COLUMBUS — Marvin Harrison Jr.'s 11 catches for 162 yards and late touchdown score proved to be the difference as the third-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the No. 7 Penn State Nittany Lions 20-12 in a pivotal Big Ten match up on Saturday afternoon.
While the All-American wide receiver was helping lead the offensive attack, the Buckeye defense did their part for 60 minutes.
The Ohio State defense smothered Penn State all afternoon, limiting the Nittany Lions offense to just 1-of-16 on third downs and holding them out the end zone until 29 seconds left in the game. They also got to quarterback Drew Allar, sacking him four times.
The Buckeyes have now won seven straight against Penn State (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten).
Kyle McCord finished the afternoon 22 for 35 passing for 286 yards, as the Buckeyes (7-0, 4-0) put up 367 total yards, a season-high against Penn State's tough defense.
The game's most pivotal moment happened in the second quarter, with the game knotted up at three apiece and the Buckeyes driving deep into Penn State territory.
Nittany Lions linebacker Curtis Jacobs silenced the raucous crowd at Ohio Stadium when he knocked the ball loose from McCord, scooped up the loose ball and raced 60 yards towards the bowl end of the stadium for an apparent touchdown. However, the play was nullified because of defensive holding penalty.
Five plays later, Miyan Willams would score from 2 yards out to give the Buckeyes a 10-7 lead with 7:31 remaining before halftime.
Williams finished the game with 56 of Ohio State's 79 rushing yards, as the Buckeyes again struggled to get their running game on track. The offense was without the services of No. 1 back, TreVeyon Henderson. He was listed as questionable but was held out again with a injury.
Harrison was the biggest offensive weapon for either team on Saturday. He caught a pass over the middle and went the final 18 yards to make it 20-6 with 4:07 left and effectively put the game out of reach for Penn State.
“I’m just doing my job, really,” Harrison said. “Out there on the field, I’m not really realizing what I’m doing. The ball comes my way, I want to make a play for my teammates.”
The Nittany Lions would manage to finally find the end zone when Allar found Kaden Saunders for an 8-yard TD in the final 30 seconds.
Sander Sahaydak's onside kick attempt was recovered and the Buckeyes ran out the clock to secure the win.
Ohio State will travel to Camp Randell Stadium to face Wisconsin next Saturday.
Comments