Ohio State 27, Penn State 26: What we saw and wondered
Centre Daily Times writers Johnny McGonigal and Josh Moyer critique Penn State’s game at Illinois, while Abby Drey provides the visuals from Saturday.
Trace McSorley — after putting up 461 of 492 offensive yards — on the loss pic.twitter.com/rGaXL9VEDE
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 30, 2018
A tough late loss to Ohio State puts Penn State on the outside of CFP consideration looking in. https://t.co/nQdnOexrkq
— Centre Daily Times (@centredaily) September 30, 2018
Several Penn State players said the playcall you saw on fourth-and-5, after several timeouts, was the original playcall.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 30, 2018
Story coming later.
"It's on me. James Franklin. It's on me."
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 30, 2018
Penn State's coach ends the most emotional press conference probably ever
Franklin: "You guys thought I was a psychopath in the past. You have no idea."
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 30, 2018
"We're a great program. And we lost to an elite program. We're that close. ...We've been knocking at the door for too long." — Franklin
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 30, 2018
Penn State falls to Ohio State 27-26. pic.twitter.com/mM4O0DbWXn
— Abby Drey (@ADreyPhotos) September 30, 2018
Franklin says Penn State is a great program and it lost to an elite program.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 30, 2018
"We're going to find a way to take the next step as a program because we've been knocking on it long enough." ...
"I give you my word. ... We're going to find a way to take the next step."
Franklin: “This one hurts.” pic.twitter.com/P3W3iqeKCv
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 30, 2018
"Right now, we're comfortable being great. And I'm going to make sure everyone in my program, including myself, is going to be very uncomfortable. ...We are going to break through and become an elite program" -- JF
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 30, 2018
"Obviously we should have called something different there" — James Franklin on 4th-down call at the end
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 30, 2018
Here's what Penn State went with on 4th and 5 with the game on the line. pic.twitter.com/onhYZGP2RH
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) September 30, 2018
Pretty simple what happened...terrible call
— Brandon Noble (@BNoble75) September 30, 2018
I'll second that. Players were in utter shock too. Outside of singing the alma mater, I don't think I saw a single player say anything on his way into the locker room either. https://t.co/Sck8RQiZO8
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 30, 2018
James Franklin exchanges words with a Penn State fan in the front row of the student section
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 30, 2018
Didn’t hear what the fan said / what prompted it, but clearly ticked off Franklin
That fourth-down play-call and those two defensive series are going to be examined for a long time in Happy Valley. Just a crazy ending.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 30, 2018
Wow ... Left the press box with about 7 minutes left and PSU had the 26-14 lead. Never saw a hyped-up crowd so quickly deflated. Unbelievable ending.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 30, 2018
OSU 27, PSU 26
Which would you prefer: McSorley down with the ball with 2 minutes left or OSU down with 2 minutes left vs. PSU defense?
— Centre Daily Times (@centredaily) September 30, 2018
It's 4-down territory for OSU . 2:24 left.
— Centre Daily Times (@centredaily) September 30, 2018
Ohio State scores to make it 26-21 just when Penn State fans had exhaled a little.
— Centre Daily Times (@centredaily) September 30, 2018
Trace McSorley's 138 rushing yards are the most by a Penn State quarterback since Chuck Peters ... in 1938.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 30, 2018
He's also thrown two passes this year that were the longest since 1919. So, yeah, lots of precedents being set.
Trace "Get the hell out of my way" McSorley
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 30, 2018
Kid is having himself a night on the ground
Trace McSorley has 119 rushing yards. It's his first career 100-yard rushing game.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 30, 2018
Not a bad stat line so far: 238 passing yards, 2 TDs; 119 rushing yards. #HeismanDiscussion
Brent Pry's defense is making a statement tonight
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 30, 2018
Regardless of the outcome, this group has impressed
Trace McSorley has 119 rushing yards. It's his first career 100-yard rushing game.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 30, 2018
Not a bad stat line so far: 238 passing yards, 2 TDs; 119 rushing yards. #HeismanDiscussion
With Miles Sanders basically negated and receivers dropping passes left and right, Trace McSorley is willing this offense — evident on that gutty run before Freiermuth's touchdown catch
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 30, 2018
McSorley with 119 rushing yards on the night
True freshman Pat Freiermuth, touchdown
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 30, 2018
A jump ball and the tight end pulls it in with one hand
Penn State leads 20-14 with 12:22 to go in regulation
Hamler is up and looks OK now. But have to think he's out for the game. Ohio State SS Isaiah Pryor is ejected ... and I don't like that ejection either.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 30, 2018
KJ Hamler took a nasty hit that drew a flag
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 30, 2018
He's down and being tended to by trainers
That didn't look good at all
PSU's receivers had at least four drops tonight. Lots of drops this season. Wonder if it'd be this bad if Josh Gattis didn't leave for Bama.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 30, 2018
Penn State wideouts tonight
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 30, 2018
Woof
It's official. 110,889 fans are in attendance tonight -- that's a new Beaver Stadium record.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 30, 2018
For comparison's sake, Allentown is the third-largest city in Pennsylvania and has 120,443 people in it.
Ohio State field goal no good after Zech McPhearson gets his facemask mauled on the previous attempt
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 30, 2018
Big swing for the Nittany Lions
Penn State defensive tackle Antonio Shelton ejected for targeting
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 30, 2018
That looked bad. But, on the replay, it looks like Antonio Shelton was pushed in to the carrier.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 30, 2018
Either way, the penalties essentially cancel out. Looks like OSU will start on its own 44. I think.
It's a brand-new game now.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 30, 2018
Penn State made one big mistake and failed to capitalize. Now it's OSU 14-13 early in the 3rd.
Way too easy for JK Dobbins
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 30, 2018
With the PAT, Ohio State takes a 14-13 lead w/ 10:22 left in the third quarter
Call on the field stands
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 30, 2018
Not even a measurement? Wow ... that was surprising. Whole stadium thought it was short.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 30, 2018
And now it's under review.
Penn State football leads 13-7 at the half. #PSUWhiteOut pic.twitter.com/WtwXk0JJU3
— Abby Drey (@ADreyPhotos) September 30, 2018
Halftime in Happy Valley: Penn State 13, Ohio State 7
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 30, 2018
Nittany Lion defense has been stellar — but Penn State should have more than 13, and Miles Sanders' fumble is a killer
Interesting to see what adjustments Buckeyes OC Ryan Day makes coming out of the break
With Penn State sending the house, screen to JK Dobbins was perfect call
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 30, 2018
Ohio State gets on the board. Penn State leads 13-6, PAT pending, with 1:50 to go in the half
Penn State's played great this first half, but that one mistake could erase a whole lot of the good.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 30, 2018
This is pretty remarkable — from Hamler and Ohio State's defense both https://t.co/wHG2eiarsH
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 30, 2018
Live look at Dwayne Haskins pic.twitter.com/89vumy3OVa
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 30, 2018
Haskins is rattled. He entered this game second in the nation with a 75.7 percent completion rate.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 30, 2018
He's 5 of 14 with one interception tonight.
watching that KJ Hamler catch and run again pic.twitter.com/wknl4YQZoK
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 30, 2018
KJ Hamler ... I don't know what to say anymore. That's a 93-yard TD pass.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 30, 2018
Before this year, Penn State's longest TD pass was a 92-yard reception that was on the books FOR 99 YEARS.
That's been broken twice now this month. Incredible speed by KJ Hamler on the 93-yard TD.
KJ Hamer, 93 yards
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 30, 2018
How many plays of the season will The Human Joystick make? All of them. The answer is all of them.
Micah Parsons picks things up and puts them down
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 30, 2018
Ohio State's MVP so far: Drue Chrisman.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 30, 2018
Two of the nation's highest-scoring offenses and we have six points so far.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 30, 2018
Yup, this is a Big Ten game.
The only people happier than Penn State fans right now are the bettors who took the under.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 30, 2018
No bueno for a Penn State secondary already missing Donovan Johnson https://t.co/E9sffp1HOV
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 30, 2018
On 4th-and-3 on Ohio State's 21, James Franklin opts to kick...and Jake Pinegar converts
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 30, 2018
Nittany Lions lead 6-0 — but it feels like it should be more
PSU is up 6-0 with 11:18 left in the second quarter -- and it should be up a whole lot more.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 30, 2018
PSU looks like the better team so far. I'll admit; that's not what I expected. This is impressive.
Ohio State drops ANOTHER pass, and this one's a Garrett Taylor pick returned 45 yards.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 30, 2018
Nice time for Taylor's first career interception. What a start by PSU's defense. Definitely the best we've seen them so far this year.
Penn State safety Garrett Taylor — a redshirt junior who bided his time behind Marcus Allen — makes his breakout play
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 30, 2018
Interception and return deep into Ohio State territory sets off the first Zombie Nation of the night
This Penn State defense is swarming — and Brent Pry dialing up some effective blitzes against Dwayne Haskins
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 30, 2018
"THAT'S CATCH OF THE YEAR THROUGH WEEK 5!" #SCtop10 pic.twitter.com/rviOfPCONI
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 30, 2018
Jake Pinegar's 46-yard field goal attempt no good, wide left
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 30, 2018
Three straight trips for Penn State into Ohio State territory with 3 points to show for it
Buckeyes will take that
Trace McSorley breaks off a 51-yard run pic.twitter.com/J2r0qo0gVO
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 30, 2018
Three nice offensive drives into OSU territory ... but just 3 points to show for it.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 30, 2018
Penn State looks good early on. But it's obviously gotta capitalize.
John Reid — who's had a rough few weeks — makes a nice play on that third-down pass from Haskins
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 30, 2018
Ohio State punts, and Penn State starts on its own 20
.@pat_fry5 is the real deal at TE
— Adam Breneman (@AdamBreneman81) September 30, 2018
Meanwhile, might be time to shelve the Tommy Stevens package for a bit
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 30, 2018
It's fun, but the offense has some rhythm already without it
True freshman kicker Jake Pinegar connects on 34-yard field goal
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 30, 2018
Penn State leads 3-0 with 4:58 to go in the first quarter
There goes that man!!!!! @Ju_heard_
— Saquon Barkley (@saquon) September 30, 2018
Juwan Johnson is back, my god
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 30, 2018
Oh my. Well, I think Juwan has forgotten about that drop already.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 30, 2018
Even a certain one of Saquon Barkley's NYG teammates would be impressed.
Also got a hand on Haskins when he scrambled for the short gain. Nice first drive by Miller. https://t.co/qeZmeWxrRu
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 30, 2018
Shareef Miller tackles Parris Campbell on the third-down tunnel screen
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 30, 2018
Athletic play by the defensive end to force a punt
Juwan Johnson with another drop ... looks like he would've had a first down if he pulled it in. There was room to run there.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 29, 2018
It's like Gesicki during the early part of his college career. Talented -- but he just can't shake the drop bug right now.
Juwan Johnson's drop issues — seemingly taken care of at Illinois last week — is a thing again
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 29, 2018
And punter Blake Gillikin with a rare shank
Ohio State to start on its own 20
Gutsy call; nice move by Miles Sanders. Statement drive by PSU here.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 29, 2018
Wow ... thought McSorley was sacked there and he winds up a yard or two short of the first.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 29, 2018
PSU's going for it, and OSU has to take a time out. Aggressive play-call early. We'll see if PSU reconsiders ...
The direct snap makes its return
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 29, 2018
Nittany Lions moving
Kickoff is here, folks pic.twitter.com/APuQcZQTPM
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 29, 2018
Pray for the old, creaky press box if KJ Hamler houses the opening kickoff pic.twitter.com/863iEumPzn
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 29, 2018
Well, he did say Friday he couldn't wait to take a video if it: https://t.co/AzxvWB2Wng
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 29, 2018
Still some time till kick off but Penn State and the fans are pumped and ready to go. #PSUWhiteOut pic.twitter.com/OPoA0XDN5e
— Abby Drey (@ADreyPhotos) September 29, 2018
For those wondering if Tommy Stevens is available tonight, he was just announced as Penn State's starting "Lion" on the Beaver Stadium videoboard
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 29, 2018
First time this season
John Reid announced as the starter opposite Amani Oruwariye at CB tonight.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 29, 2018
Sure we'll still see plenty of Tariq Castro-Fields. Don't think Donovan Johnson is dressed tonight.
Still 45-plus minutes to kickoff. Doesn’t feel like it: pic.twitter.com/2J2kAI5vF1
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 29, 2018
It's official: Miles Sanders wearing No. 8 instead of No. 24 to honor Mark Allen. And Shaka Toney to wear No. 97 instead of No. 18 to honor Ryan Buchholz.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 29, 2018
"You’re definitely aware of the magnitude when you step foot into a game like this"#PennState's Trace McSorley lives for nights like tonight
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 29, 2018
Can he add another win to his big-game resume?https://t.co/vRTdbvbu0p
ATTN: Trace McSorley singing and dancing along to "Dreams and Nightmares"
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 29, 2018
The Penn State football team has arrived ready for the white out. #PSUWhiteOut pic.twitter.com/3kMc1zCF1o
— Abby Drey (@ADreyPhotos) September 29, 2018
Those all-white warmups pic.twitter.com/DZYyxjAYev
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 29, 2018
"It was that moment. It was Penn State football of old"#PennState's 2016 upset of Ohio State changed the direction of a program
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 29, 2018
And with the Buckeyes coming back to town, those memories of Oct. 22, 2016 have resurfacedhttps://t.co/hZqh9u6zz9
#PSUvsOSU pre-game reading:
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 29, 2018
McSorley ready: https://t.co/rJgqxIbEXc
Stopping Haskins: https://t.co/aqmHNKbUS9
Remembering 2016: https://t.co/I7VJDLBWE0
What to watch: https://t.co/fYSzJ2Enj9
ESPN GameDay: https://t.co/LhAtDhBQeb
This story was originally published September 29, 2018 at 6:24 PM.