Valley Victory Vaults Vehemence

Happy Valley wasn’t so happy Saturday afternoon. Fans expecting to play testament to a paramount party in Beaver Stadium’s 300th game were aghast rather than amused. Penn State fans clad in all white didn’t have much to celebrate after the Nittany Lions dropped a significant Big 10 contest to visiting Ohio State. It was the 25th meeting between the renowned rivals. The game took on even larger implications prior to kickoff because previously undefeated Iowa suffered their first loss of the season to Northwestern. Control of the Big 10 would suddenly be seized by whatever team escaped Happy Valley victorious. The Lions and Buckeyes were in charge of their own destiny. Only Ohio State played as if they knew the conference was on the line. The Buckeyes blew past Penn State in the second half to vault into a tie for first place with Iowa. Ohio State 24-7 crushing gave them an 8-2 record. Penn State endured their second loss to match the Bucks’ 8-2 posting this year. But Ohio State has the edge in the head-to-head meetings because they bested the Lions.
Saturday’s game pitted the Big 10’s number one defense, Penn State, against the Buckeye’s number two. The game was won at the line of scrimmage. Defense ruled the day. Neither team’s offense could sustain long drives in the first half. Ohio State’s exceptional defense took charge from the first snap. They frustrated Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark with constant pressure. The Bucks’ defense kept running back, Evan Royster, in check the entire game. The blazing back managed just 36 yards on 13 carries. Whiteout conditions mattered little to the Ohio State defense. In fact, it was Penn State that appeared flustered. The offense dropped a few passes when Clark was able to muster a good throw. If Clark was a victim of Ohio State’s impenetrable defense, Buckeye passer, Terrelle Pryor benefited most from his team’s standout performance. The sophomore quarterback finished 8 of 17 for 125 yards with two touchdowns. Pryor didn’t throw a pick and wasn’t sacked one time. Pryor also sprinted for 50 yards on his quick, athletic feet. Jim Tressel’s strategy called for the Buckeyes to run the ball, rather than spread the ball to receivers. It seems as if the head coach lacks confidence in Pryor’s arm. It’s true Terrelle needs to work on being more consistent, but the quarterback has the ability to be an adept passer.
Pryor scored the first touchdown in Beaver Stadium yesterday with a two-play, nine yard sprint into the end zone. The touchdown was set up by Ray Small’s 41 yard punt return to the Penn State nine yard line. Special teams and field position were key components in the Buckeye’s triumph. Punter Jon Thoma pinned Penn State inside the twenty three times. The offensive line also played a major role in the win. They stepped up to protect the passer and gave room for Dan Herron and Brandon Saine to run the ball. Pryor played mistake-free football because the line kept the PSU defense away. Penn State allowed Pryor to beat them with his legs instead of forcing him to throw. Pryor succeeded in avoiding the blitz and giving the offense a crack at scoring because he is so fast at gaining yards with his legs. Clark was limited to 145 yards with an interception and a one-yard touchdown sneak. Clark’s scramble in the second quarter put the Lions on the scoreboard and evened the game at a touchdown a piece. Penn State wouldn’t find the end zone again. The Buckeyes defense was that great. OSU was able to slay the Penn State dragon because the defensive line gave Clark little time to work. Penn State couldn’t manufacture plays because the OSU defense wouldn’t allow it. The Nittany Lions were proven in the red zone all year. The red zone offense was nonexistent for Joe Paterno’s team after the first half. Devin Barclay, a walk-on place kicker for Ohio State, legged a 37 yard field goal before the half. Barclay is a former professional soccer player filling for the injured Aaron Pettrey. Pettrey’s absence worries me a bit. The Bucks don’t realize the value of an experienced kicker in close games. Barclay could be a sensation, but does Tressel win the Big 10 with a first year kicker? Both teams had a chance to score with two minutes in the second quarter. Ohio State handed the ball over after failing to convert a third-and-nine. Following a Penn State ten yard penalty, Royster pounded out four and five yard rushes. The Lions were forced to punt with .38 ticks on the clock. Small returned a Jeremy Boone punt 18 yards to the OSU 42 yard line. Pryor promptly pummeled through Penn State for 11 rushing yards before he missed a wide open Dane Sanzenbacher for what would have been a gift touchdown. I think Tressel should trust Pryor more, despite the missed pass to Sanzenbacher. Pryor’s arm is underutilized. Even though the OSU running game was phenomenal, the Buckeye’s success will be determined by acknowledging Pryor’s ability to engineer an enigmatic offense.
The third and fourth quarters belonged solely to the Buckeyes. Ohio State smothered Clark’s receivers and applied the pressure up front. Penn State’s Graham Zug had seven catches for 96 yards but Ohio State regained possession every time the Lions made big plays. Pryor’s hesitation resulted in a few incompletions, but the quarterback was head and shoulders above the rest in the second half. Pryor’s touchdown pass to DeVier Posey showed Happy Valley why the former top prospect is a prized player. Leading by three, the sophomore found his favorite receiver in stride down the left side line for 62 yards. Small lit up the porous PSU punt coverage unit, burning them for 45 yards to end the third quarter. The results were resounding for a rejuvenated Ohio State. The Bucks completed two third-down conversions and Pryor rolled right to Saine for a six yard touchdown pass in the fourth. The 17 point cushion was made possible because of Saine and Herron. Tressel integrated his running backs into the game plan. Saine carried the ball 20 times for 68 yards and a touchdown, while Herron added 58 yards on 16 chances. Pryor didn’t have to rifle the ball downfield during the fourth quarter. Ohio State was completely content on running out the clock. Ross Homan was charged with a personal foul on Clark in the final quarter, but made up for it with a diving interception with 9:20 remaining. Penn State faithful scurried to the exits after the Lions’ first interception in four games. The game became an exercise in futility for the Lions in the waning minutes. Pryor and the Buckeyes took advantage of every opportunity afforded them in the second half to put the game out of reach. Penn State walked away in almost a laugher of a game after being the slight favorite to win outright. The Lions averaged 35 points per game prior to Saturday. Ohio State held the potent offense to seven and a season-low 125 yards passing. Cameron Heyward recorded a career high 11 tackles and two sacks for OSU. The Buckeyes have won 17 of their last 18 Big 10 road games. They face Iowa next Saturday to determine the conference title. They’re going to need a second consecutive colossal collective effort to have a stab at it. Yesterday was a positive step in the right direction. It was the defense delivering deadly blow. It was Pryor gunning for extra gains. It was Saine trampolining into the end zone. It was everything the Buckeyes are capable of being.

Parting Points: There were some upsets in college football yesterday. Oregon, Notre Dame and Northwestern all pulled out victories.