Senior writer Jeff Rapp describes the action from Happy Valley.
Welcome to our live game blog!
We have beautiful fall conditions here with temperatures at kickoff in the mid-50s and bright sunshine and a blue sky above Beaver Stadium. Penn State is favored to win this game by lines in the neighborhood of four or five points but the Nittany Lions have never beaten Ohio State in succesive games since joining the Big Ten in time for the 1993 football season.
The Buckeyes certainly have their hands full. Penn State leads the Big Ten in the following categories: scoring defense, rushing defense, passing defense, total defense, total offense, pass efficiency, sacks by, sacks against, third-down conversions, opponents' third-down conversions, opponents' fourth-down conversions and red-zone offense.
Is it all a mirage because of PSU's weak schedule? We're going to find out today.
3:10 p.m. -- Well, we have our first audible cat growl blared over the PA with 28 minutes to go until kickoff. I am excited to see this game (if I CAN see it in this archaic press box) but I have to say I am a little bummed about Iowa's 17-10 loss to Northwestern. I feel bad for their undefeated season ending and Ricky Stanzi being knocked out of the game -- mostly because Ohio State was going to do those things next week. Oh well.
There was an immediate reaction to the Hawkeyes' loss here in State College in and around the stadium. Penn State would now have to be the favored team to make the Rose Bowl. The Nittany Lions are favored to win this game at home over Ohio State and they are now more likely to get help next week in the form of an OSU win over Iowa since Stanzi likely will be out for a while.
3:35 p.m. -- We are getting ready to roll here. This crowd is frenzied. Penn State won the toss and elected to defer to the second half. The Buckeyes will have the rock first.
Lamaar Thomas returns to the 25 and it appeared he nearly lost the ball on the first contact. Brandon Saine starts at tailback and gets nearly 4 yards on first down. The starting offensive line is Jim Cordle, Justin Boren, Michael Brewster, Bryant Browning and J.B. Shugarts as expected. On third down Terrelle Pryor throws his second incompletion to the delight of the crowd, although Duron Carter flat dropped the ball.
Jon Thoma blasts the punt 55 yards. Wow.
3:41 p.m. -- Penn State goes backward on play No. 1 as Cameron Heyward sacks Daryll Clark and two other Buckeyes are immediately in the backfield. On second down Clark looks deep for Devon Smith and overthrows him. Chimdi Chekwa was with him step for step. A third-down screen nets nothing.
Ray Small fielded the punt at midfield and returned it 41 yards to the 9. The Buckeyes get in two plays later on a scramble by Pryor, who eluded Navorro Bowman on the takeoff. We have Ohio State up 7-0 with 11:47 left in the first period. The Buckeyes just accomplished two "musts" -- a big play on special teams and a quick start. That should help the confidence and the outlook as we go forward.
BTW, dare we say that Ohio State path to the Rose Bowl just got a little more attainable in a short amount of time. I know, I know. I'm not trying to jinx it. I'm just saying that this game has started well and next week looks more doable if Stanzi is out. And, oh by the way, Michigan is awful.
3:49 p.m. -- The OSU D-line is winning the battles up front and the secondary is looking steady as well. Anderson Russell got the start at free safety over Jermale Hines, although Hines was in on the first nickel opportunity. The defense gets another three-and-out and the Buckeyes are set up at their own 21 after the punt.
You have to wonder if Penn State's offense is a little shell-shocked right now after facing the likes of Illinois, Eastern Illinois, Minnesota and Michigan in recent weeks.
3:54 p.m. -- What has this unit done with the Ohio State offense? A 12-yard run for Boom Herron out of shotgun with two backs, a lateral pass to DeVier Posey and a good block by Dane Sanzenbacher for 7 yards. Another dozen yards with the same play on the other side. Another misdirection run by Herron for 16 with a great block by freshman fullback Zach Boren. This is the most imaginative and decisive-looking drive of the season to this point.
First down at the PSU 29 before Penn State can get settled. Herron gets 3 on first and Pryor's second-down pass is incomplete as he tried to hit Posey on the slant. Herron is stuff on third and we had the decision by Jim Tressel is exactly what Steve Helwagen, Dave Biddle and I discussed on our live radio show yesterday: With the ball at the 29 he eschews the field-goal attempt of 46 yards and also doesn't think it's worth it to go for it. Sure enough, Thoma dumps the ball in the end zone.
Granted, OSU could have pinned Penn State inside its own 5 there but I just don't undertand this approach, especially with it being so prevalent. I know Dave is probably going ballistic right now.
4:03 p.m. -- Penn State logs three-and-out No. 3. Cam Heyward is making life difficult for Clark and embarrassing right tackle Ako Poti as he's going through him like a hot knife through butter.
OSU's second penalty of the game (after the delay of game before the Thoma pooch attempt) brings the line of scrimmage after the punt return back to the 26. The Buckeyes can't move it much from there with two straight handoffs for minimal gains and a pass completion on the wrong side of the first-down marker. Thoma's 37-yard punt gives Penn State the ball at its own 29. We are winding down inside of two minutes to go in the first quarter. We'll see if the Lions can move it this time.
4:13 p.m. -- A very nice drive including a big pass play to Graham Zug has Penn State on the move and the Buckeyes on their heels a bit. The quarter ends with PSU on the OSU 23 and with the momentum. Clark picks up the first down with a 6-yard run.
BTW, at the end of the quarter the Nittany Lion mascot chased around a fake Brutus with a nutcracker. Pretty funny. The students also have several signs down by the railing that are pretty clever. There are a couple of patches of red in the northeast end but otherwise it is a sea of white out there and a lot of hyped up students.
Penn State has a first-and-goal after an interference call on Devon Torrence in the end zone. Torrence was a tad physical and turned around there, which drew the hanky. Clark scores from 1 yard out, but just barely and on fourth down. In fact, the replay showed the ball may have never reached the goal line. A near great stand by the OSU defense.
Penn State's extra point ties the score at 7 with 12:28 left in the second quarter. The drive is for 11 plays and 71 yards.
Wait a minute. Hold the phone. They are reviewing it after the point try. They announce it's a touchdown but they have to try the point again. It's good. Still 7-7 with 12:28 left in the half.
4:24 p.m. -- Pryor and the offense have poor field position as Thomas stumbled around and got only to the 19-yard line. He is just 1 of 4 passing so far. Herron is running hard today. He gets 3 tough yards on first down and 2 more on second.
TP takes off right when he should and gets 24 yards on third down. The Buckeyes are near midfield.
Sanzenbacher makes a great catch while getting blasted by Hero (that's right, that's what the strong safety is termed at PSU) Nick Sukay. The Buckeyes are pushed back, though as Small is flagged for a hold on a quick out to Sanzo. The offense gets minor yardage to set up third-and-16 at the PSU 30. A completion to Jake Ballard sets up Devin Barclay (there he is). He was about to try a 42-yarder and Penn State jumped offside. The 37-yarder is good and OSU leads 10-7 with 5:54 left in the first half.
We have a good one brewing here.
Some other Big Ten final scores you may have missed:
Northwestern 17, Iowa 10
Wisconsin 31, Indiana 28
Purdue 38, Michigan 36
Illinois 35, Minnesota 32
Every single game was tight and it looks like the same deal here.
4:37 p.m. -- Penn State has a lame kickoff return of its own and is flagged for a block in the back as well. The Lions have to start from their own 7 and we have a timeout.
The field is in shadows now and the sun is only hitting the top part of the east side of the stadium -- the cushy sky boxes. We are going to have a temperature dip and darkness for the second half.
We want to offer a reminder that Dave Biddle and Bret Hoovler will be ready to talk to you live right after the game ends on our Bucknuts Live Postgame Show. To participate call the guys at 614-754-7549 or fire off an e-mail to be read on the show to dave.biddle@bucknuts.com.
Penn State picks up 4 on first and second down and runs a nifty play on third with Clark twisting out of the pocket and finding Zug for a gain of 13 and first down.
4:43 p.m. -- It doesn't appear that Dexter Larimore has played yet for the OSU defense but it should be noted that Todd Denlinger earned the start and John Simon was among the defenders who rotated in on the goal line. Lawrence Wilson and Nathan Williams also have rotated in. This D-line should be fresher than the Penn State blockers in the second half.
OSU appeared to be in very good shape to lead at halftime as Penn State had a third-and-14 with the clock ticking under three and a half minutes. That is until Anderson Russell took a poor angle and slipped to allow Zug to run loose with a completion for a big first down.
Thaddeus Gibson may lead the league in fumble recoveries that don't count. That is at least his third this season by my count. Zug fumbled but officials ruled the ground caused it and the Lions are now in business. On third-and-10 after that sequence OSU is called for encroachment when it appeared a false start could have been called. Clark can't hit a receiver under duress this time, though, and the clock is stopped with 2:15 to go.
We have another goofy development on a special teams play as Small finally smartly got out of the way of the rolling punt only to have Chekwa accidentally hit the ball with his foot. Chekwa at least alertly fell on the ball in the end zone for a touchback. The crowd is booing and wanting a safety but that isn't how it works.
Tressel, of course, isn't trying to do anything other than burn the clock and Penn State, as it should, called timeout with it third-and-9 and 1:22 to play.
4:58 p.m. -- OK, Penn State can't block Heyward or Gibson. A hold on Gibson is marring PSU's chances of getting anything going before the half. In fact, Ohio State calls a timeout with 47 seconds left. PSU is about to deep snap from its own 33 for a punt and night is falling on this setting. We are looking at a 10-7 halftime score and a lot of drama upcoming.
Small's return is to the OSU 42. Pryor scampers to the PSU 47 and they are moving the chains after an 11-yard gain. A blown opportunity on second down as the PSU corner turns loose Sanzenbacher and there is no safety help -- only Pryor overshoots him on what would have been a touchdown. Another overthrow sets up thrid-and-10 with five seconds left. The heave is short of the end zone and incomplete.
We have a halftime score of Ohio State 10, Penn State 7.
An update from South Bend, Ind. -- Navy 21, Notre Dame 7. That is late in the third period.
5:27 p.m. -- We have the second-half kickoff without event (now there's a development.
Some halftime stats:
Each team has six first downs. OSU has 123 yards rushing and PSU has 44. The Buckeyes have only 33 yards passing and Penn State has 80. Pryor is 3 for 9 and Clark is 6 of 14. We don't have a turnover yet.
On the first third down of the half, Clark fires a bullet to Zug, who found the crease in OSU's zone. Heyward, though, sacks Clark for a loss of 7 on the very next play. Clark gets it back on the next play and we have another third down -- third-and-11 from the PSU 46.
Now it's Gibson's turn. He draws a hold and it's third-and-way long.
5:33 p.m. -- It's another major missed opportunity for the Buckeyes as linebacker Ross Homan drops an intercpetion. Pryor takes heat all the time from people like me for trying too hard to make a play but that's exactly what Clark did there, trying to fire out of a crowd and nearly paying a big price.
Small trips over Travis Howard on the punt return. Never a dull moment on these kicking plays.
Right tackle J.B. Shugarts is hurt on OSU's first snap but the Buckeyes pick up 6 yards on a run and Shugarts appears to be OK. Marcus Hall is in for him. Second-and-4 at the 25.
Brandon Saine gets a first down on a 15-yard run left, perhaps his best run since suffering a concussion against Minnesota a couple weeks ago. He gets 3 on the next one going right and Bowman is there. He had five tackles and in first half and the other outside 'backer, Sean Lee, had six. Brian Rolle had nine tackles in the first half for OSU and Heyward, who is having the best game of his life, had eight.
5:41 p.m. -- Pryor throws to Posey, who can't hang on. Officially No. 8 doesn't have a catch yet. He caught a pair of laterals in the first half that are considered runs.
Penn State, though, does nothing with the ball and has to punt on fourth-and-3 from its own 20. This crowd is extremely quiet right now.
Herron for no gain and a short pass to Zach Boren puts OSU in third-and-long, but Pryor finally finds Posey on a 15-yard out. Good throw and catch there. The Buckeyes eventually punt and Penn State has it on its own 9. We have a timeout.
They just announced the crowd at 110,033.
5:52 p.m. -- Just over four minutes left in the third quarter and Penn State is trying to get something going here. A couple runs make it third-and-4 at the 15. Big play here. The Buckeyes can get it back in good field position with a stop.
The get it and they get a touchdown -- a 62-yard bomb to Posey. It takes nine seconds and has this crowd very concerned. Posey caught the rainbow at the 15 and the Lions' secondary appeared to be confused with the ball in the air.
It's 17-7 Ohio State with 1:47 left in the quarter.
6:04 p.m -- The Buckeyes get it back and get a big return by Small, 45 yards and as the quarter changes they are on the PSU 47 with a first-and-10. Tressel doesn't usually go for the throat but he's got a chance right now.
Well, he goes conservative with a run for no gain but play-fakes on second down as Pryor rolls out looking for Posey. Their connection is just out of bounds. On third-and-long, the Buckeyes call a timeout. We have 14:07 to play.
6:11 p.m. -- They are showing a decibel meter on the big scoreboard but it's getting quieter in here. Pryor ran for a first down by slipping out to the left and the Buckeyes got into the red zone when Small picked up big yardage on a reverse out of a very strange alignment. He was wide left behind Jake Stoneburner prior to the snap. We also had a direct snap to Saine and Pryor's second pass to Zach Boren, who came into the game with two catches all year.
On third-and-5 from from six, Pryor rolled right and flipped a pass to Saine, who vaulted himself into the end zone. We have 9:37 to go and Barclay's extra point makes it 24-7.
It's Texas 2006 all over again. This place is going to be empty before the final gun. I see people heading to the exits already.
6:21 p.m. -- The Buckeyes have this thing totally in hand well before 6:30. Who knew? An interception in front of the OSU bench by Ross Homan has Clark ripping his chin strap off and the Buckeyes celebrating.
Also, they announced that Navy beat Notre Dame and Oregon is losing big to Stanford. Ohio State and Arizona in the Rose Bowl? Just a thought.
We are halfway through the final period and the Buckeyes are going to spend the rest of the game just killing clock now.
I'm going to sign off and head down here very shortly with this thing decided. Huge win by the Buckeyes unless something really, really bizarre happens. Terrelle Pryor said the coaches had a good offensive plan for the this game and I'd have to say he turned out to be right. Pryor is going to feel good about this day for a long time. He was almost inconsolable last year after the 13-6 loss to PSU in the Horseshoe.
Ohio State vs. Iowa next week is as big as we're going to see in the Big Ten this season.
6:27 p.m. -- OK, signing off. Rapper out. I am heading down to see what they have to say after this.
