Buckeyes Defeat Penn State, 38-25: Instant Recap and Inside the Box Score
HOW IT HAPPENED:
* Ohio State was up 14-0 before you could blink, opening the game with a 62-yard end-around by Garrett Wilson that led to a touchdown from Master Teague. Penn State went for it on 4th and 2 just shy of midfield on its opening possession but was unsuccessful, and Chris Olave hauled in an acrobatic TD grab from Justin Fields moments later.
* The Nittany Lion defense was in disarray on a key third down late in the half, and Fields promptly hit Jeremy Ruckert over the middle for a 21-3 advantage.
* PSU only mustered a pair of field goals prior to intermission, the latter coming with one second remaining following an odd sequence where officials ruled that Ohio State took a premature knee. Both teams returned to the field and Penn State buried a 50-yard field goal.
* Touchdowns were exchanged throughout a rather high-scoring second half, with the primary Buckeye highlight being a 49-yard deep ball up the left sideline (from Fields to Olave) after PSU had cut the deficit to 21-13. Olave went full extension to secure the pass and lunged into the end zone.
* A 4th and goal toss from Fields to Ruckert, with 9:14 on the clock, made the gap 38-19 and all but hammered a nail in the coffin.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
* The Buckeyes outgained PSU 280-73 in the first half, where the Nittany Lions went 0 for 5 on third down. Ohio State ultimately ended the night with a 526-319 advantage in total offense.
* Fields was remarkably consistent again, going 28 of 34 for 318 yards and four TDs. He connected with eight different receivers for the second game in a row, including 11 times for 111 yards to Wilson.
* Penn State QB Sean Clifford had just 29 yards passing at halftime but finished with 275. His star aerial threat, Jahan Dotson, had 144 of those and all three TDs... including a sensational one-handed grab while battling Shaun Wade.
* Starting kicker Blake Haubeil exited with a groin injury after missing a field goal in the first half. He was replaced by Dominic DiMaccio, who also missed a short kick in the closing minutes.
* OSU dominated time of possession, holding the ball for 37:01 of game time and going a combined 12 of 21 on third/fourth down.
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