The Penn State Nittany Lions (5-2, 2-1) fell to the Ohio State Buckeyes (7-0, 3-0) on Saturday night in Columbus by a final score of 38-10.
Recap: Penn State drew first blood with a 33-yard field goal by freshman kicker Joey Julius. The Lions’ defense was steadfast through the first period, holding the Buckeyes to just 18 yards of total offense in their first three possessions.
Saquon Barkley, who returned tonight after missing the last two games with an ankle injury, fought his way up the sideline for a touchdown, but the run was removed after a late holding penalty on Brian Gaia. A sack by Joey Bosa ended the possession for Penn State.
Cardale Jones started at quarterback for the Buckeyes, but despite a few good passes, couldn’t get an offensive movement started in the first quarter. Penn State led Ohio State at the end of the first quarter 3-0. The Lions picked up 85 total yards in the first; Ohio State had only 57.
The second quarter proved to be an offensive explosion for the Buckeyes, as they went on an unanswered 21-point streak.
J.T. Barrett started at quarterback during the second for Ohio State and scored a five-yard rushing touchdown after just 1:17 had passed. The extra point was good, and the Buckeyes took a four-point lead over the Lions.
After Barrett’s initial touchdown, Ezekiel Elliott gave Ohio State a 14-3 lead with a ten-yard rush with 9:26 left in the second, quickly followed by another rushing touchdown by Barrett to put the Buckeyes up 21-3 to end the half.
Penn State opened the third quarter with a touchdown; after Hackenberg tossed the ball to Chris Godwin, who then dragged Ohio State’s Eli Apple behind him for about 20 yards, the junior quarterback drilled a pass to wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton who only just cleared the end zone before being pushed out of bounds.
From that touchdown, both teams’ defense stymied the other’s offense. Although both the Lions and the Buckeyes both got to the 30-yard line at least once, neither could convert. Carl Nassib, the nation’s leader in sacks, dropped Jones twice in the third quarter in a monumental defensive effort, but Ohio State still led Penn State 21-10 at the end of the third.
The Buckeyes stretched their lead to 14 points in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter with a 39-yard field goal. Penn State answered with a long, largely uncontested run by Barkley, but Bosa and the Buckeye defensive line quickly ended the Penn State possession.
Ohio State jumped back to a 21-point lead after Barrett connected a five-yard pass to Miller in the end zone with 6:25 remaining in the game.
The Buckeyes’ backup linebacker Cam Williams was ejected with less than six minutes remaining in the game after a targeting foul against Akeel Lynch. Lynch went down hard after a tackle by Bosa, and Ohio State got the ball back, only to score another touchdown. With 2:00 remaining in the game, Michael Thomas received a six-yard pass from Barrett to round out the game at 38-10.
Next Week: Penn State will round out a two-game road series against Maryland at M&T Bank Stadium at 3:30 p.m.
