No. 14 Buckeyes Roll Past Penn State 45-6 – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/23/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 23, 2000
Box Score| Quotes| Notes
COLUMBUS, Ohio-Ohio State scored on three of is first four possessions to mount a 17-0 lead in the first half to cruise to a 45-6 win over Penn State in the Big Ten Conference opener for both teams.
The Buckeyes (4-0, 1-0) used a balanced offensive attack to hand the Nittany Lions its fourth loss in five games this season and their first conference defeat of the year.
OSU’s defense held the Nittany Lions to just 213 yards in total offense. For the third game in four outings, Ohio State held the opponent’s rushing attack under 100 yards, as the Lions managed just 93 yards on the ground.
Penn State scored its only points with 9:56 to play in the third quarter on an Eric McCoo 2-yard touchdown run. The extra-point attempt failed cutting the OSU lead to 17-6.
The Buckeyes came right back on the next possession to score on a 1-yard run by senior Derek Combs to take a 24-6 lead with 4:43 to play in the third quarter.
On Penn State’s next possession quarterback Rashard Casey was intercepted by Buckeye cornerback Nate Clements setting up a 3-yard bull rush for a touchdown by senior tailback Jerry Westbrooks with 56 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
The Buckeyes drove 40 yards following the interception on seven plays to take a commanding 31-6 lead.
The OSU defense then scored its fifth touchdown of the season on Penn State’s next possession when backup quarterback Matt Senneca was sacked and forced to fumble by OSU senior defensive end Brent Johnson. OSU junior defensive tackle Mike Collins scooped up the loose ball and rambled 11 yards for his second career touchdown giving the Buckeyes 38-6 cushion with two seconds left in the third quarter. Collins scored as a freshman against Iowa on a 22-yard interception return for a touchdown. The Buckeyes accounted for the final points of the game when freshman Sammy Maldonado scored from 7 yards out with 0:46 remaining.
The 39-point loss was the largest in Penn State coach Joe Paterno’s 35 years as head coach of the Nittany Lions. It was OSU’s largest margin of victory over Penn State.
Penn State kicked off to the Buckeyes to start the game in a steady downpour that started more than two hours prior to kickoff. The contest was delayed about 20 minutes as a result of the poor conditions.
Ohio State started the opening drive on its own 8-yard line following an OSU penalty for blocking in the back on the kickoff return. Behind the running of Combs (40 yards) and a 35-yard reception by senior Chad Cacchio, the Buckeyes drove 92 yards on 10 plays to score on a 1-yard run by junior Jamar Martin with 10:44 to play in the first quarter.
For Martin, it was his third rushing touchdown of his career and fourth overall.
Penn State was forced to punt on its first possession giving the Buckeyes field position on the 50 to start their second drive of the game.
Sophomore Darnell Sanders scored Ohio State’s second touchdown on an 18-yard reception from junior quarterback Steve Bellisari. The pass was tipped by OSU senior Ken-Yon Rambo and then grabbed by Sanders in the back of the endzone to give the Buckeyes a 14-0 advantage with 6:07 showing on the first-quarter clock.
The drive went 50 yards on five plays and was aided by an 18-yard third down reception by Rambo to set up Sanders’ heroics.
Penn State appeared to be driving on its next possession advancing down to the OSU 23-yard line. The Nittany Lions, needing 1-yard for a first down on fourth and one, failed when McCoo was dropped by OSU sophomore linebacker Matt Wilhelm for a 1-yard loss to end the first quarter.
Each team was forced to punt on its next possession.
Ohio State then extended its lead to 17-0 on a 31-yard field goal by senior Dan Stultz with 7:00 to play in the first half. The Buckeyes drove 68 yards on 12 plays.
Penn State again was forced to punt after OSU senior defensive end Rodney Bailey sacked PSU Casey on the Buckeye 40-yard line.
The Buckeyes were then pinned on its own 1-yard line by Penn State punter David Royer.
Following a career-high 55-yard punt by OSU freshman B.J. Sander, Casey completed a pass to tight end Tony Stewart to the Penn State 40. OSU’s Mike Doss forced and recovered a fumble by Stewart on the PSU 32.
But the Buckeyes gave the ball right back when Bellisari was intercepted by Nittany Lion safety James Boyd on a pass intended for OSU senior Reggie Germany on the PSU 22-yard line.
Bellisari passed for 203 yards, completing 10 of 17 attempts with one TD and an interception. Bellisari spread his completions around to six different receivers. Cacchio led the way with three receptions for 88 yards. Combs was the games’ leading rusher, with 86 yards on 23 attempts.
Penn State’s leading rusher was McCoo with 34 yards on 13 carries. Casey was seven of 18 passing for 94 yards and one interception.
Despite the heavy rains to begin the game, a new record of 98,144 witnessed the Buckeye win.
