Penn State notes: Defensive backs hold their own against Ohio State receivers

STATE COLLEGE – Penn State’s secondary faced a daunting task against Ohio State’s wide receivers, arguably the best group in the Big Ten.

The defensive backs acquitted themselves well, despite the Nittany Lions’ 20-13 loss Saturday at Beaver Stadium.

Cornerback Zion Tracy returned an interception 31 yards for a first-quarter touchdown and safety Zakee Wheatley forced quarterback Will Howard to fumble before he crossed the goal line in the second quarter.

“I was playing full speed and trying to make a play on the ball,” Wheatley said. “I punched the ball out with my hand. It was a good play.”

Wheatley finished with a team-high 10 tackles and had a pass breakup.

Ohio State wide receivers Emeka Egbuka, Jeremiah Smith and Brandon Inniss combined for nine catches for 114 yards and two touchdowns. Howard completed 16-of-24 passes for 182 yards.

Costly penalties: Penn State committed five penalties, including four that cost the Nittany Lions as many as 18 points.

Guard Sal Wormley was penalized 5 yards for being an ineligible man downfield on a first down from the Buckeyes’ 12 on Penn State’s first drive. The Lions couldn’t overcome that and settled for Ryan Barker’s 29-yard field goal.

Moments later, Tracy returned his interception for a touchdown to give the Lions a 10-0 lead. Safety Jaylen Reed was flagged for a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, which forced the Lions to kick off from its 20.

Ohio State took over at its 26 and capped its drive with Will Howard’s 25-yard touchdown pass to Emeka Egbuka.

Then in the second quarter, defensive end Abdul Carter jumped offside on third-and-2 from the Ohio State 27. Three plays later, Elliot Washington II tackled wide receiver Carnell Tate short of the first down marker and then stood over him. He was called for unsportsmanlike conduct.

With the drive kept alive, the Buckeyes scored on Howard’s 21-yard TD pass to Brandon Inniss.

“Jumping offside in a third down situation,” Franklin said. “Extending a drive for them by standing over a guy. Unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Can’t do that. Can’t do those things. Happened last week. Happened again today.

“That’s on me. We have to be a disciplined football team. We were not disciplined at times today.”

Close calls: At least five plays were reviewed by the Big Ten crew, an unusually high number.

The three most significant were Wheatley’s strip of Howard before the goal line, Davison Igbinosun’s interception in the end zone for Ohio State and an incompletion to Quinshon Judkins that was initially called a catch and a fumble.

“There were a ton of 50-50 calls in this game that you could have called in either direction,” Franklin said. “There were a ton of them. In that type of game they’re critical.”

Injury report: Quarterback Drew Allar and right tackle Anthony Donkoh, who were injured last week at Wisconsin, saw significant playing time.

Allar wore a brace in the first half and did not wear it in the second half. His injured left knee did not seem to bother him. He ran 10 times for 31 yards.

Defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton, who also was injured at Wisconsin, saw limited action.

Source: Berkshire mont