Physical, not fancy: Ohio State overwhelms Penn State, 24-7, to close in on another Big Ten title
By Doug Lesmerises, The Plain Dealer
November 08, 2009, 5:05AM
This was one of many times in which Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark was harried into an off-balance throw Saturday, as Ohio State's Cameron Heyward (left) and Nathan Williams close in during the second quarter at Beaver Stadium.
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STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Terrelle Pryor strode among his teammates Saturday night, a victory in hand that changed how the Ohio State Buckeyes think of themselves, changed the balance of power in the Big Ten and changed what Penn State fans will say about Pryor the next time they see him.
In a 24-7 victory over the Nittany Lions, No. 16 Ohio State was at its defensive, conservative, opportunistic best, and now the Buckeyes are on track to take their version of football to Pasadena for the first time in 13 years.
"Chase that Rose Bowl," Pryor yelled along the bench, a smile on his face that soon spread through the Buckeyes as they stormed toward the scarlet section of Beaver Stadium after the win and engaged even a grinning Jim Tressel in a victory jump-and-chant.
Defense, special teams and an offense with no turnovers and a big play when it was needed -- why shouldn't Tressel be bouncing with his players? This was his ideal brand of football.
"Obviously his theory can work in big games," OSU junior receiver Dane Sanzenbacher said. "I don't think he would have drawn it up any better."
Even before the game, the Buckeyes (8-2, 5-1 Big Ten) controlled their Rose Bowl destiny. If they won out, they'd go for the first time since 1997. Now if they beat Iowa, the Rose Bowl is a lock, regardless of what happens at Michigan to end the season.
But with this convincing deconstruction of No. 11 Penn State (8-2, 4-2) and the upset loss by the No. 4 Hawkeyes (9-1, 5-1) to Northwestern, the Buckeyes seized not only their destiny, but their perception.
The guys in white, with four straight conference titles in their pockets, sure looked like the Big Ten's best on Saturday night, out-gaining Penn State 353 yards to 201 while finishing without a turnover for the first time this season. The Buckeyes hadn't beaten an opponent ranked this high since besting No. 2 Michigan in the last game of the 2006 regular season.
"It just felt good to win a big game," said senior receiver and returner Ray Small, who had his left arm around Tressel during the postgame jump. "Everyone always says that Ohio State can't win the big game, and this definitely changes the confidence level. I'll use [Pryor] for example. When TP is winning, he's winning. When he wins, he really loves to win."
Pryor had won plenty, going 15-4 as a starter coming in, but he'd never won a game like this.
Playing on a sore left ankle that limited his ability to run left, Pryor managed the game as the Buckeyes led, 10-7, at the half. Then he struck with two minutes left in the third quarter after Ohio State spent the first 43 minutes setting up the Nittany Lions.
Ohio State had run on 16 of 17 first-down plays, and once again the Buckeyes put both tackles on the left side of the formation in an unbalanced set typically used on run plays. Time to plow into the line again, right?
"We knew the same thing everyone else knew, which is we had been running a lot on first down," Tressel said. "We felt like if we had decent field position, it was time to try to strike."
So the Buckeyes used their unbalanced look, then ran receivers DeVier Posey and Dane Sanzenbacher down the left side, forcing the Penn State safety to make a choice. He chose Sanzenbacher, Pryor chose Posey, right guard Bryant Browning made a key block in pass protection and 62 yards later, Ohio State had a touchdown, a 17-7 lead and its knockout punch.
But that point in the game was reached because of what Tressel's first priorities, defense and special teams. Ohio State's defensive line dominated from the first snap, harassing Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark (12-of-28 for 125 yards) and clamping down on running back Evan Royster (13 carries for 36 yards).
"It was just the D line all night getting pressure," OSU linebacker Ross Homan said. "Our coaches challenged us to just do our jobs. We don't have to be superheroes, do our jobs and it'll be enough to win."
On special teams, punter Jon Thoma dropped three of eight punts inside the 20, and he pinned Penn State deep immediately, his first punt a 55-yarder to the 16. After the defense held, Small then returned Penn State's first punt 41 yards to the 9, setting up an easy first score of the game on a Pryor 7-yard run.
Gain the field position edge, take advantage of it.
"Sometimes I'm even like, 'All Coach Tress talks about is special teams,'" said a laughing Small, who also returned a third-quarter punt 45 yards to set up Ohio State's final touchdown. "But special teams is definitely a huge part of the game."
Pryor, playing in his home state for the first time, hearing the taunts from the crowd before and during the game, didn't have to play a huge part. He just had to fill his role when called on, finishing 8-of-18 for 125 yards passing with two touchdowns, and running five times for 54 yards.
"They messed around with me pretty good, but it was all fun," Pryor said of the crowd. "I was trying to concentrate on the game, but they were laughing back there. I had a lot of fun with them."
A year ago, Pryor nearly cried after losing to Penn State. T-shirts mocked him for it. Saturday, with his coach and his teammates beside him and a suddenly brighter future ahead of him, Pryor laughed last.
Best all around game that Ohio State has played in 2 years (including this season). Pryor came through when he had to. Now it will be interesting to see if he can build on this game. I have not seen a defensive effort like that in the last several years.
Great job OSU- Pasadena awaits...let's go get it done.
No turnovers. Has TP finally matured?
Great defensive effort as well as special teams!
Daryll Clark is from Youngstown, but Buckeye fans don't make a big deal that he is a "traitor", going to Penn State. Maybe that's because the state of Ohio has so much talent that we can afford to let some go.
We all saw who has the real #1 Defense is in the Big-10. Perhaps PSU should try playing some real football teams next year.
Classic Tresselball. All the first down runs that most were screaming about setup the the death blow TD to Posey. We are witnessing a young QB growing up before our eyes and a head coach that has stuck to his plan inspite of intense criticism. Thanks vest for being patient and thanks TP for letting your play do the talking. See you in Pasedena Go Bucks
Oh yeah - great win - in the Big Ten maybe...
and it should have been a shutout if not for the referees gaffe...
But let's see if "Classic Tressel Ball" can knock off an LSU or a USC or some other "big name team" that it has failed miserably against lately.
hopefully they only see black roses. ANY TEAM from MICHIGAN!!!!!!
where is that Ohio state "Kill all Michiganders" attitude, jeez I keep posting on here to have fun with Ohio fan and you all keep ignoring me. fine I'll just take my ball and go home.
Detrit1701 your team must be a factor and be relevant to get a response here. Maybe when dickrod leaves and you get a real coach we can talk. In the mean time get lost troll . Is that good enough for you?
I was noticing that too (that no one in Ohio cares that Penn State's QB is from Ohio, yet Penn State is all up in arms about Pryor coming to OSU).
Detroit1701, if OSU wins next week, the Michigan game is virtually meaningless, just like the Wolverines again this year. Still glad you hired that choke-artist Rodriguez? (Those WV teams he coached always choked when it mattered too!) How's that for having fun with you?
spoonster10:
So what is your point? Ohio State wins a big game AT Penn State and you bring your BS to this site. If you are an OSU fan...again, what's your point? If you are not an OSU fan...again, what's your point. I guess your odds are pretty good if you get to pick any of the other teams in college football against OSU. Even great teams lose big games...it's called PARITY. I take it you enjoy riding the anti-OSU pi$$andmoan bandwagon...get a life dude............and go away!
I've said all along it was the play calling and the non-use of the running game was the biggest problem. Now for all of you who felt that Pryor wasn't a quarterback...he may not look pretty doing things(passing) however, he is a leader and a competitor those are some of the intangibles that you look for in your QB. Let's not have a letdown against Iowa and it's off to the roses.
Great win, they persevered and pulled away after Tressel completely sucked their early momentum away by, after getting up early mostly because of Small and then driving for more, curling up in his fetal position and going ultra conservative and then ridiculously punting from the Penn State 29. That brought the question forth as to when he'll punt from the red zone. It was like we were up 7-0 and he's ready to take a knee.
I'm sorry, I just can't get past that, we picked up a net of nine yards. Man up, find your pair and go for it if you're too chicken to try a field goal. It's not like we don't have a great defense if we fail.
We did score 24 points which is really good for us and it shouldn't be. The question has to be asked as to why we are almost always top notch on defense and almost always offense is a struggle.
Note to Joe Paterno: please don't retire. Stay at PSU until you are 100! Because as long as you are there, PSU will NEVER again be a contender in the Big Ten. It was obvious that OSU have supiority in talent/athleticsm at every position. Pryor too athletic. Posey too fast. Hayward too strong. Defense too quick.
Great win Buckeyes! Now go out an finish off the very overrated Hawkeyes and the very overmatched (SC)UM.
tribefever,
This game and your response are perfect examples of Ohio producing great football players and football coaches, but some of the most idiotic fans. You just watched a masterpiece game played out to perfection. Tressel knowing he still has some limitations on his offense used those abilities to beat a team you were convinced they would lose to.
This my friend is why Tressel is the coach and you are the pompous ass critiquing him on Sunday mornings.
so...when does papa johns give us the apologetic 2 cent pizza? i mean im sure they sponsored these shirts too
It's great living in the south (Georgia) and wearing my Ohio State sweatshirt.....a few Pissburg Squealers fans down here didn't do any jawing when they eyed my shirt...imagine that...an Ohio teams shutting up the mouthy Pa. inbreds...( 95% of PSU fans are Squealers fans)
GO BUCKEYES!
GO BUCKEYES!
Great win. It was the defense (mainly Cameron) and special teams that really won the game with a nod toward the O line. It was not coaching but for that one TD pass to Posey. No passes on 1st down supposedly set it up.
Tressel fears one team on the gridiron. His own. 16/17 runs on 1st down. We saw in the Purdue game that when the offense went hurry up they actually looked good doing it and drove the ball to the end zone. They get stagnent under Tressel blandness. They remind us of the Brownies sometimes which is not football -- it is rugby. I think the Blue Jackets average more points per game than do the Browns.
Eg., the Bucks had the ball on their 20 with 2:24 remaining until the half with all three timeouts left. He runs the ball up the middle 3 straight times to get to the punt -- his favorite play. He was willing to let PSU score before the half rather than score himself. Luckily the defense prevented it.
The Bucks will never win it again under this guy. Why? He is afraid of his own team, that is why!
I wish Gene Smith was about 68 years old and ready to retire so that Tressel could take over. Then go out and hire a real coach -- Boise State's Coach Peterson. He actually likes to use the talent on his team as opposed to this guy who is afraid of his own shadow.
Go Bucks! It would be real nice seeing them at the Grand Daddy of them all.
Best all around game in two years? Not seen a defensive effort like this> You may have missed the three shut-outs just this year. Or holding teams to under 100 yards of total offense. All just this year. I will agree this is the best "big game" performance for a while but don't forget we played hard and lost close to USC and Texas both with this same young QB. The big hurt was Pordue. If we win that game we are #4 right now.
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