Ohio State Buckeyes vs Penn State Nittany Lions Match Player Stats On Oct 25, 2014

5Dimes staff
Oct 26, 2014

No. 12 Ohio State 31, Penn State 24 (2 OT): J.T. Barrett accounted for two scores, including a 4-yard touchdown run to open the second overtime, and the visiting Buckeyes withstood the Nittany Lions’ comeback bid.

Barrett overcame two costly interceptions and Ezekiel Elliott rushed 26 times for 109 yards and a score for Ohio State (6-1, 3-0 Big Ten), which led 17-0 at halftime and held on for its 19th consecutive Big Ten regular season victory. The Buckeyes escaped with the win after Joey Bosa sacked Christian Hackenberg on the final play.

Hackenberg was 31-of-49 for 224 yards with two interceptions, and his 24-yard touchdown strike to Saeed Blacknall early in the fourth quarter cut the deficit to 17-14. DaeSean Hamilton had 14 receptions for 126 yards for the Nittany Lions (4-3, 1-3), who lost their third straight following a 4-0 start.

Ohio State, which has won five in a row since losing to Virginia Tech, took an early lead on Elliott’s 10-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter. The Buckeyes extended their lead in the second quarter on Sean Nuernberger’s season-long 49-yard field goal and Barrett’s 1-yard TD pass to Jeff Heuerman.

The Nittany Lions’ defense stiffened in the second half as Anthony Zettel returned an interception 40 yards for a score on the Buckeyes’ opening drive. Sam Ficken tied the game with a 31-yard field goal with nine seconds left in regulation, and Bill Belton opened the first overtime with a 1-yard TD run before Barrett answered with a 5-yard TD run.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Zettel’s 40-yard interception marked the Nittany Lions’ first pick-six since NaVorro Bowman recorded one against Indiana in 2009. … Barrett threw for 74 yards and rushed 20 times for 75 yards for the Buckeyes, who held the Nittany Lions to 16 rushing yards. … Ohio State had 219 rushing yards against Penn State, which entered as the nation’s top run defense at 60.8 yards per game.