Defensive stand propels No. 4 Ohio State past No. 3 Penn State
A goal-line stand late in the game helped No. 4 Ohio State record a 20-13 win over No. 3 Penn State on Saturday afternoon in State College, Pa.
The Buckeyes (7-1, 4-1 Big Ten) have defeated the Nittany Lions (7-1, 4-1) eight straight times since 2016.
Trailing 20-13, Penn State had a first-and-goal from the 3. Three runs produced only two yards, however, and a pass intended to Khalil Dinkins was incomplete with 5:13 left in the game.
The Buckeyes ran out the clock with quarterback Will Howard, a Pennsylvania native, rushing for seven yards on a third-and-3 from the Penn State 47 with 30 seconds left. He took a knee to end the game.
Howard was 16 of 24 for 182 yards, two touchdowns and an interception while Quinshon Judkins ran for 95 yards.
Penn State's Drew Allar was 12 of 20 for 146 yards and an interception.
Ohio State led 14-10 after a bizarre first half in which both teams had apparent touchdowns result in turnovers after video review.
Howard ran 13 yards along the left sideline but Zakee Wheatley stripped him of the ball at the 1 and it flew over the pylon and out of bounds for a touchback. Initially it was ruled a touchdown to make it 20-10 in the second quarter.
Just before halftime, the Nittany Lions thought they had a 16-14 lead after Harrison "Tre" Wallace made a catch in the end zone on the right boundary with 11 seconds left. However, the replay showed cornerback Davison Igbinosun had snatched the ball while dragging his right foot for an interception.
Howard had an adventurous first half. He threw a pick-six that was returned 31 yards by Zion Tracy for a 10-0 Penn State lead before putting the Buckeyes ahead with TD passes of 25 yards to Emeka Egbuka and 21 to Brandon Inniss.
Jayden Fielding kicked field goals of 46 and 39 yards to sandwich a Ryan Barker 44-yard field goal to give the Buckeyes a 20-13 lead with 10 minutes left in the game.
