Fourth Quarter:
Penn State moves the ball but comes up inches short on a fourth down play giving Ohio State the ball back. The Buckeyes drive 79 yards in 13 plays and Guiton scores again to extend the lead with 8:24 to go in the game.
Allen Robinson takes a screen pass back across the field and then cuts back again for a 65-yard score for Penn State’s first touchdown in the second half. Robinson now has 10 catches for 164 yards.
Third Quarter: Ohio State leads 42-7 to start the quarter
Penn State is able to drive the ball a short distance but is forced to punt. The same is true for Ohio State. Zach Zwinak carries the ball on the ensuing drive and fumbles. Ohio State takes only two plays to punch it in. Dontre Wilson caught a pass from Miller in the flat and makes the one and only defender miss for a 26-yard score.
Penn State gets the ball back and goes with Tyler Ferguson and Akeel Lynch at quarterback and running back respectively. Both Hackenberg and Belton played well but are too important to the future to risk in a game this lopsided. The switch happened with just over 8 minutes left in the third quarter.
Ohio State gets the ball back and drives 7 plays 72 yards and Buckeye backup quarterback Kenny Guiton punches it in from a few yards out to extend the lead. The drive took 3 minutes and one second.
Halftime Stats:
Carlos Hyde: 13 carries, 130 yards. 2 TDs.
Braxton Miller: 15-18 for 204 yards and 2 TDs, 84 rushing yards and 2 TDs.
Christian Hackenberg: 9-19 for 95 yards, 1 TD.
Bill Belton: 18 carries, 81 yards.
Allen Robinson: 3 catches, 35 yards.
Team Yardage: Penn State 158 yards, Ohio State 414 yards.
Second Quarter: Ohio State Leads 14-0 Heading Into the Quarter
Ohio State wastes no time on the ensuing possession driving 52 yards in 7 plays and 2 minutes and 20 seconds. Braxton Miller scampers into the endzone to put the Buckeyes up 21-0. In terms of the actual game, it isn’t over, but Penn State has to be the next team to score if there is any chance of a comeback. An obvious, yet important statement.
Penn State goes three and out and Ohio State responds with a 8 play, 60-yard drive for an eventual touchdown throw by Braxton Miller.
Down 28, Penn State engineers a 11 play, 79 yard drive largely on the back of Bill Belton. Hackenberg connects with Brandon Felder from 12-yards out.
A long kickoff return by Ohio State sets up a 2 play 45 yard drive that ends with a 39-yard run by Carlos Hyde crushing any hope of a comeback, although that seemed unlikely at the outset.
Penn State moves the ball a short distance but settles for a punt. Despite the score, Belton has had a nice night with 11 carries for 78 yards.
Ohio State gets the ball back and flies down the field. The Buckeyes score with 9 seconds left to extend the lead to 42-7. The Nittany Lions have given up 414 yards of offense in the first half.
First Quarter: 0-0
Allen Robinson and Bill O’Brien lead the team out of the tunnel and we’re close to kick here at The Shoe. Penn State wins the toss and will kickoff to Ohio State.
Ohio State drives down the field in bunches and punches it in from the half yardline with a 7 play in 70 yard drive that lasts 2 minutes 17 seconds. The Buckeyes were happy to attack Penn State’s secondary and corners all drive. Ohio State completely avoided the interior of Penn State’s defense. The long play on the drive was a 36-yard pass to Devin Smith who was open and in space by almost 20 yards.
Penn State responds with a long drive of its own. Bill Belton gets the nod at running back and is able to pick up yards after first contact. The Nittany Lions drive 64 yards but Hackenberg fires into the endzone and is intercepted. Belton averaged 4.5 yards a carry for 27 yards on the drive. Penn State also converted one third down. Allen Robinson caught two passes for 25 yards as Bill O’Brien gets his best player involved early.
The Nittany Lion defense forces a three-and-out after a first down sack by Anthony Zettel. Deion Barnes appears to be held on 3rd-and-16 but there is no call. Barnes is then crushed by a blindside hit. Braxton Miller comes up short on the scramble and there is a little extra pushing and shoving after the whistle. no call and probably no call needed.
Penn State goes 3-and-out after a false start penalty sets Penn State back. A third down gain of 10 yards by Allen Robinson wasn’t enough despite the nice pass. A 48-yard punt by Alex Butterworth gives Ohio State the ball at its own 12.
Ohio State drives the ball thanks to several runs by Carlos Hyde and a 39-yard touchdown run by Braxton Miller. It took 10 plays and 88 yards 4 minutes and 22 seconds. Penn State has now given up 105 yards on the ground in the first quarter. The Nittany Lions give up an average of 279 yards on the ground per game.
Hackenberg is hit and fumbles the ball on first down. The ball is recovered by Penn State but Hackenberg throws an interception as Jesse James stumbles in tight coverage. Ohio State gets the ball near midfield.
Pregame: Penn State players have begun to file on to the field around 5:20. Hackenberg and center Ty Howle are chatting and smiling as they take a walk together around the south portion of the field. Kicker Sam Ficken is sizing up kicks on both ends of the field. Overall the team looks as loose as usual but undoubtedly the butterflies will start up in a few hours.
The team has left the field though as Ohio State’s band looks prepared to practice.
Penn State strength and conditioning coach Craig Fitzgerald is in khakis and a suit coat. Not his usual energetic and shirtless self, at least not yet.
Around 6:00 the Ohio State players began to file across the field and the lights have come on here at Ohio Stadium. Some fans have begun to file into the stadium but for the most part a soon-to-be rocking stadium is still empty.
At 6:15 a few Penn State players have filed out on to the field again. Allen Robinson is out running routes by himself against corner Jordan Lucas. Safety Ryan Keiser is practicing out on the field as well. The rest of the team should be out shortly.
As an aside, Ohio Stadium’s scoreboards are very nice. It’s actually a shocking difference in quality between the ones here in Ohio and Beaver Stadium. The planned renovation for this upcoming summer for the Beaver Stadium scoreboards will be a welcome sight for everyone in attendance each Saturday.
7:00 sharp and Penn State’s offense takes the field for warm-ups. Christian Hackenberg still looks loose and strength coach Craig Fitzgerald is now is his usual apparel, shorts and a t-shirt.
The Blue Band makes an appearance in the north tunnel and is finding its place in the corresponding endzone.
Sam Ficken is drilling kicks from 50 yards out. A few misses but overall he looks dialed in during warm-ups. Obviously game time will be a different story.
Zach Zwinak getting reps with the offense in a walk through with 30 minutes to go until kick. Both teams are out on the field doing final prep work.
Penn State heads off the field with 26 minutes to go until kick. Looks like the start of the game will be the next time the Nittany Lions will be seen.
Ohio State takes the field to a nice cheer. With 40 minutes to go before kick there are still plenty of empty seats but like all stadiums it takes a while to fill.
Both teams are off the field and the Blue Band will play before Ohio State’s band takes the field. That’s all for pregame coverage.
Nuts and Bolts
We are looking live here at Ohio Stadium where Penn State will face the undefeated Buckeyes a few hours from now.
The Basics: Penn State enters the game 4-2 on the year and 1-1 in conference. Ohio State is ranked No. 4 in the nation and is riding a 19 game winning streak. Penn State is coming off thrilling 43-40 upset win against the Michigan just two weeks ago, while Ohio State defeated Iowa last week at home, 34-24.
The Numbers: Ohio State boasts the top scoring average in the conference at 45.0 points a game and third in the conference with 493.1 yards per game. That mark is good enough for 20th in the nation. The Buckeyes have yet to score more than 40 points in conference play but have not scored less than 31. Ohio State is playing in its third straight game against an opponent who is coming off a bye week.
For Penn State, the game will be the biggest test the Nittany Lions will face all year. Penn State’s defense will need to contain quarterback Braxton Miller who just passed fellow Buckeye, Joe Germaine with his seventh career game with 300 or more yards of total offense. The Nittany Lions will also need to slow running back Carlos Hyde who has rushed for 402 yards and five touchdowns in conference play. His 134 yards per contest is good enough for second best in the conference.
Nittany Lion freshman quarterback Christian Hackenberg will need to be on his game Saturday night but an Ohio State defense tied for 78th in the nation in passing yards allowed could provide the 18-year-old gunslinger a chance to shine. Hackenberg has passed or 300 or more yards three times this season.
Weather: 46 degrees, 7 MPH winds.
Line: Ohio State is a 16 point favorite
