UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Wide receiver Jahan Dotson scored three touchdowns and totaled 144 yards receiving for No. 18/17 Penn State, but No. 3 Ohio State made an early lead last for a 38-25 win over the Nittany Lions Saturday night in Beaver Stadium.
It was Dotson's second career 100-yard receiving game and a career-high total, and his three touchdowns and eight receptions were also career highs. Penn State (0-2, 0-2 Big Ten) quarterback Sean Clifford completed 18-of-30 passes for 281 yards and the three touchdowns. Of Clifford's passing yards, 252 came in the second half.
Ohio State was paced by quarterback Justin Fields, who completed 28-of-34 passes for 318 yards and four touchdowns. Garrett Wilson caught 11 passes for 111 yards and had a 62-yard rush, while Chris Olave caught seven passes for 120 yards and 2 touchdowns and Jeremy Ruckert added a pair of receiving touchdowns.
Linebacker Ellis Brooks paced the Penn State defense with a career-high 11 tackles, while linebacker Brandon Smith (Louisa, Va.) and defensive tackle Antonio Shelton (Columbus, Ohio) both tallied sacks. Tommy Togiai led Ohio State with seven tackles and three sacks and Marcus Hooker had six tackles and an interception.
Penn State outscored Ohio State in the second half but was ultimately unable to close the gap despite its three second-half touchdowns.
How It Happened
Ohio State jumped out to an early two-touchdown lead. Wilson broke free for 62 yards on the first play from scrimmage and Master Teague III scored from four yards out two plays later to give the Buckeyes a 7-0 lead. Penn State failed to convert on fourth-and-two at its own 45 on the ensuing drive, and Ohio State took advantage of the short field when Olave hauled in a 26-yard touchdown catch from Fields.
Penn State put together a field goal drive for its first score with 2:57 remaining in the first quarter, but the Buckeyes added another touchdown before the end of the half on a 10-yard throw to Jeremy Ruckert over the middle. It looked like Ohio State would take a 21-3 lead to halftime, but Fields kneeled down too quickly on fourth down with two seconds remaining in the half, allowing Jordan Stout to drill a 50-yard field goal for the Nittany Lions and make it a 21-6 game at the break.
Penn State opened the second half with the ball and marched down the field for an eight-play, 75-yard drive capped by a 14-yard touchdown reception by Dotson. Ohio State answered midway through the third quarter with a 49-yard touchdown catch by Olave and added a field goal before the end of the quarter.
The Nittany Lions made it a 31-19 game at the start of the fourth quarter after a pair of highlight reel catches by Dotson. On the first play of the final stanza on third-and-17, Dotson caught a 37-yard pass with one hand and the side of his helmet. On the next play, he made a one-handed snag for a 21-yard touchdown catch.
Fields found Ruckert again in the end zone with 9:14 to go and Clifford connected with Dotson on a 20-yard strike with 6:27 to go to make it a 38-25 game. Hooker sealed the game for Ohio State with an interception in Penn State territory in the game's final minutes.
Up Next
Penn State hosts Maryland next Saturday in Beaver Stadium. Coverage on Big Ten Network is set to begin at 3:30 p.m.
The 2020 Penn State Football season is presented by PSECU.
Dotson's One-Handed Catches
