Penn State Beats Ohio State in Columbus

(AP) No. 21 Penn State won for the first time since coach Joe Paterno was fired, with Stephfon Green running for two touchdowns and the Nittany Lions’ solid defense holding Ohio State scoreless in the second half of a 20-14 victory Saturday. Penn State (9-2, 6-1) earned a share of the Big Ten’s Leaders Division title and set up a division title game next week at Wisconsin. The winner will play in the conference’s first championship game on Dec. 3. Braxton Miller ran for a touchdown and threw a 7-yard scoring pass to Jake Stoneburner for Ohio State (6-5, 3-4), but he had an intentional grounding and three incompletions on the Buckeyes’ final possession. Read the full AP recap, see the box score and view our Big Ten scoreboard.

Check out our quarter-by-quarter recap, powered by Narrative Science:

FINAL: No. 19 Penn State ground down Ohio State’s defense in rumbling for 239 rushing yards in a 20-14 victory on Saturday at Ohio Stadium. Stephfon Green carried the offensive load for Penn State (9-2), piling up 93 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 16 attempts. At one point, Ohio State (6-5) trailed by 10 points, and while the Buckeyes made a run in the game’s late stages, they couldn’t complete the comeback against the Nittany Lions. Penn State’s explosive offense used big plays to take down Ohio State. The Nittany Lions had four plays of 20 yards or more on their way to victory. Penn State added to the highlight reel when Silas Redd ran 42 yards with 12:00 left in the second quarter. Later in the drive, Green pounded in a four-yard touchdown run, which gave the Nittany Lions a 17-7 lead. Penn State’s defense was stifling as it shut down the Nittany Lions’ offensive attack. Penn State’s defensive unit stood firm against the Buckeyes’ offense, holding Ohio State to 289 total yards. The Buckeyes’ Braxton Miller passed for 83 yards, completing seven of 17 throws. He tossed one touchdown and no interceptions. Miller also ran for 105 yards and one touchdown on 18 attempts.

FOURTH QUARTER: The two teams combined for more punts than points in a slow fourth quarter and Penn State kept Ohio State at bay for a 20-14 victory. The teams’ stale offenses boomed a total of three punts in the quarter. Braxton Miller clinched a 100-yard rushing game with 38 in the quarter, part of his 105-yard day for the Buckeyes.

THIRD QUARTER: The third quarter was an ugly display, as Penn State and Ohio State totaled no points and two turnovers between them and the margin is still six, as the Nittany Lions lead 20-14. The Buckeyes will start the fourth quarter with the ball on their own three-yard line.

SECOND QUARTER: Penn State ran for 112 yards in the quarter, and the Nittany Lions now lead 20-14. A 77-yard drive that ended when Braxton Miller kept it himself for a 24-yard touchdown run helped Ohio State narrow the deficit to 10-7. Penn State opened up the lead, 17-7, after Stephfon Green pounded in a four-yard touchdown run to end a five-play, 81-yard drive. The Nittany Lions’ drive was highlighted by Silas Redd’s 42-yard run. The Buckeyes put the finishing touches on a 37-yard drive when Miller found Jake Stoneburner open for a seven-yard touchdown pass to make the score 17-14. Ohio State began the drive with good field position after Orhian Johnson intercepted a Matthew McGloin pass. Penn State opened up the lead, 20-14, after marching down the field for a nine-play, 49-yard drive that ended when Anthony Fera kicked a 46-yard field goal. The Nittany Lions used Curtis Drake’s 38-yard run to fuel the drive. Penn State threw just one time on that possession. The Buckeyes will have possession to start the second half.

FIRST QUARTER: No. 19 Penn State racked up 76 rushing yards in the first, and the Nittany Lions lead 10-0 at the end of the first quarter. Penn State sniffed out Ohio State’s rushing attack in the quarter, holding the Buckeyes to 17 rush yards. The Nittany Lions got on the scoreboard first, rattling off a five-play, 65-yard drive that ended in a score when Stephfon Green ran 39 yards to paydirt. Penn State opened up the lead, 10-0, after marching down the field for a 15-play, 54-yard drive that ended when Anthony Fera kicked a 43-yard field goal. Ohio State will start the second quarter with possession at its own 49-yard line.

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