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By Neil Rudel
nrudel@altoonamirror.com
UNIVERSITY PARK -- Following are the highlights and lowlights from Penn State's 20-13 loss to Ohio State on Saturday at Beaver Stadium:
Play of the game: With 11 seconds left the first half at the Ohio State 3, Drew Allar was intercepted in the end zone by Davison Igbinosun. The play was intended for Trey Wallace, who had his hands on the ball, but then lost it to Igbinosun. The call was changed from an incompletion to a touchback, keeping the Buckeyes' lead to 14-10.
Offensive player of the game: Ohio State quarterback Will Howard completed 16-of-24 for 182 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 24 yards on 12 carries, including a couple key first downs.
Defensive player of the game: Buckeye linebacker Cody Simon led OSU with 10 tackles, including five solos and a sack.
Most telling statistic: Penn State was penalized five times in the first half for 45 yards.
Most deceiving statistic: For the eighth straight game, the Lions did not allow a touchdown in the second half.
Hidden statistic: Penn State went 1-for-3 in red-zone opportunities with no TDs.
Best run: On third down with 1:11 left, Howard optioned around left end for 7 yards and a first down to clinch the game.
Best pass: Allar found Wallace for 21 yards to the Ohio State 3 with 11 seconds remaining in the first half.
Worst pass: Howard did not see Zion Tracy, whose first-quarter interception and 31-yard return gave the Lions a 10-0 lead.
Best catch: Tyler Warren hauled in a contested 31-yarder in the fourth quarter.
Best tackle: With Ohio State leading 14-10 in the second quarter, Howard scrambled 13 yards for a touchdown, but Zakee Wheatley forced a fumble at the pylon. After a review, the play was ruled a touchback, sparing the Lions a 21-10 deficit.
Worst tackle: Abdul Carter had Howard for a loss, but couldn't wrap him up, and Howard completed a pass for a first down.
Best hit: Carter decked Howard for a second-quarter sack.
Best kick: Jayden Fielding booted a 46-yard field goal in the third quarter, bumping Ohio State's lead to 17-10.
Worst kick: Riley Thompson clunked a 33-yard punt in the second quarter as things were unraveling.
Worst coverage: Tony Rojas lost track of Emeka Egbuka, who scored on a 25-yard wheel route reception from Howard to cut the Lions' lead to 10-7 in the first quarter.
Best call: On second-and-8 from the Ohio State 47 late in the third quarter, the Buckeyes blitzed Allar, and Simon tackled him for a 9-yard loss.
Worst call: Pick one of Andy Kotelnicki's three straight up-the-gut offerings from the 3, down 20-13, in the fourth quarter.
Worst penalty: Down 10-7 and having forced a punt in the second quarter, the Lions' Elliot Washington stepped over an OSU defender and was called for a taunting/unsportsmanlike penalty, giving the Buckeyes a first down. The Bucks turned the penalty into a touchdown drive.
Best effort: Ohio State's Quinshon Judkins, the Ole Miss transfer who helped beat the Lions in the Peach Bowl, rushed 14 times for 95 yards.
Unsung hero: The Buckeyes' offensive line took over the game with five minutes left, mushing the Nits for four first downs to melt the clock.