the same tactic, but PSU didn't even bother trying to run, and was also forced to punt rather quickly.
And so ended the most boring quarter ever. Yeah, this is the Big Ten.
2nd Quarter
The short drive theme continued as three more drives started and ended before either team could get very far into the other team's territory.
Our hearts were broken once though. After Jeremy Boone pinned Ohio State at their own 3, Pryor was able to complete a 53 yard pass to a wiiiiiide open Dan Sanzenbacher. Somehow he disappeared into the secondary and took the catch to the PSU 41. We couldn't believe it, Pryor isn't supposed to do things right. We wanted that safety.
It didn't matter though, as Beanie wasted two rushes and Pryor threw another third down incompletion. Boeckman for Heisman, right?
OSU punted and PSU started at their own 11. Pretty crap field position.
The Lions nickel and dimed their way out to about their own 30 before, on a first and ten, Clark hit Graham Zug of all people for 49 yards. Like Sanzenbacher before him, Zug slipped unnoticed into the secondary and found himself wide open. We were thrilled and disappointed at the same time because while the gain was great, had Clark put a little more oomph on that it would have been 6.
Great play nonetheless, and things were finally looking to get going.
Okay so maybe not, three players later it was fourth and 4 and Kevin Kelly trotted onto the field.
He is money, in case you forgot, and banged one through for three.
3-0OSU started the drive with about a minute and a half left, they could not be allowed to score.
An incompletion and a false start followed and we thought we were going into halftime with the lead, but Pryor moved the ball 10 yards and got a new set of downs.
Fortunately, Aaron Maybin hit the right-bumper a couple times then got the User Sack and OSU took a loss of 9 yards.
Once again, it looked like things were about to end, when Pryor hit Robiskie for 33 yards. Dammit.
Finally the Lions were able to put the brakes on their drive and forced them to kick the field goal.
3-3
Lebron was pumped.
Remember though, just because something is expensive doesn't mean it won't look retarded on you.
Lebron was pumped.Remember though, just because something is expensive doesn't mean it won't look retarded on you.
-Halftime-
This is not the game you were looking for.
3rd Quarter
Penn State got the ball to start the 3rd, and as Kirk and Brent alert us that the O-line got a bit of a tongue-lashing during halftime, Royster rushed the ball for 9 yards, then quickly picked up a first down on the next play. That's more like it.
Clark then hit Butler for 4 yards, which was followed by Stephfon Green scampering for 12. With a first down near Ohio State territory, Williams rushed for a yard, and then thinking you had a flashback to 2006, Royster got stuffed on a draw. On third and 7, a draw by Clark picked up only two yards, and it was time to punt. Maybe not the best call on third and 7.
Boone let loose with another fine punt (he had a very solid night out there in a game that was mostly a field position battle), pinning the Buckeyes at their own 9.
As the drive began, we fully expected another solid defensive stand. So with every frustrating play Ohio State put together, our blood pressure went up just a little bit more.
The drive started with Wells carrying it four straight times. Pryor then completed three consecutive passes, which, let's face it, is about two too many for him.
After a short run by Wells, it was third and 7 for the Buckeyes. Pryor tossed one on the sideline to Robiskie, and it looked like he was out of bounds. But the replay showed that he somehow got a toe down, and the drive continued, as remote controls were thrown across rooms in the houses of Penn State fans everywhere.
But in a game where absolutely everyone looked tense, Tressel went super-conservative, running Wells three times for just 7 yards, and Ohio State had to settle for a field goal.
As annoying as that drive was, it was absolutely huge that the D held them to 3 points.
Don't Grammatica yourself.
3-6
Luckily, Penn State came out and put together a nice drive on their next possession. Clark scrambled on the first play and turned a 1-yard gain into a 7-yard game after he dragged a dude behind him. Green picked up the first on the next play with a 5-yard run.
Clark then took over, hitting Butler for a 7-yard pickup, Williams for 12, and then he took off on a QB draw for a huge 14-yard pickup, putting the Lions in field goal range (or so we thought).
Clark then went for the home run, trying to hook up with Williams on a wheel route inside the 5. Williams made a sweet catch, but couldn't get a foot down. On second down, Clark fired one high over Graham Zug as the quarter came to a close.
We think maybe a run would've been a better call there, because you probably pick up a couple yards and aren't staring at a third and 10. Then again we're guys in our mid-20s who write a blog.
Clark then took over, hitting Butler for a 7-yard pickup, Williams for 12, and then he took off on a QB draw for a huge 14-yard pickup, putting the Lions in field goal range (or so we thought).
Clark then went for the home run, trying to hook up with Williams on a wheel route inside the 5. Williams made a sweet catch, but couldn't get a foot down. On second down, Clark fired one high over Graham Zug as the quarter came to a close.
We think maybe a run would've been a better call there, because you probably pick up a couple yards and aren't staring at a third and 10. Then again we're guys in our mid-20s who write a blog.
4th Quarter
After the longest commercial break of our lives, we wondered what brand of genius Galen Hall had up his sleeve for a third and 10 in the 4th quarter. He treated us to a shovel pass.
Actually it wasn't a horrible call, and Royster was mere inches away from picking up the first. But that bastard Heyward grabbed his foot and tripped him up. Kevin Kelly trotted out to tie the game. Before the ball was even snapped, you somehow knew what was going to happen.
Wide right.
And that's the most pissed off we've been all year.
As Ohio State took over possession, the Lions needed to get the ball back immediately. When Pryor scrambled for a first down on third and one, you could almost feel this one slipping away. It was obvious Tressel was going to run the ball until Penn State stopped it, and Wells took two carries for 9 yards.
Then, it was the biggest third and 1 of the season. Instead of diving behind the line and picking up the first, Pryor tried to break the game open. And then Mark Rubin answered everyone's prayers:
When you saw that ball pop out, your night went from miserable to euphoric in .02 seconds.While the ball was on the ground, Tyrell Sales made the most heads-up play in the history of sports, batting the ball forward to knock it away from Pryor, as he knew he couldn't grab it himself. A couple heart-stopping seconds later, Bowman (who was huge all night) fell on it.
Momentum: shifted. Huge play by the D, HUGE mistake by Pryor.
Now everyone was pumped. It was Penn State ball at the Ohio State 38. Royster took the hand-off from Clark for a big 9-yard pickup. Wait a second...that wasn't Clark...
Why the hell is Devlin in the game? We're still not sure, although Clark looked a little woozy after a hit he took during the last drive. Whatever the case, it was Devlin out there running the offense.
The next play was Pat's only pass attempt of the game, and while he didn't connect with Derrick Williams, Williams drew a pass interference penalty that put the Lions at the Ohio State 14. Royster ran one for 2 yards, followed by Green going for 6. And on a huge third and 2, Royster cut one outside and danced past the first down marker and out of bounds. We let out the biggest sigh of relief ever (up to that point, anyway).
It was first and goal at the 2, and it was time to take one in, Paterno style. A hand-off to Dan Lawlor went for 1 yard, and a Devlin sneak was stuffed. The second sneak, however, was good.
A.Q. was a happy man.10-6
Ohio State got the ball back, looking to make up basically handing the momentum to the Lions on the last drive. Pryor wasted no time, hooking up with Hartline for 15 yards. The next pass downfield to Robiskie looked like it might be caught, but Lydell Sargeant made a nice hit to break it up. Wells carried the ball for 6 yards on the next play, and then Pryor was stopped short on a scramble. A huge stop by the D.
Penn State started its next drive at the Ohio State 37, and it was time to let Royster go to work. A rush for 3 and a 15-yard facemask penalty. A rush for 10, timeout Ohio State. A rush for 9, timeout Ohio State. A sneak by Devlin for 2, timeout Ohio State. We do believe that was their last timeout.
Three short rushes by Royster could not pick up a first, but the team was well within field goal range to go up by 7. This time, Kelly's kick was true.
Penn State started its next drive at the Ohio State 37, and it was time to let Royster go to work. A rush for 3 and a 15-yard facemask penalty. A rush for 10, timeout Ohio State. A rush for 9, timeout Ohio State. A sneak by Devlin for 2, timeout Ohio State. We do believe that was their last timeout.
Three short rushes by Royster could not pick up a first, but the team was well within field goal range to go up by 7. This time, Kelly's kick was true.
13-6
Kelly then came up huge on the kickoff with a touchback. 1:07 left on the clock.
Pryor fires his first pass out of bounds for an incompletion. You relax a bit. On second down, he hits Ray Small for 14 yards. You tense up again. After a spike, there's another incompletion. You relax a little. On third, Pryor hits Small again, this time for 14. You scream obscenities at Ray Small, a dude you'd never even heard of a minute ago.
After a quick spike, it was second down from the Penn State 43. 36 seconds left. The ball was snapped. Maybin applies pressure from the outside. Pryor rolls right and lofts one towards the end zone. Brian Hartline was in the area. So was Lydell Sargeant:
Pryor fires his first pass out of bounds for an incompletion. You relax a bit. On second down, he hits Ray Small for 14 yards. You tense up again. After a spike, there's another incompletion. You relax a little. On third, Pryor hits Small again, this time for 14. You scream obscenities at Ray Small, a dude you'd never even heard of a minute ago.
After a quick spike, it was second down from the Penn State 43. 36 seconds left. The ball was snapped. Maybin applies pressure from the outside. Pryor rolls right and lofts one towards the end zone. Brian Hartline was in the area. So was Lydell Sargeant:
Game.
13-6
awwwwwww
How's that one taste?3 Big Stat Lines
- Evan Royster: 19 carries, 77 yards
- Penn State D: held Ohio State to 61 yards rushing (!)
- Brent Musberger: 8 counts of gushing praise for Pat Devlin handing off the ball, 1 count of calling Clark "Norwood", 3 counts of being plain senile
Our Quick Thoughts On The Game:
- It can never be easy against Ohio State.
- Zero turnovers on the road.
- We've never witnessed a game played more tentatively by two teams (coaching staffs included).
- Clark made some very questionable throws, but he managed to avoid the big mistake, which is more than we can say for another QB in this one.
- That said, Pryor is a good QB, especially for a true freshman. Still a douche, though.
- Okay, so Devlin didn't really do anything, but its gotta be tough to enter a game of that magnitude ice cold in the 4th quarter.
- Thanks for those 30 free penalty yards in the 4th, Buckeyes. Much appreciated.
- Insane game by the D as a whole. Odrick, Sales, Rubin, Maybin, Sargeant and Bowman all made huge plays at one time or another.
- Beanie Wells: 55 yards on 22 carries.
- Annoying overused stat of the week: Penn State hasn't won at Ohio Stadium in 30 years. Know how many games were played there at that time? Seven. A little misleading.
- God it feels good to beat Ohio State.
This really could go to a number of guys on the defense, but Rubin made the biggest play of the night, in addition to finishing with 11 tackles. Not only did he snuff out a sneaky move to the outside by Pryor, he popped the ball loose and completely changed the course of the game. Gotta give him the game ball, because that sequence basically won the game for Penn State.
Ohio State Player of the Game: The Defense
No one player stood out for the Buckeyes. No one really stepped up and made that huge play that they need to make to win the game. But the defensive unit was stout for the most part, holding the conference's best offense to 13 points and only 281 yards. It just wasn't quite enough.
Honorable Mentions: Punters Jeremy Boone and A.J. Trapasso
Hey, it's not often we mention the punters, but in such a low-scoring field position game, they had a chance to affect the game and they both stepped up nicely. Each put three punts inside the 20, and Boone pinned OSU on their own 3 in the first half. Trapasso absolutely bombed one early on for 59 yards. Take a bow, punters. Nice games from both of you.
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