1st quarter recap: Ohio State 0, Penn State 0

Written by BTN.com staff
posted on
10/27/12 @ 5:32pm
in Football, Ohio State, Penn State
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There were more punts than points in the first quarter and the game is tied 0-0 at the end of the first quarter. With neither team able to move the ball, there were six punts in the quarter.

No. 9 Ohio State will start the second quarter with the ball at Penn State’s 45-yard line.

Read more from BTN.com’s Tom Dienhart on this game:

Player on the spot: The Penn State running backs. Zach Zwinak, Bill Belton … whomever. The Nittany Lions passing game is among the league’s best, ranking No. 2 in the Big Ten (257.1 ypg). But Penn State needs to establish a ground game, which has at times been problematic. The Nittany Lions are just No. 9 in the league in rushing (149.3 ypg). Michigan’s run defense is No. 7 (143.0 ypg).

Key matchup: Ohio State QB Braxton Miller vs. Penn State front seven. Miller left last week’s game vs. Purdue in the third quarter with an undisclosed injury. But he’s been cleared and is apparently good to go. We shall see. Miller will need to be on his game, as Penn State has the No. 4 defense in the Big Ten (322.7 ypg), ranking No. 2 vs. the run (113.0 ypg) and No. 2 in scoring defense (15.7 ppg).

Key number: 79.0, plays per game for Penn State, which leads the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions “NASCAR” offense sets a fast pace.

Key note: Penn State is among 17 teams in the country with an active winning streak of five games or more, while the Buckeyes are one of 11 undefeated teams and the nation’s only 8-0 team.

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