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OSU-PSU highlights, lowlights

By Neil Rudel

nrudel@altoonamirror.com

UNIVERSITY PARK — Following are the highlights and lowlights from Penn State’s 24-21 victory over No. 2 Ohio State on Saturday night at Beaver Stadium:

Play of the game: Marcus Allen blocked Ohio State’s 45-yard field goal attempt, and Grant Haley scooped it up and returned it 60 yards for a touchdown that gave Penn State a 24-21 lead with 4:27 remaining.

Offensive player of the game: Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett completed 28 of 43 passes for 245 yards and one touchdown.

Defensive player of the game: Penn State linebacker Brandon Bell returned from injury to make a career-high 19 tackles.

Most telling statistic: Penn State sacked Barrett six times.

Most deceiving statistic: The Lions were outgained 413-276.

Hidden statistic: Penn State won despite running 23 fewer offensive plays (83-60).

Best run: On third-and-2 from the Lions’ 26, Ohio State ran a jet sweep to Curtis Samuel, who exploded through a big hole and raced 74 yards untouched for a touchdown that gave the Buckeyes a 19-7 lead with 10:10 left in the third quarter.

Best pass: Trace McSorley hit Saeed Blacknall for 35 yards to the Ohio State 2, setting up the McSorley’s 2-yard TD with 13:32 left that cut the Buckeyes’ lead to 21-14.

Worst pass: McSorley missed a wide-open Mike Gesicki in the end zone early in the fourth quarter before scoring himself on a 2-yard run to cut the Buckeye lead to 21-14.

Best catch: Chris Godwin adjusted nicely in the end zone on McSorley’s 20-yard touchdown pass with nine seconds left in the first half got the Lions back in the game at 12-7.

Catch it, will ya: In an early scoreless tie, the Lions’ John Reid should have made a fair catch on a punt. Instead, he fumbled while trying to return it, and the Buckeyes turned the mistake into a 3-0 lead. He also dropped a late interception. Godwin and Gesicki dropped early passes and DaeSean Hamilton dropped one in the second half.

Hold it, won’t ya: DeAndre Thompkins made a deep catch over the middle in the second quarter but he couldn’t maintain control when he hit the ground.

Best tackle: On third-and-10 from the Ohio State 42, with 1:07 left, Jason Cabinda sacked Barrett for a 13-yard loss, making it fourth-and-23.

Best block: Buckeye tight end Marcus Baugh and tailback Mike Weber sealed the edge and sprung Samuel’s long TD.

Best hit: Cabinda, in his first action since the season opener, drilled Samuel following a third-quarter reception.

Best kick: Tyler Davis’ 34-yard field goal with 9:38 left kept the Lions’ hopes alive, pulling them within 21-17.

Worst kick: Ohio State’s Tyler Durbin hooked an extra point in the second quarter, keeping the Buckeyes’ lead at 9-0.

Best call: Having Allen on the field-goal block unit.

Worst call: The officials erroneously gave Ohio State possession at the 11 in the first half when the Buckeyes actually should have had the ball at their own 6.

Best effort: Penn State’s offensive line allowed just one sack.

Unsung hero: Gesicki came back from a first-half injury to finish with four catches for 88 yards.

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