The Sunday Afternoon Quarterback #12: Sometimes the Other Team is Just Better

#8 Penn State Nittany Lions 17 – #2 Ohio State Buckeyes 28

Penn State versus Ohio State. It’s the football game that every Nittany Lion fan looks forward to every year. A game that is tied for most played opponent for White Out games. I’m fairly certain this matchup will lead White Out opponents when next years opponent is decided. A game that for the last four years has determined the winner of the Big Ten East Conference and the right to play for the conference championship. In order to be king in the east, Penn State must first dethrone the sitting one. 

However, this task has proven difficult for the Nittany Lions. After dropping two heartbreaking losses the last two years to the Buckeyes, this year didn’t look any more promising. And somehow I have acquired more friends who are Buckeye fans than any other team in college football. Speaking of Buckeye fans, if any of you plan on attending a game at Ohio State, be sure to look into RV Rental Ohio for some affordable tailgating options. 

These unlikely Buckeye companionships have now led to me donning an Ohio State jersey at some point today to honor a bet made with one of these previously mentioned companions. I am not angered or embarrassed by losing this bet as it is all in good natured friendship. If Penn State had pulled off the upset, I would have already been at my friend’s house banging on the door, Penn State jersey in hand for my picture. I intend to use this as a teaching point for two things to my sons. First, don’t ever make a bet that you’re not willing to follow through on in the event that you lose. Second, always be a man of your word. It is a solid character trait that people in the adult world appreciate and respect.  

In order to pull off the upset yesterday, Penn State needed a perfect storm. At one point in the 3rd quarter, it looked like it might develop but just as meteorologists’ predictions of storms are sometimes inaccurate, the storm itself fizzled out before becoming perfect…much to the detriment of the Nittany Lions. 

KJ Hamler returned the opening kickoff 26 yards setting up Penn State at their own 40 yard line. The Lions managed one first down before having to punt the ball away, pinning the Buckeyes deep in their own territory. Taking over at their own 9 yard line, Justin Fields would move the Buckeyes 91 yards in 13 plays for the first score of the game. J.K. Dobbins took the handoff on the first play of the drive and broke free for 22 yards. On a third and five, Fields would break a tackle and cause another defender to miss on his way to a 14 yard run. On the next third down, Fields again broke containment for 17 yards and another first down. Dobbins finished the drive plunging in from 4 yards out for the score. Ohio State 7-0. 

Penn State only moved backwards on their next possession, punting it away after losing 8 yards on three plays. Moving the ball down the field on their next possession, Ohio State found themselves with second and goal at the Nittany Lion 5 yard line. Fields tried to take it himself but was hit by Lamont Wade and fumbled at the 1 inch line that was recovered by Cam Brown in the end zone for a touchback.

Following the fumble, Sean Clifford again drove the Nittany Lions into Buckeye territory but their vaunted defense shut us down again, forcing another Blake Gillikin punt. The Buckeyes moved into Penn State territory before a holding call and a Gross-Matos sack of Justin Fields ended their drive. Taking over at their own 20 yard line, Penn State again went three and out, punting back to Ohio State and giving them possession already in Penn State territory. Justin Fields would make them pay for the short punt and the Buckeyes would convert two fourth downs on the drive including a 1 yard touchdown run by Dobbins to increase the lead. Ohio State 14-0. Penn State’s fifth possession of the half resulted in their third three and out and their fifth punt. Halftime Ohio State 14-0.

Starting the second half at their own 25 yard line, Ohio State marched 75 yards in 10 plays. Fields found K.J. Hill in the end zone from 24 yards out to finish the drive. Ohio State 21-0. 

The Penn State offense would finally answer as Sean Clifford started the drive but took a hard hit on a 12 yard completion to Nick Bowers. Clifford was replaced by backup Will Levis and did not return. Levis finished the drive for Penn State’s first points when Journey Brown took it in from 18 yards out to put the Nittany Lions on the board. Ohio State 21-7. 

J.K. Dobbins fumbled on Ohio State’s first play after a hit from Micah Parsons and Lamont Wade would recover it at the Buckeyes 12 yard line. After an 11 yard completion to Pat Freiermuth, Levis found paydirt from 1 yard out cutting the Buckeye lead to seven. Ohio State 21-14. 

It was at this point that I hoped the weathermen were right as I believed the perfect storm was forming. On the Buckeyes next possession, Justin Fields took a hit from Lamont Wade and fumbled the ball again. This time Micah Parsons recovered at the Ohio State 35 yard line. Yes! A short field again, it looked like we were going to be able to tie this game up except the perfect storm began dissipating. Penn State reached the 11 yard line before a false start as a Chase Young sack set them back and they had to settle for a Jake Pinegar 42 yard field goal. Ohio State 21-17. The teams traded punts over their next two series before Ohio State mounted the last offensive drive of the game.

Starting at the Nittany Lion 44 yard line, the Buckeyes needed only 5 plays to find the end zone and put the game away. On second and eight, cornerback John Reid lost coverage on Chris Olave and Justin Fields found him open in the end zone for a 28 yard touchdown pass and the final score of the game. Ohio State 28-17. 

Penn State’s next three possessions ended in an interception and two turnovers on downs before Ohio State would kneel on it to run out the clock. Penn State lost a tough one on the road but in this case sometimes the other team really is just better. The Nittany Lions return home next week to play Rutgers, and barring the most perfect storm of the century, should finish the season with a very respectable 10-2 record.

Until then, we are…

Keeping it on the edge,

Jeff and Shelbee

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