Oct. 23, 2016
| 24 | 21 |
| Beaver Stadium | University Park, Pa. | 107,280 | |
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -Grant Haley (Atlanta, Ga.) returned a field goal blocked by Marcus Allen (Upper Marlboro, Md.) 60 yards for the game-winning touchdown, as Penn State erased a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat No. 2 Ohio State, 24-21, Saturday night in front of a Penn State White Out crowd of 107,280 in Beaver Stadium. The Buckeyes had won 78 straight games when leading by 14 or more points in the fourth quarter.
Penn State (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) used big plays on offense and a pair of special teams plays to score 17 points in the fourth quarter.
It marked the first time Penn State defeated a Top 2 team since winning at No. 1 Notre Dame in 1990, and the first win at home over a Top 2 team since downing No. 2 Nebraska, 27-24, in 1982. The victory was also Penn State's first over a ranked opponent since 2013 (Wisconsin).
Penn State also snapped Ohio State's (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten) streak of 20 consecutive road wins, and it was the first road loss under head coach Urban Meyer.
Ohio State punted to start the fourth quarter and pinned the Nittany Lions on their own 10, but the Nittany Lions covered 90 yards on just five plays, highlighted by running back Saquon Barkley (Coplay, Pa.) breaking free for 37 yards, and then quarterback Trace McSorley (Ashburn, Va.) finding wide receiver Saeed Blacknall (Manalapan, N.J.) down the left sideline for 35 yards to the 2. McSorley rushed it himself on second-and-goal to pull within a touchdown, 21-14.
The Lion defense forced an Ohio State three-and-out and freshman linebacker Cam Brown (Burtonsville, Md.) blocked the Buckeyes' punt, setting up a Tyler Davis (St. Charles, Ill.) field goal with 9:33 remaining, cutting the deficit to just four.
Ohio State reached the Penn State 28 on its ensuing possession and attempted a 45-yard field goal, but it was blocked by Allen and Haley scooped it and scored, running 60-yards down the sideline to give Penn State a 24-21 lead.
The Buckeyes took over from their own 11 with 4:21 remaining, but did not get past their own 42. Jordan Smith (Washington, D.C.) broke up a deep pass on second-and-10 from the 42, and then Jason Cabinda (Flemington, N.J.) sacked quarterback J.T. Barrett for a loss of 13 yards on third down. On fourth-and-23, Evan Schwan (Harrisburg, Pa.) and Kevin Givens (Altoona, Pa.) sacked Barrett again to seal the win.
Ohio State had not relinquished the lead until Haley's touchdown score.
The first quarter was scoreless as Ohio State was limited to two first downs and Penn State had four. It was the first time Ohio State had been held scoreless all season. The Buckeyes used a field goal to get on the scoreboard at the start of the second quarter, and extended the lead to 12-0 on a 26-yard touchdown pass to tight end Marcus Baugh and another field goal.
Penn State managed to get on the scoreboard just before the halftime break. The Lions drove 74 yards on seven plays in just one minute, as Chris Godwin (Middletown, Del.) hauled in a 20-yard touchdown reception with just nine seconds remaining.
Ohio State took a 19-7 lead early in the third quarter on a 74-yard touchdown run by Curtis Samuel and a safety on a bad snap extended the lead to 21-7 before Penn State rallied in the fourth.
Difference Makers
Penn State
- S Marcus Allen and CB Grant Haley - Allen and Haley teamed up for the game-winning touchdown, as Allen's field goal block was scooped up by Haley, who took it 60 yards for a touchdown.
- QB Trace McSorley - McSorley rushed and threw for a touchdown for a third consecutive game. He completed 8-of-23 passing attempts for 154 yards, and rushed for 63 yards on 19 attempts.
- RB Saquon Barkley - Barkley totaled 99 yards on 12 carries with a long of 37.
- LB Brandon Bell - Bell returned from injury and led the Nittany Lions with 19 tackles, including a sack.
- LB Jason Cabinda - Cabinda, playing in his first game since the season opener due to injury, made 12 tackles, a sack and 2.0 tackles for loss.
- DE Garrett Sickels - Sickels made a career-high nine tackles, 2.5 sacks and 3.5 TFLs, all in the second half.
- Defense - Led by Sickels, defense had a season-high 11.0 tackles for loss. It was also the most TFLs for Penn State since Maryland (11.0) last season.
Ohio State
- QB J.T. Barrett - Barrett completed 28-of-45 passes for 245 yards and one touchdown.
- HB Curtis Samuel - Samuel made eight catches for 68 yards and 71 yards rushing on two attempts for 139 yards of total offense.
- S Malik Hooker - Hooker posted a team-best seven tackles and 2.0 TFL.
Scoring Drives
1st Qtr
None
2nd Qtr
OSU - 14:55 - FG - Tyler Durbin 33 yd Kick, 5 plays, 22 yards, 0:43 - 0-3
OSU - 4:53 - TD - Marcus Baugh 26 yd Pass from J.T. Barrett (PAT FAIL), 11 plays, 78 yards, 5:09 - 0-9
OSU - 1:14 - FG - Tyler Durbin 30 yd Kick, 9 plays, 58 yards, 2:22 - 0-12
PSU - 0:09 - TD - Chris Godwin 20 yd Pass from Trace McSorley, 7 plays, 74 yards, 1:00 - 7-12
3rd Qtr
OSU - 10:10- TD - Curtis Samuel 74 yd Rush, 3 plays, 82 yards, 1:24 - 7-19
OSU - 8:31 - Safety - 7-21
4th Qtr
PSU - 13:32 - TD - Trace McSorley 2 yd Run, 5 plays, 90 yards, 1:20 - 14-21
PSU - 9:33 - FG - Tyler Davis 34 yd Field Goal, 6 plays, 12 yards, 2:09 - 17-21
PSU - 4:27 - TD - Grant Haley 60 yd blocked FG return - 24-21
Key Drives
First Quarter
PENN STATE 15:00-11:16 (3:54, 8 plays, 54 yards) - MISSED FIELD GOAL
Penn State moved into field goal range on the game's opening drive with Barkley rushing for 19 yards to the Penn State 49 and Mike Gesicki hauling in a 26-yard reception to the Ohio State 25, however Tyler Davis did not get enough air on his 39-yard field goal attempt. It was his first career missed kick and ended his nation-leading streak of 18 consecutive made field goals.
Penn State 0, Ohio State 0
Second Quarter
OHIO STATE 0:38 (1st Qtr)-14:55 (2nd Qtr) (0:43, 5 plays, 22 yards) - FIELD GOAL
A fumbled punt gave Ohio State the ball at the Penn State 38, and Mike Weber moved the Buckeyes into field goal range with a 23-yard run on the first play from scrimmage. The Penn State defense did not yield anymore ground though, and Tyler Durbin converted a 33-yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter.
Ohio State 3, Penn State 0
OHIO STATE 10:02-4:53 (5:09, 11 plays, 78 yards) - TOUCHDOWN
Barrett methodically led Ohio State down the field, completing 7-of-8 pass attempts and rushing for 10 yards on a fourth-and-2. Barrett capped the drive with a 26-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Baugh, who broke multiple tackles to get into the end zone. The extra point was no good.
Ohio State 9, Penn State 0
OHIO STATE 3:36-1:14 (2:22, 9 plays, 58 yards) - FIELD GOAL
A pair of back-to-back, 19-yard completions by Barrett setup a 30-yard field goal by Durbin
Ohio State 12, Penn State 0
PENN STATE 1:09-0:09 (1:00, 7 plays, 74 yards) - TOUCHDOWN
Not content to run the clock out, Penn State drove 74-yards on seven plays in exactly one minute, as Chris Godwin hauled in a 20-yard touchdown pass. A 19-yard completion to Godwin on third-and-8 from Penn State's 28 moved the Nittany Lions to midfield at the 47, and then after a 1-yard sack, McSorley found DaeSean Hamilton down the right sideline for 34 yards to the 20. After an incompletion, McSorley found Godwin who out-fought his defender for the ball.
Ohio State 12, Penn State 7
Third Quarter
OHIO STATE 11:34-10:10 (1:24, 3 plays, 82 yards) - TOUCHDOWN
On third-and-2, Curtis Samuels found a seam and outran the Penn State secondary for a 74-yard touchdown run.
Ohio State 19, Penn State 7
PENN STATE 10:04-8:31 (1:33, 4 plays, -31 yards) - SAFETY
Ohio State held Penn State to a three-and-out, and then the snap on the Nittany Lion punt attempt sailed over outstretched the arms of punter Blake Gillikin and into the end zone. Gillikin recovered it in the end zone for a safety.
Ohio State 21, Penn State 7
Fourth Quarter
PENN STATE 14:52-13:32 (1:20, 5 plays, 90 yards) - TOUCHDOWN
Big plays marched Penn State 90 yards in just five plays. A 16-yard pass to tight end Mike Gesicki opened the drive, and then Barkley broke free for 37 to the Ohio State 37. McSorley then found Blacknall down the left sideline for 35 yards to the 2. After an incompletion on first-and-goal, McSorley took it himself, diving just inside the right pylon.
Ohio State 21, Penn State 14
PENN STATE 11:42-9:33 (2:09, 6 plays, 12 yards) - FIELD GOAL
Cam Brown blocked an Ohio State punt and Troy Apke recovered it at the Ohio State 28. The Nittany Lions were only able to gain 12 yards though, and Tyler Davis kicked a 34-yard field goal.
Ohio State 21, Penn State 17
OHIO STATE 9:28-4:27 (9:28, 11 plays, 59 yards) - BLOCKED FIELD GOAL RETURNED FOR TOUCHDOWN
Ohio State started at its own 13, but methodically moved down the field, aided by a 34-yard reception by Noah Brown to the Penn State 42. The drive stalled at the 28 though, and Marcus Allen blocked the 45-yard field goal attempt and returned it 60 yards for the game-winning touchdown,
Penn State 24, Ohio State 21
Up Next
Penn State will next play at Purdue Saturday at noon on ABC and ESPN2 before returning to Beaver Stadium Saturday, Nov. 5 to host Iowa at 7:30 p.m. on BTN.
To purchase tickets or for information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and club seating in Beaver Stadium, fans can visit www.PSUnrivaled.com, call 1-800-NITTANY or visit the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office weekdays from 10 a.m-6 p.m.
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