Penn State gives up lots of points in hurry
Penn State came to Ohio Stadium on Saturday having not allowed a single point in the first quarter and 67 total points this season, but Ohio State threw up one crooked passing number after another down the stretch.
The Buckeyes needed 1 minute, 17 seconds and 1:19 to score their final touchdowns on possessions of 76 and 58 yards in a 39-38 win.
The Nittany Lions front seven failed to pressure Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett, and he looked like a man at a county fair winning all the stuffed animals. Ohio State going to four defensive ends made Heisman Trophy candidate tailback Saquon Barkley look ordinary and turned quarterback Trace McSorley into a scrambler.
Shining moment
It appeared the play that would decide the game occurred when receiver DeAndre Thompkins made a leaping, 37-yard touchdown catch with 7:25 left in the third quarter. An official ruled that defensive back Damon Arnette intercepted, but the review official overturned the call and Penn State led 35-20.
What went right
The first three quarters looked like a season highlight film Penn State would send to recruits, with kickoff returns of 97 and 59 yards, a 36-yard touchdown run and 37-yard touchdown pass. In the end, linebacker Manny Bowen said the Lions crapped out. “We played a good half, a decent third quarter, and in the fourth quarter we kind of came off the gas,” he said. “We learned a lesson that you have to stay on it.”
Drawing board
The Penn State secondary was flagged twice for pass interference in the end zone. The second, by cornerback Christian Campbell, led to a touchdown that enabled the Buckeyes to close the deficit to 38-33 with 4:20 to play. There also was a holding call on cornerback Grant Haley away from the ball the nullified a Penn State fumble recovery.
Question mark
Did Ohio State’s Denzel Ward blocking a punt by Blake Gillikin and Dante Booker recovering at the Lions’ 41-yard line with 11:39 remaining change the game? Penn State coach James Franklin said yes. The Buckeyes cut the deficit to 35-27 two plays later on a 38-yard touchdown catch by Johnnie Dixon.
Star power
Saquon Barkley didn’t need any Heisman Trophy-like stiff-arms in returning the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. He also had a 36-yard touchdown run. Other than those plays, though, Ohio State kept Barkley in check. He ran for 44 yards on 21 carries for a 2.1 average and only 3 yards after halftime.
They said it
“We still have a lot of football ahead of us as we saw how everything played out last year. This is a crazy game with a lot of different storylines, and more than anything I’m hurting for those kids in the locker room. We didn’t finish. I thought we played good, but obviously not good enough.” — Franklin
Telling stat
On Ohio State’s final three possessions, Penn State gave up 175 yards and three touchdowns on drives that totaled 3 minutes, 10 seconds.