Nov. 7, 2009
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State's five-game winning streak came to end as Ohio State came out on top, 24-7, in battle of two of the nation's premier defenses.
An exuberant, sun-splashed crowd of 110,003 jammed Beaver Stadium in the venerable facility's 300th game. The Nittany Lions are 241-59 (80.3) in home games since the facility was erected in 1960. Penn State is 32-4 in its last 36 home games, dating to the final two games of the 2004 season.
Penn State is 48-13 (78.7) since the start of the 2005 season, among the top 10 winning percentages in the nation.
The Buckeyes (8-2, 5-1) held the ball for 34:02 and limited Penn State (8-2, 4-2) to nine first downs and 201 yards of total offense to take a 13-12 series lead. The visiting team has won the last three meetings after the home team had won 12 of the previous 14.
The 24 points and 228 rushing yards by the Buckeyes were the most by a Penn State opponent this year, and the most rushing yards allowed by Penn State since giving up 288 rushing yards to Minnesota in 2004. Penn State has not allowed a 100-yard rusher this season. Entering this week's games, the Nittany Lions were one of nine FBS teams that had yet to allow a 100-yard rusher this year.
Senior linebacker Sean Lee had 14 tackles, his most since notching 14 tackles against Texas A&M in the 2007 Alamo Bowl, where he was named the game's Defensive MVP. Lee became the fifth Nittany Lion with at least 300 career tackles, with 302. Brian Gelzheiser is fourth with 315.
Senior linebacker Josh Hull had 13 tackles, tying his career high, and marking the seventh time this season he has had at least 10 tackles.
Senior punter Jeremy Boone had a career-high 10 punts for a 45.8 average. Boone moved back into first place in career and season punting average today. Penn State's 10 punts were the most since it punted 11 times against Florida State in the 2006 FedEx Orange Bowl.
Daryll Clark had his sixth rushing touchdown of the season, boosting his school record to 58 touchdowns responsible for (37 passing, 21 rushing).
Daryll Clark moved into sixth place in the career passing yardage chart at Penn State with 4,922 yards. Clark moved into eighth place in the single season passing yardage chart with 2,283 yards.
Junior wide receiver Graham Zug had a career-best 96 yards receiving on a career-high seven catches. His 31-yard catch in the first quarter was a season long.
Evan Royster moved into 10th place on the Penn State career rushing list with 2,644 yards. He trails Matt Suhey (2,818 yards) for ninth place in his career.
Penn State punted to end its first possession and the Buckeyes' got a 41-yard punt return from Ray Small, taking the ball to the Penn State 9. On second down Terrelle Pryor ran six yards to give Ohio State a 7-0 with 11:47 left tin the first quarter. The touchdown was just the third the Nittany Lions have allowed in the first half this season.
A 31-yard completion from Daryll Clark to Graham Zug got the Nittany Lions moving on their second possession. On fourth-and-goal from the Ohio State one, Clark leapt and stuck the ball over the goal line. Collins Wagner's PAT kick made it 7-7 with 12:28 left in the second period. The rushing touchdown was the 21st of Clark's career, a record for a Penn State quarterback, breaking a tie with Michael Robinson.
Ohio State took a 10-7 lead on a 37-yard field goal by Devin Barclay with 5:54 left in the first half.
The defenses continued to rule in the third quarter, with the first five possessions resulting in a punt. But, on the Buckeyes' third possession of the half, Pryor connected with DeVier Posey on a 62-yard touchdown pass, the longest play against the Nittany Lions this season. Ohio State led, 17-7, with 1:47 left in the third period.
On the Lions' next possession, Boone launched a 56-yard punt, but Ray Small returned it 45 yards, being tackled by Boone at the Penn State 47. Ohio State moved to the PSU 6, where Pryor hit Brandon Saine for a touchdown pass, making it 24-7 with 9:37 left to play.
Penn State will welcome Indiana to Beaver Stadium for its Senior Day clash on Saturday, Nov. 14. Kickoff for the Nittany Lions' home finale is set for 12:00 p.m. and will be televised on the Big Ten Network. The Penn State Sports Network and www.GoPSUsports.com will carry the game. The Hoosiers lost to Wisconsin, 31-28, on Saturday.