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By Neil Rudel
nrudel@altoonamirror.com
UNIVERSITY PARK --- Following are the highlights and lowlights from Penn State's 44-31 loss to Ohio State on Saturday:
Play of the game: Buckeye defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau sacked Sean Clifford, forcing a fumble that Tuimoloau recovered at the Lions' 24 with 8:26 left. On the next play, Ohio State's C.J. Stroud hit Cade Stover, who weaved through the Lions' defense for a 30-21 Buckeye lead.
Offensive player of the game: Stroud completed 26-of-33 for 354 yards and a touchdown.
Defensive player of the game: Tuimoloau was a monster. He made three tackles for loss, intercepted two passes -- one he returned for a touchdown. He broke up an early pass the Bucks picked off, forced and recovered a fumble.
Most telling statistic: Penn State committed four turnovers; Ohio State committed none.
Hidden statistic: With nine minutes left, Ohio State had scored just one touchdown (and three field goals), then scored four TDs in the next 6:09.
Most deceiving statistic: The Buckeyes ran only 60 plays -- 20 fewer than PSU.
Best run: Parker Washington broke two Ohio State tackles and blazed 58 yards for a touchdown.
Best pass: Leading 30-24 with less than five minutes remaining, Stroud hit Emeka Egbuka for 42 yards to the PSU 2, setting up the game-clinching touchdown.
Worst pass: Clifford telegraphed and was intercepted in the first quarter by Tuimoloau at the PSU 42.
Best catch: Washington made a leaping finger-tipper for 13 yards in the second quarter.
Catch it, will ya: Theo Johnson had a drop with 1:07 left in the first half.
Hold it, won't ya: The Nits fumbled three times. Clifford fumbled (play of game). So did Mitchell Tinsley and Daequan Hardy, but the Nits recovered both.
Best block: Ohio State's left tackle Paris Johnson paved TreVeyon Henderson's 7-yard run that put the Buckeyes up 37-24 with 2:52 left.
Best tackle: With Ohio State already up 10-0, Coziah Izzard dumped Henderson on third-and-1 early in the second quarter, forcing a punt.
Best hit: Buckeye linebacker Steele Chambers -- how's that for the all-name toughness team? -- rocked Brenton Strange, causing a fourth-quarter incompletion.
Best kick: Jake Pinegar's 44-yard field goal cut the Ohio State lead to 30-24 with 5:49 remaining.
Worst kick: PInegar missed a 35-yard field goal in the fourth quarter that was wiped out by an Ohio State penalty.
Best call: With Ohio State down 14-13 with 6 seconds left in the first half, out of timeouts and facing second-and-goal from the PSU 8, Manny Diaz dialed up a blitz, and cornerback Johnny Dixon sacked Stroud, ending the half and costing the Buckeyes a field goal.
Worst call: Leading 14-13 in the third quarter, thought James Franklin could have taken a short field goal, rather than the fourth-and-2 run by Nick Singleton from the OSU 19 that didn't work.
Worst penalty: After a first-down reception to Washington, Strange cost the Nits 15 yards with a personal foul in the second quarter.
Best effort: Washington caught 11 passes for 179 yards -- 65 after the catch.
Unsung hero: Harrison caught 10 passes (out of 12 targets) for 185 yards.
Best moment: The introduction of LaVar Arrington, set for December enshrinement into the College Football Hall of Fame, after the first quarter.