Waiting for the Man
September 29, 2018Refs, Raiders beat Browns, 45-42, in tough overtime collapse
September 30, 2018There was never a doubt.
Already without the best defensive end in the country in Nick Bosa, the Ohio State Buckeyes were forced to come up with a game-saving, fourth-down stop also without Dre’Mont Jones (injured), Isaiah Pryor (ejected for targeting in third quarter), and Damon Arnette (injured). Missing four (out of 11) starters on defense, no problem for the Silver Bullets.
The Buckeyes got the stop that they badly needed to secure a 27-16 comeback win over the Penn State Nittany Lions in Happy (Sad?) Valley Saturday night.
Although the defense struggled to contain quarterback Trace McSorley’s ability to run the ball and create plays with his legs, they bent but didn’t break for much of the game, especially in the first half when Ohio State needed them the most. While James Franklin helped them by taking the ball out of McSorley’s hands during the most important play of Penn State’s season, the defense stepped up, even without some very key players.
While the Silver Bullets played well throughout much of the game, the same can’t be said for the offense. Dwayne Haskins and company made up for it in the second half, but their struggles throughout the first half shouldn’t go unnoticed. They had seven punts and a turnover while scoring just seven points in the opening half. For as bad as the offense was though, the defense was just as good throughout the first 30 minutes.
Somehow, even though the offense still seemed asleep, the Buckeyes trailed just 13-7 at the half and got the ball to start the second half as well. Ohio State took advantage of it, scoring a touchdown on the opening drive following halftime to take their first lead of the game. They then made a field goal on the following drive but due to a personal foul penalty, the field goal didn’t count and Sean Nuernberger then missed a 48-yard field goal following the 15-yard penalty. Luckily for the scarlet and gray, that personal foul didn’t cost them in the end.
Trailing 26-14 with just over eight minutes left, it was time for Ohio State to prove that they are in fact one of the best teams in the country. They did just that. Whether it was Haskins, J.K. Dobbins, or Binjimen Victor, among others, plenty of players stepped up for the Buckeyes on offense. Chase Young and company did so on defense.
They scored on their next two possessions to take the lead for good and keep their undefeated record alive. With two wins over top-15 teams, both of which were away from Columbus, the Buckeyes are now 5-0. Now, they just have to get healthy.