Ohio State rallies in second half to rout Penn State

Ohio State 38 – PSU 14

Penn State was given no chance to beat the Ohio State Buckeyes in Ohio Stadium, as the Nittany Lions entered the contest as 18 point underdogs. For the first 30 minutes, though, Penn State was primed to prove the experts wrong. Unfortunately for the Lions, the second half was more along the lines of what the oddsmakers predicted. Taking a 14-3 lead into the third quarter, Penn State quarterback Matt McGloin threw two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns and Ohio State outscored Penn State 35-0 in the final 30 minutes en route to a 38-14 rout.

GAME FLOW

After Penn State trailed 3-0 early, McGloin drove the Lions to consecutive touchdowns as Penn State went into halftime up 14-3. The second half was all Ohio State. The Buckeyes went 96 yards on their first drive of the second half. Dan Herron's five yard run made the score 14-10. Penn State watched Ohio State take the lead for good on the ensuing drive as McGloin's pass was picked by Devon Torrence and returned 34 yards for a Buckeye touchdown. Buckeye quarterback Terrell Pryor hit Dane Sanzenbacher for a 58 yard touchdown connection and on Penn State's next drive, McGloin threw another pick-six when Travis Howard stepped in front of a pass and returned the ball 20 yards. A late touchdown pass to Jake Stoneburner from Pryor finished the scoring.

OFFENSE

On the ground: Evan Royster was held to just 50 yards on 16 carries. Ohio State's Herron ran for a career high 190 yards on just 21 carries before being pulled.

Through the air: McGloin threw two touchdown passes and had the Lions thinking upset in the first half. In the second half, however, he threw two more touchdowns, but they were the kind that the other team catches and returns. He finished with 159 yards on just 15-30 passing. Pryor attempted just 13 passes, but wound up throwing two touchdown passes and one pick.

DEFENSE

Penn State's defense held the Buckeyes to just three first half points, but the momentum changed when Ohio State's first drive of the second half covered 96 yards, and the Buckeyes never looked back en route to 454 total yards.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Colin Wagner attempted no field goals but was 2-for-2 on extra points.

GAME BALL

Dan Herron for his career day or the Buckeye defense for their two pick six plays.

NEXT UP

The Nittany Lions return to Happy Valley for a divisional game against the Indiana Hoosiers at noon.