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Ohio State swallows up Clark, Penn State

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 09:08:00 +0000

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Terrelle Pryor tiptoed his way around the Penn State defense, then smiled and danced all over the Beaver Stadium turf. Quite the happy homecoming Saturday for the dual-threat phenom from western Pennsylvania. Pryor threw for two touchdowns and ran for another in his first game back in his home state and No. 15 Ohio State reclaimed control of the Big Ten race after beating No. 11 Penn State, 24-7 in a duel of the league's top two defenses. As an added bonus, the Buckeyes (8-2, 5-1) vaulted into a tie for the conference lead with Iowa after Northwestern handed the Hawkeyes its first loss of the season earlier Saturday. After a demoralizing loss at Purdue last month, Ohio State's hopes for a fifth straight league title look much brighter. A showdown with Iowa at the Horseshoe awaits next week. "November is for contenders, we always say that," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. "It's hard to get too ecstatic right now because you know the Hawkeyes are coming to town." They'll head home to Columbus with a confident Pryor, the native of Jeannette who came up with several clutch plays against the team he turned down as a highly touted high school prospect. On Saturday, Pryor showed Happy Valley why he was such a prize. He finished 8 for 17 passing for 125 yards, and rushed for 50 yards and a 7-yard TD on five carries. "It was huge. They were making a big deal about it and people were doubting us, 'Buckeyes can't do this or this.' A lot of that stuff motivates us, but we knew we could do it," Pryor said. Ray Small burned Penn State (8-2, 4-2) with two long punt returns, and Ohio State's defense held dangerous Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark in check with constant pressure. The Buckeyes scored the game's final 17 points to silence the crowd of 110,033, the fourth-largest in Beaver Stadium history. "We broke down on a kicking play, had a couple tough penalties, we didn't get any field position," Penn State coach Joe Paterno said. "It was a tough ballgame for us, it really was, against a good football team." Leading by three, Pryor connected with open receiver DeVier Posey in stride down the left sideline for a 62-yard touchdown pass with 1:47 left in the third to extend the lead to 17-7. A pumped Pryor rushed down the field to meet Posey, then skipped back to the sideline in delight. "This was my first time to lead the team and lead the offense and score some touchdowns against another big team," Pryor said. "It felt pretty good to lead the team." After another three-and-out by Penn State offense, Small lit up the Nittany Lions' porous punt coverage unit for a 45-yard return to the Nittany Lions 47 to end the third quarter. Getting good protection, Pryor led the Buckeyes again on a drive with two third-down conversions before rolling right to hit Brandon Saine for a 6-yard TD pass on another third down play to give Ohio State a 17-point cushion. Fittingly, Saine dove into corner of the end zone in front of the sliver of cheering Buckeye fans dressed in scarlet gear that stood out in the sea of blue and white. For the most part, Pryor played mistake-free football, and his offensive line kept the defense away from the most-sacked QB in the Big Ten. "We failed ... Our game plan was to go in and stop him," Penn State defensive tackle Ollie Ogbu said. "We didn't do it on a consistent enough basis, so I would say we failed." Pryor's 7-yard TD run in the first quarter was set up by a 41-yard punt return by Small to the Penn State 9. Special teams, especially the punting unit, has been a season-long problem, though the Nittany Lions have been able to overcome those woes against less-talented teams. Not against Ohio State, though. Ross Homan's diving interception of Clark with 9:20 left -- Penn State's first interception in four games -- sent Nittany Lions fans scurrying for the exits. Clark's touchdown plunge from a yard out on fourth down capped a nice second-quarter drive to tie the game at 7. It was the 21st rushing score of his career, breaking the mark for a Penn State quarterback set by his mentor, Michael Robinson. Otherwise, Penn State struggled all day. The Buckeyes smothered Clark's receivers except for Graham Zug (seven catches, 96 yards), and pressured him up front. Cameron Heyward had two sacks and 11 tackles. Clark finished 12 of 28 for 125 yards and the interception. He ran for 20 yards on 11 carries. Evan Royster managed just 36 yards on 13 carries, and a couple dropped passes didn't help the offense, either. "It's just hard to put points on the board when you don't have a consistent rhythm," Clark said.

Ohio State sends Wisconsin to third straight loss

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 22:26:00 +0000

MADISON, Wis. - The Wisconsin volleyball team (11-12, 6-8) dropped its third consecutive match on Saturday, losing to Ohio State 25-21, 25-21, 25-19 in the UW Field House. The loss marks Wisconsin's longest losing streak of the season in both matches (three) and sets (nine). "I'm disappointed in the way we performed tonight," said head coach Pete Waite. "That was a team we knew had a hot streak coming in and we had to battle them with everything we had. Our passing wasn't up to par so our offense wasn't able to run quite as well. I thought Ohio State blocked very well. There were just too many errors on our part. It was too much to give a good team like them." A lack of consistent hitting limited the Badgers as they posted a .123 hitting percentage, while Ohio State connected on .347 percent of its shots. Wisconsin's offense also could not overcome the Buckeyes' 16 team blocks. The Badgers, in comparison, only totaled four team blocks. Wisconsin did surpass Ohio State in several statistical categories. The Badgers out-performed the Buckeyes in kills (41-39), assists (41-35) and digs (46-41). Allison Wack and Brittney Dolgner headlined the UW offense with 14 and 11 kills, respectively. Wack also maintained a solid .273 hitting percentage. Janelle Gabrielsen directed Wisconsin's offense, putting up 29 assists. Two Badgers had double-digit digs as Kim Kuzma saved 14 shots, while Gabrielsen added 10 digs. Ohio State was led by Katie Dull, who put down 11 kills while hitting a .320 percentage. Kelli Barhost followed with nine kills and a match-high .471 hitting percentage. Ashley Hughes dished out a match-high 33 assists. Kristen Dozier highlighted the Ohio State defense with 11 total blocks, while Chelsea Noble led the Buckeyes with 17 digs. Waite said that Ohio State has improved a lot since losing to Wisconsin on Oct. 2 in Columbus, Ohio. "They've really evolved as a team and we've seen that coming," Waite said. "We've seen them beat some really good teams along the way since we beat them. That happens sometimes—you beat someone and they change things." Both teams continuously exchanged points in the first set where there were 10 ties. With the score knotted up at 15, Ohio State put down two straight kills to take a 17-15 advantage. Poor hitting prevented the Badgers from retrieving the deficit as the Buckeyes took the set 25-21. UW hit just .053 percent for the set. After nine ties, the Buckeyes grabbed a 16-13 lead in the second set. The UW responded by scoring three consecutive points to equal the score at 16 apiece. Ohio State would then regroup following a timeout to take a 19-16 lead, which it would not lose en route to a 25-21 set victory. Wisconsin bettered its hitting with a .265 percentage, but was overshadowed by Ohio State 's impressive hitting percentage of .452. Wisconsin came out strong in the third set and seized an early 6-4 lead over Ohio State. A kill from Caity DuPont evened the set at 11, but the Badgers then lost control of the set as the Buckeyes scored three straight points to take a 14-11 lead. Although the Badgers narrowed the margin to one at 18-17, Ohio State's .414 hitting percentage helped them earn a 25-19 match victory. "We come out next week and we've got another opportunity on Monday to train and watch tape and get better," Waite said. "That's been our goal and we've hit a plateau as far as the energy level on the court. Last week at Michigan we did really well and our energy level was great, then a little notch down against Michigan State. In the Big Ten, if you have any sort of a flat day, you're going to pay for it." Wisconsin has a tough week ahead as it travels to Iowa City on Wednesday to take on Iowa before it returns home to face Minnesota on Nov. 15. The Badgers look to split the season series after losing to Iowa, 3-1, in its Big Ten opener on Sept. 23. UW also lost at Minnesota, 3-0, on Sept. 25.

Buckeyes rally to beat Northern Michigan

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 22:13:00 +0000

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio State junior Sergio Somma's goal with 1:32 left in regulation capped a Buckeye comeback win over Northern Michigan on Saturday in Value City Arena. The Buckeyes trailed 2-0 after the first period and were down by one twice in the third but scored the final two goals of the game for the 5-4 victory. The Wildcats (2-5-1, 1-3-0-0 CCHA) scored in the first and last two minutes of the first period to take a 2-0 lead. Ohio State (3-6-1, 2-3-1-1 CCHA) scored the only goals of the second to knot the score, with John Albert tallying unassisted at 10:57 to put the Buckeyes on the board and Peter Boyd scoring at 17:11. Billy Smith put the Wildcats back on top just 1:25 into the third with a power-play goal but Cory Schneider got his first goal as a Buckeye at 5:52 to again tie the score (3-3). Andrew Cherniwchan added the Wildcats' third power-play goal of the game at 7:58 of the stanza, putting NMU ahead for the third time. Zac Dalpe responded less than four minutes later to tie the game (4-4). The winner came at 17:28, as Somma, who had the primary assist on Dalpe's goal, redirected a Shane Sims shot. The Buckeyes are in the midst of a four-game homestand and will host Western Michigan Friday and Saturday in Value City Arena. The Wildcats opened the scoring two minutes into the contest when Tyler Gron scored from the slot off an assist from Cherniwchan. Mark Olver added a power-play goal at 18:51, putting in the rebound of a Justin Florek shot that went wide and hit the back boards before bouncing near the post. Shots were 11-5 Buckeyes in the period, with NMU goalie Reid Ellingson shutting out the squad for the fourth-consecutive period. Albert broke the Buckeyes' scoreless streak at 10:57. A Wildcat defender fumbled the puck just outside the NMU blueline and Albert picked it up and streaked in on a breakaway, beating Ellingson five-hole for his third goal of the season. Boyd tied the game at 17:11. His initial shot was saved but the rebound came to him in the high slot and he put it by Ellingson. Albert and Patrick Schafer had the assists on the goal, Boyd's second of the year. Northern Michigan had the edge in shots, 9-7, in the stanza. In the third Smith scored at 1:25 when Erik Spady threaded a puck through and found Smith at the far post. Schneider's goal that tied the game at 3 came at 5:52 when he poked home the rebound of a Shane Sims shot that got through traffic. Senior Mathieu Picard had the second assist on the goal. Cherniwchan scored a goal of his own from the post at 7:58 to put the Wildcats ahead again. Dalpe scored at 11:31 from the post, set up by Somma and Boyd, to deadlock the score at 4-all. Somma scored the winner at 17:28 when he redirected Sims' shot past Ellingson from the faceoff circle. Boyd had the second assist on the tally, giving him three points on the night. Ohio State outshot Northern Michigan, 11-8, in the period. The Buckeyes outshot the Wildcats, 29-22, in the game. Cal Heeter had 18 saves in the Buckeye net as he moves to 3-1-1 on the year. Ellingson had 24 stops in 58:23 between the pipes. Ohio State was unable to score on two power-play chances. The Wildcats were 3-for-5.

OSU tops Michigan, takes Big Ten crown

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 21:35:00 +0000

COLUMBUS, Ohio – David Tiemstra scored in the 45th minute of action and the Ohio State men's soccer team held on for a 1-0 win over Michigan and the Big Ten Championship Saturday night at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in front of season-high 1,081 fans. With their first outright regular-season title in program history, the Buckeyes (10-4-4, 4-2-0 Big Ten) earn the No. 1 seed in the Big Ten Tournament next week in Bloomington, Ind., and will face the winner of the No. 4 vs. No. 5 seed game. "The effort of our team tonight was tremendous," head coach John Bluem said. "The organization and the timely goal by David Tiemstra were just fantastic. I am just real proud of the guys; they have never given up this year, even though we have kind of had a roller coaster type of season." Tiemstra's goal, his first of the season, came with two seconds remaining in the first half off a corner kick by Eric Shrigley. Shrigley played the ball from the left corner across the goal box where Chris Gomez kept it from going out of bounds by flicking it out to Tiemstra at the top of the goal box. The sophomore from Clarendon Hills, Ill., then shot it over the head of Michigan (10-6-1, 2-4-0) goalkeeper Chris Blais and into the upper left corner of the net. "I still have the chills," Tiemstra said after the game. "The rest of the game I just had the chills. When you don't have a lot of energy left at the end of the game, that just kept me … I mean, it's unbelievable. The goal came on the Buckeyes' eighth shot of the half after nearly 45 minutes of bombarding the Wolverine defense. From the opening whistle, Ohio State controlled play offensively and made several solid runs but sent all seven of the ensuing shots wide. More pressure came in the second period as Ohio State produced nine shots and continued to push forward on the attack. Michigan fought back, however, and came up with several close opportunities from the likes of Mauro Fuzetti and Justin Heram that were squelched by the Buckeye defense and redshirt freshman goalkeeper Matt Lampson. Lampson, a native of nearby Hilliard, Ohio, strengthened his bid for Big Ten Freshman of the Year by finishing the night with a career-high eight saves, including five in the second half, and three in the final 10 minutes alone, against Michigan's 10 second-half shots. After the all-around team effort, the magnitude of the win was not lost on anyone. "I am pretty speechless," junior captain Matt Gold said. "I think I almost broke down in tears the last 30 seconds. Like I started hyperventilating. I have never experienced that before. It's just a sweet, sweet feeling." The Buckeyes took home a share of the 2004 Big Ten title and won the tournament in 2000 and 2007. They will begin play for their third tourney title Friday in the conference semifinals. Stay tuned to OhioStateBuckeyes.com for more information.

Buckeyes stop Iowa in four sets

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 22:23:00 +0000

IOWA CITY, IA – The University of Iowa volleyball team dropped a four-set match to the Ohio State Buckeyes tonight at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Junior Aimee Huffman led Iowa with a team-high 12 kills, junior Mara Hilgenberg dished a match-high 36 assists and senior Christina Meister picked up 14 digs. Sophomore Tiffany Nilges recorded a career-best seven kills in the effort. ""We started out tonight defending very well,"" said Head Coach Sharon Dingman, ""but we didn't have the effort we needed near the end. It comes down and to effort and execution and we have to sustain both throughout the entire match. We weren't able to do that tonight."" Iowa (3-10, 11-14) controlled the net in the opening set. Six different Hawkeyes picked up a block in the frame and Iowa attacked at a .310 clip to win the set, 25-20, and take a 1-0 match advantage. Leading 15-14, Iowa closed the set with a 10-6 run behind three team blocks and a pair of kills from Nilges. Junior Aimee Huffman and Nilges led the Hawkeyes with three kills apiece in the winning effort. Hilgenberg handed out 10 assists and Meister recorded a set-high four digs. Ohio State evened the match with a 25-19 win in set two. Nilges picked up another three kills to match junior Becky Walters offensive efforts. Hilgenberg led Iowa with eight assists and Huffman recorded four digs. Iowa took a 7-6 lead in the frame following a kill from sophomore Mallory Husz, but Ohio State rallied with a 5-1 run to take an 11-8 advantage. Later in the frame, senior Megan Schipper attacked with a kill to tie the set, 15-15, but the Buckeyes answered Iowa's rally with a 6-1 run to take a five-point edge, 21-16. Nilges and Walters followed the Buckeye run with a pair of kills, but OSU's Betsy Hone finished the set with a kill to tie the match, 1-1. Ohio State (7-6, 19-7) rode its second set momentum into the third frame, building a 15-10 lead before Iowa stormed back with a 7-3 run. Schipper picked up a service ace and a kill as Iowa battled back to within one point, 18-17. The Buckeyes then answered with the next two points before Schipper and Huffman recorded a kill apiece to pull Iowa within striking distance, 21-19. Iowa was able to force one more OSU attack error, but the Buckeyes scored four of the final five points to record the 25-20 set three victory. Ohio State finished the match with a 25-17 win in the fourth frame. Buckeye junior Katie Dull attacked with seven of her match-high 18 kills in the fourth and decisive set. Iowa freshman Emma Krieger Kittle came off the bench for Iowa and led the Hawkeyes with four kills in the final frame. Hilgenberg dished 13 assists and Meister picked up seven digs. Ohio State never trailed in the fourth set, jumping out to leads of 3-0 and 10-5 in the early going. Iowa battled back within four points, 14-10, behind two kills from Krieger Kittle before the Buckeyes pulled away with a 6-2 run to take command of the set and eventually capture the 3-1 match victory.

Early goal stands in Buckeye loss to Northern Michigan

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 21:46:00 +0000

COLUMBUS, Ohio -Northern Michigan scored 22 seconds into the game Friday and it stood as the gamewinner, as the Ohio State men's hockey team was shut out, 1-0, in Value City Arena. The Buckeyes (2-6-1, 1-3-1-1 CCHA) and Wildcats (2-4-1, 1-2-0-0 CCHA) will close out the two-game series at 7:05 p.m. Saturday in Value City Arena. Northern Michigan goalie Reid Ellingson had 32 saves as the Buckeyes were blanked for the second time this season. Buckeye goalie Dustin Carlson had a season-best 34 saves in a losing effort. On the first shift of the game, the puck went deep in the Buckeye zone. Phil Fox came out from behind the net on a wraparound. His shot went wide to Mark Olver, whose shot got in on the far side. The Buckeyes and Wildcats each had 13 shots and one power-play chance in the opening period. The goalies continued to stand tall in the second, with Ohio State outshooting Northern Michigan, 12-11. The Buckeyes had three power-play chances, putting five shots on net, but could not convert. Northern was 0-for-1 in the period. In the third, Carlson stopped all 11 NMU shots, as the Wildcats outshot the Buckeyes, 11-7. The Buckeyes had the only power-play chance, coming with 3:34 left in regulation, but were unsuccessful. With time winding down the Wildcats were able to pin the Buckeyes in their end for 30 seconds after a faceoff in the Buckeye zone. Carlson was able to leave the ice for the extra attacker for the final 28 seconds but Ohio State did not capitalize. For the game, the Buckeyes had five power-play chances. Northern Michigan was 0-for-2.

Spartans edge Buckeyes in women's soccer

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 17:33:00 +0000

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The No. 11 Buckeyes dropped a tight 1-0 decision to Michigan State Friday afternoon in East Lansing. Ohio State will now have to wait until Sunday for the result Penn State's contest at Michigan. If the Nittany Lions lose in Ann Arbor, the Buckeyes and Penn State will share the Big Ten Conference championship. "Soccer is a cruel sport," head coach Lori Walker said. "I credit Michigan State for capitalizing but while this loss is painful, it could be the best thing for us." The loss was the first for the Buckeyes since Oct. 4 at Penn State. In a physical first half of play, the Buckeyes almost got on the board early but Caitlyn Martin's header off a corner sailed just high seven minutes into the game. Four minutes later, Tiffany Cameron had an opportunity from the right wing but Michigan State goalkeeper Jill Flietstra made the diving save on her shot from 10 yards out. The best Ohio State chance came in the 21st minute when Lauren Steuer's bending shot from the top corner of the box deflected off the top of the crossbar and out of bounds. For the half, Ohio State outshot the Spartans, 6-3, and held a 6-1 advantage in corner kicks as the game remained scoreless at the intermission. The Spartans came out of the break strong, recording their best opportunity less than three minutes into the second half when a volley by Olivia Stander hit the crossbar and sailed high. Michigan State would get on the board in the 57th minute when Lauren Hill controlled a long ball from Cara Freeman at the top of the box then turned and fired a shot past a diving Lauren Robertson to take the 1-0 lead. The Buckeyes almost knotted up the score in the 71st minute when Karin Sendel nailed a shot from just inside the 18 that deflected of the right post and out of play. With less than ten minutes less to play, Steuer played a corner back post but the header by Ashley Bowyer sailed high. For the game, the Buckeyes outshot the Spartans, 11-6, and held a 9-1 advantage in corners but were unable to find the back of the net. The Buckeyes close out the regular season at 14-3-2, 7-2-1 in the Big Ten, and will wait to find out their NCAA tournament fate as postseason play begins Friday, Nov. 13.

Front lines could decide PSU-Ohio State

Bernard Fernadez — Fri, 6 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Almost everyone agrees that Saturday afternoon's nationally televised Big Ten showdown between No. 11 Penn State (8-1, 4-1) and Ohio State (7-2, 4-1) in Beaver Stadium will be another low-scoring war of attrition, settled in the trenches by straining giants. The Nittany Lions and Buckeyes are ranked first and second in the conference in virtually every team defensive category, which suggests another round of smash-mouth football. "Whoever's offensive line does the best job of controlling the defense is going to win," Penn State senior left tackle Dennis Landolt said. The opposing view, of course, is that whoever's defensive line does the best job of controlling the offense is going to win. The objective is the same, but the path to that common goal is often altered by perspective. It is axiomatic that offensive linemen and defensive linemen are, well, different. The prevailing image of o-linemen is that of orderly types who knot their ties just so, hang their clothes neatly and are very good at following directions. The best blocking fronts are all about cohesion. D-linemen are rumpled, wild-eyed reactionaries. Oh, sure, there are general scripts they are asked to memorize, but rewrites of the game plan can occur on every snap. "A mental component? I'm not sure," Penn State senior defensive tackle Jared Odrick said when asked what ultimately determines whether a lineman more suited to offense or defense. "As a defensive lineman, you always want to play fast, reckless. If a play goes in the opposite direction or if something happens that you weren't expecting, you have to be able to react and adjust. "On offense, you know the play that's been called. You know the snap count. You see where the defense is lined up. You have to react on offense, but not nearly as much as you do on defense." The 6-5, 306-pound Odrick is a bundle of combustible energy. Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Bradley and d-line coach Larry Johnson both call him the best three-technique player in the country. Odrick has played defense since he arrived in Happy Valley in 2006, but part of the reason for Penn State's tradition of success is that the veteran coaching staff is astute at making position changes that bring out the best in every player. Levi Brown was an All-America left tackle at Penn State and the Arizona Cardinals' first-round draft choice in 2007, but the 6-5, 328-pounder acknowledged being disappointed when he was told, after redshirting as a freshman in 2002, that he was switching to offense. "Levi wanted to be a defensive tackle, so I can see where he was upset," Odrick said. "But I'm pretty sure he's not upset now." Copyright 2009 Tribune Review Publishing CompanyAll Rights Reserved

Yes, this one's still big; Though Buckeyes, Lions trail surprising Iowa, there's lots at stake

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Spotlight Game NO. 15 Ohio State at NO. 11 Penn State, 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Ch. 7 The trouble with starting out high is that it's difficult to stay there. At first glance, Ohio State's upset loss at Purdue and Penn State's loss to Iowa (which now holds all the cards in the Big Ten) have taken the edge away from what figured to be the league's Big Game this season. In a sense, though, that raises the ante in this elimination game. And it makes this game more intriguing. Who's going to rise up and erase past flaws to survive and advance? Who's going to face potshots for an underachieving season? Penn State (8-1, 4-1 Big Ten) needs to show what kind of team it has after looking flustered in its 21-10 loss to Iowa, the only notable opponent on the Nittany Lions' undistinguished schedule. ''The people that might question their validity or whatever are just looking for things to talk about,'' Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel said, ''because I think Penn State is for real.'' The trouble is, in their biggest measuring stick, the Nittany Lions, who have let teams like Illinois and Northwestern hang around, looked shaky on the offensive line, at quarterback and on special teams against Iowa. And they know they're running out of chances. ''It's a very big game for us,'' Penn State safety Drew Astorino said. ''We were looking to go undefeated, and Iowa beat us. We still have a good season going, so we're definitely looking for a big win this week.'' For Ohio State (7-2, 4-1), all eyes once again will be on Terrelle Pryor, who must avoid a repeat of the turnover mistakes he made at Purdue and throw the ball well against a quality defense in his first college game back home in Pennsylvania. With a victory, the Buckeyes can take another step toward their fifth straight Big Ten title. They also can go into what now looks like the most decisive conference game of the season, against Iowa in Columbus next week, on a positive note. ''We know how important all these games are,'' Ohio State receiver Dane Sanzenbacher said. ''It's come to a point in our season where we have to win out, and we have to play well in November to be a great team.'' The Buckeyes have recent history on their side. They are 23-4 in the last eight Novembers under Tressel, and their 2007 upset loss to Illinois is their only November loss the last four years. ''Coach Tressel puts it as, 'Septembers are for pretenders and Novembers are for contenders,''' linebacker Ross Homan said. ''To be great, you have to be great in November.'' The stat that looms larger at the moment are the two fumbles and two interceptions by Pryor in the Buckeyes' last road game, a shocking 26-18 loss to the struggling Boilermakers. Another question surrounding Ohio State's ballyhooed sophomore quarterback, who's a modest ninth in Big Ten passing, is a multitude of nagging injuries. ''He has ice bags everywhere,'' said Tressel, quickly adding that Pryor will play healthy. ''I would expect him not to be debilitated. Adrenaline is an amazing thing, even when you're feeling sore.'' Another intriguing stat: In its last three wins, Penn State has not had a turnover -- but in the Iowa loss it had four, including three picks by quarterback Daryll Clark and a blocked punt. It should be a challenging day for both offenses. Penn State and Ohio State are fifth and sixth in the nation, respectively, in total defense and run defense, and they are 12th and 14th, respectively, in pass defense. In other words, this showdown probably isn't going to be a shootout. And while there's no question that the loser will not be able to make up the ground it has lost, Joe Paterno cast that aside. ''The consequences of the winning and the losing of it are obvious to everybody, but you can't go at it that way,'' Paterno said. ''I think we just have to say, 'Hey, let's play it. Go out there and have a little fun. Let's not beat ourselves. What happens afterward, happens.''' The line: Penn State by 3?. Gould's pick: Penn State, 16-10. Copyright 2009 Chicago Sun-Times, Inc.All Rights Reserved

Ohio State heads into Happy Valley

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 14:39:00 +0000

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) Welcome home, Terrelle Pryor. No. 15 Ohio State and its talented dual-threat quarterback visit No. 11 Penn State in a high-stakes Big Ten game. For Pryor, it will be his first game at Beaver Stadium since the western Pennsylvania native spurned Penn State last year to end one of the most publicized recruiting races in recent memory. Nittany Lions fans haven't forgotten, and Pryor knows it. "It's going to be a crazy atmosphere, but that's what we come here for,'' said Pryor, a sophomore. "We're going (in) as a team, so if I get spit on, they spit on the whole team and stuff like that.'' As if the annual grudge match between the Buckeyes (7-2, 4-1 Big Ten) and Nittany Lions (8-1, 4-1) needed any subplots. Both teams could use a signature win to solidify their credentials for a BCS bowl berth. The game also will break their tie for second place in the conference, putting the victor in better position for at least a share of the Big Ten crown should unbeaten Iowa falter down the stretch. "We definitely feel like we have something to prove. There's a whole bunch of talk that we haven't played anybody yet,'' Penn State receiver Derek Moye said. The Nittany Lions have won five straight by lopsided margins, though they lost their toughest game this season when they fell to the Hawkeyes in late September. A loss could put the Buckeyes in more late-season trouble. Their goal to win at least a share of their fifth consecutive Big Ten title is already in jeopardy, and they host Iowa next week. But there's not a Buckeye that's looking beyond the Nittany Lions, a team that leads the Big Ten in total offense (429 yards per game) and total defense (84 yards). "It starts up front, very physical, very strong, aggressive style, not unlike ours,'' Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. That sounds a lot like something his Penn State counterpart, Hall of Famer Joe Paterno, would say. Games between the Nittany Lions and Buckeyes usually hinge on field position and big defensive plays, whether in Happy Valley or the Horseshoe. Tressel, like Paterno, often likes to play things close to his sweater vest. Their styles pay off given that the two big-name coaches have 616 victories between them - Paterno the leader among major college coaches with 391, Tressel with 225. In fact, Saturday's game will be the first time two FBS coaches with a combined 600 or more wins will have met in the regular season, according to Penn State's sports information department. The other time it happened was in the 2006 Orange Bowl, when Penn State and Paterno beat Florida State and Bobby Bowden, who is five behind Paterno on the career victory chart. But Paterno doesn't like to talk about his career stats, or to compare himself to Tressel or any of his other colleagues, for that matter. "No, I'm not going to compare myself, heck,'' Paterno said when a reporter broached the topic this week. "I'll compare your writing with somebody else's writing if you want me to do that, or something like that, but that's not - no.'' He's had more immediate concerns on his mind, like containing Pryor. If there's any defense that's up to the challenge, it's a Penn State unit that is the stingiest in the nation in allowing just 9.3 points per game. The Nittany Lions' defense leads the league in sacks, while the athletic linebacking trio of Navorro Bowman, Josh Hull and Sean Lee is one of the best in the country. Mobile Northwestern quarterback Mike Kafka lit up the Penn State defense early last week before getting hurt, though the Nittany Lions have done a good job this season in containing other running quarterbacks such as Illinois' Juice Williams and Michigan's Tate Forcier. While Ohio State's defense (11.7 points and 260 yards per game) can go toe-to-toe with the Nittany Lions, the offense has struggled at times, with much of the blame pinned on an inconsistent Pryor. Pryor started out slow ``but the last two games he's been very, very overpowering, really. He's running well, he's throwing the ball well deep,'' Paterno said. Pryor would love to do the same against the Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium, especially after his fourth-quarter fumble last year set up Penn State's go-ahead score in a 13-6 loss in Columbus. Penn State fans are ready to pounce on Pryor's every move. Many blue-and-white backers still recall that during recruiting, Pryor called the Penn State campus in rural central Pennsylvania too ``countryside'' for his taste. "I came here to Ohio State to play in this type of game. I have my teammates with me, all 70 guys,'' Pryor said. "We'll feed off of that, whether it's our fans or their fans. It's going to be exciting, electric.''

Penn State eliminates Ohio State

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 16:31:00 +0000

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Riding two first half goals from freshman Kelsey Amy and strong goalkeeping from junior Ali Meves, the seventh-seeded Penn State field hockey team jumped out to a 2-0 lead and held off a late Ohio State surge for a thrilling 2-1 upset victory in the Big Ten Opening Round on Thursday afternoon. The win marked only the second time in conference history that a seventh seed has defeated the No. 2 seed. The Nittany Lions advance to Friday's Big Ten Semifinals to face the third-seeded Indiana Hoosiers. That game will begin at approximately 2 p.m. and will air live on the Big Ten Network. "I was really pleased with the way we played both halves," said head coach Charlene Morett. "We had a very exciting first half and played with a lot of poise. We got into a little bit of a panic mode in the second half, but I was really proud of the way they stayed strong inside our defensive 25. Ali Meves did a nice job in goal too. It was a great game for us." Not only did Penn State became only the second No. 7 seed in Big Ten history to win a game in the tournament, but with a win on Friday, it would become the first-ever squad to advance to the championship game. The Lions came out strong and took it to the Buckeyes early on. After a number of failed opportunities, they converted at 29:49 off a penalty corner when Amy rocketed a shot past Ohio State goalkeeper Lindsay Quintiliani for a 1-0 advantage. Senior Amy Bonenberger and sophomore Jessica Longstreth were credited with the assists on the play. Penn State made it 2-0 off another corner attempt, but this coming at 35:00 of the first half. With time winding down, Longstreth made a steal at mid-field to create an attacking opportunity. The penalty corner was awarded before the time had expired, so Penn State was still allowed to take the attempt. The play paid off when another Amy shot found the back of the cage to make it 2-0 heading into halftime. Ohio State came out strong in the second and converted a Penn State turnover into a goal to cut the lead in half. Berta Queralt was on the receiving end of the feed and came in all alone on Meves. She made a move around the junior goalkeeper and easily found the open goal to make it 2-1 at 49:01. The Buckeyes kept attacking with shots and penalty corners, but could not solve Meves for a second time. In total, six of their eight corners came in the second half including five in the span of 6:32. Final shots were 13-4 in favor of Ohio State while the Buckeyes had the edge in corners, 8-7. Meves finished with five big saves while Quintiliani was credited with one. Penn State now looks ahead to its Big Ten Semifinal matchup against third-seeded Indiana. The game will start at 2 p.m. and will air live on the Big Ten Network. Check back to GoPSUsports.com and the Penn State field hockey twitter page for continued news and notes as the Nittany Lions search for their first Big Ten Tournament Title since 1998.

Pryor, Clark took different paths to QB jobs

GENARO C. ARMAS — Wed, 4 Nov 2009 16:27:00 +0000

STATE COLLEGE, Pa.(AP) Lost in the hoopla over Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor's trip home to Pennsylvania this weekend is the story of how Penn State found its own signal-caller in the Buckeyes' backyard. Cool in the pocket and confident in the locker room, Youngstown, Ohio-native Daryll Clark has turned into a star with the No. 11 Nittany Lions (8-1, 4-1 Big Ten). Pryor's visit Saturday to Beaver Stadium will be his first since signing with No. 15 Ohio State (7-2, 4-1) more than 18 months ago to end a heated recruiting race. Still, things have turned out just fine in Happy Valley. "I've tried to say time and time again ... I think Daryll Clark has been an outstanding performer for us,'' Penn State coach Joe Paterno said this week before adding his signature phrase reserved for his favorite Nittany Lions. "Daryll Clark is one heck of a football player.'' Penn State is 19-3 since Clark took over as the starter in 2008. Clark's 37 career touchdown passes are four shy of tying the school record, and his 20 rushing touchdowns ties him with mentor Michael Robinson for most TDs on the ground by a Nittany Lions QB. And to think, just two years ago, hardcore Penn State fans were giddy about pursuing Pryor, the quarterback phenom out of Jeannette, Pa. What was not to love about Pryor? A 6-foot-6 phenom from a western Pennsylvania region known as the Cradle of Quarterbacks for producing the likes of Dan Marino, Joe Montana and Joe Namath, Pryor was the only player in state high school history to rush for more than 4,000 yards and throw for more than 4,000 in a career. In contrast, Clark was a mid-level recruit upon graduating from Ursuline High in Youngstown in 2004. "Clark was a completely under-the-radar kind of guy,'' said Mark Brennan, the editor of FightonState.com, which covers Penn State recruiting. ``People knew about him, but he was not the kind of five-star, all-everything prospect that Pryor was.'' After spending a year in prep school to brush up on grades, Clark joined the Nittany Lions in 2006, the first of two seasons backing up Anthony Morelli - himself a highly touted QB from western Pennsylvania. The Pryor recruiting sweepstakes followed the next year. Clark helped out trying to lure a prospect who could potentially leapfrog him on the depth chart. "That was kind of a difficult time for him. ... He felt a little uncomfortable,'' Clark's father, Daryll Clark, Sr., said in a phone interview. "But he handled it well. He played his part.'' The ending is well-known now in Big Ten circles. Pryor couldn't make a choice by the February 2008 date that opened the formal signing period, and took about another month before deciding on Ohio State over Penn State, Michigan and Oregon. But that still didn't clear the way for Clark in Happy Valley. Also on the Penn State roster at the time was highly touted sophomore Pat Devlin, who had set the Pennsylvania career prep passing record with 8,162 yards at Downingtown East. Clark finally secured the starting job after outplaying Devlin in 2008 preseason camp. Clark may not have the explosive running ability that Robinson had, but he is the more polished passer with the ability to scramble out of trouble and bowl over defenders if needed. "Offensively they have the blessing of having a very veteran quarterback who you've seen grow as each year's gone,'' Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. There have been some knocks on Clark, as expected with the high-profile job of Penn State starting quarterback. Most notably, some critics or columnists will point out that Clark has faltered in some big games. Arguably his two worst performances of his career have come in losses to Iowa in September and last season. He threw two picks in the final three minutes of the Rose Bowl loss last season against Southern California as Penn State tried to rally from a back from a 24-point deficit. Clark was mostly ineffective before being knocked out in the third quarter of last season's win at Ohio State because of a concussion. Devlin ran for the go-ahead touchdown in relief. Recruiting-wise though, Clark's emergence and Devlin's transfer last year seems to have made it easier for Penn State to land dual-threat prospects, said Mike Farrell, an analyst with Rivals.com. Touted freshman Kevin Newsome is now Clark's backup, and Penn State has verbal commitments from two prized recruits in next year's class. Depending on how those prospects pan out, ``losing Pryor might not hurt them at all,'' Farrell said. Instead of tutoring Pryor as a teammate, Clark will be facing him Saturday. Pryor, a sophomore, would like nothing better than to atone for his fourth-quarter fumble last season against the Nittany Lions that set up Devlin's score. A good outing could placate critics who blame Pryor for Ohio State's struggles, as well as silence Penn State fans expected to shower him with taunts. "I'm sure they're going to be giving me a lot of stuff, saying a lot of things, but I won't hear any of it,'' Pryor said last weekend after a 45-0 rout of New Mexico State. Clark, a senior, would like to play well in his last game against his home-state rivals, and get his team back to the BCS. His proud father will be in the stands to root him on. "People in this area, us being from Ohio, a lot of people that know us and our family, they want the Buckeyes to win,'' Clark's father said, 'but they want Daryll to do well.''

No. 16 Ohio State rolls in exhibition, 86-48

Rusty Miller — Wed, 4 Nov 2009 20:47:00 +0000

COLUMBUS, Ohio(AP) Evan Turner had 15 points, 14 rebounds and six assists and No. 16 Ohio State shot 63 percent from the field in beating Walsh 86-48 in an exhibition game Wednesday night. Eleven players scored for the Buckeyes, who open their season on Monday against Alcorn State in the 2K Sports Classic. William Buford added 15 points, David Lighty had 11 and Jeremie Simmons and Jon Diebler had 10 apiece for the Buckeyes, who went 22-11 and lost to Siena in the first round of the NCAA tournament last season. Lighty played his first game since breaking a bone in his foot early last season. Ricky Jackson led Walsh with 14 points. Kyle Madsen started at center for Ohio State in place of Dallas Lauderdale, out with a broken finger.

Intriguing plots abound for Ohio St-Penn St

GENARO C. ARMAS — Tue, 3 Nov 2009 18:12:00 +0000

STATE COLLEGE, Pa.(AP) JoePa vs. Jim Tressel. Daryll Clark vs. Terrelle Pryor. The best defense in the Big Ten against the league's second-best unit. It looks like Saturday's game between No. 11 Penn State and No. 15 Ohio State should be another star-powered, high-stakes slugfest. The winner remains alive in the Big Ten race, in position to pounce should undefeated Iowa falter in the last three weeks of the season. The loser probably says goodbye to a shot at a BCS bowl - not that Paterno is trying to heap more pressure on his No. 11 Nittany Lions (8-1, 4-1). "Well the consequences of the winning and the losing of it are obvious to everybody, but you can't go at it that way,'' Paterno said Tuesday. "I think we just got to say, 'Hey, let's play it. Go out there and have a little fun. Let's not beat ourselves. ... What happens afterward happens.''' If recent history in this series is any indication, the latest edition of one of the Big Ten's highest-profile rivalries could be another last-minute thriller. Like safety Mark Rubin's fourth-quarter hit on quarterback Pryor last year that caused a fumble in Buckeye territory to set up Penn State's go-ahead touchdown in a 13-6 win. In 2005, defensive end Tamba Hali's forced fumble with 1:21 to play cemented Penn State's 17-10 win in 2005. Michael Jenkins' five-yard TD catch with 1:35 left lifted Ohio State to a 21-20 win two years earlier, overcoming Penn State cornerback Alan Zemaitis' 78-yard interception return. The common theme in each of those games: big defensive plays - just how Nittany Lions linebacker Sean Lee likes it. "For sure, a tough physical game that's going to come down to a few mistakes,'' Penn State's defensive captain said. As if a game against Ohio State (7-2, 4-1) needed any more intrigue, this year's meeting includes two new wrinkles. Saturday's game will be the 300th in the 50-season history of Beaver Stadium. The Nittany Lions are 241-58 at the stadium since it opened in 1960. There's also the return of western Pennsylvania native Pryor to his home state for the first time since the sophomore spurned Paterno two years ago in one of the most closely watched recruiting contests in recent memory. Clark, a native of Youngstown, Ohio, ended up winning the quarterback job in Happy Valley in 2008, and he's been 19-3 ever since in leading Penn State's spread HD offense. Pryor helped the Buckeyes get to the Fiesta Bowl last year, though he's felt pressure from fans this season for the inconsistent Ohio State offense. That criticism might be paltry compared to the unfriendly response Pryor should get Saturday at Beaver Stadium. Paterno has shown only respect for Ohio State's dangerous dual-threat sophomore. "Tremendous ability. He started a little bit slow, but the last few games, he's been very, very overpowering,'' Paterno said. If there's any team that has the talent to stop Pryor, it's Penn State - the Big Ten leader in scoring defense (FBS-leading 9.3 points per game) and total defense (254 yards). Unfortunately for Paterno, he's got the Ohio State defense to worry about, too. The Buckeyes allow 11.7 points and 260 yards per game, second in the conference behind the Nittany Lions. Despite all the big-game hoopla - including an early opening for the students at the Paternoville tent city outside the stadium and a pep rally Friday - Paterno said he's approaching this week in practice like any other. "If there's a little more thrust, enthusiasm, emotion in the way we teach things, or my involvement in it ... I think the kids could tell you better than I could. I try not to though,'' Paterno said. Lee, a senior, doesn't need any new motivational tricks to get ready for Saturday. "We had a lot of pop in practice, everyone was excited,'' Lee said. "I think we'll have a lot of fun in this game.'' Still, this year's meeting doesn't have quite the luster as last year's, when then-unbeaten Penn State handed the Buckeyes their only Big Ten loss of the season. This season, Iowa (9-0, 5-0) controls its own destiny and can clinch a Rose Bowl berth if its wins out. But the Hawkeyes have faced questions about their viability as BCS title contenders, in part because of their tendency to have to rally from behind for victories. The strength of the Big Ten has also been questioned by some national pundits because of Ohio State's recent losses in high-profile games, as well as Penn State's loss to Southern California in last season's Rose Bowl. Asked Tuesday if he was bothered by the conference's national reputation, Paterno offered his oft-repeated suggestion of expanding the conference to extend the league schedule - possibly with a conference title game. "I think it's hurt us some, but it's obvious why,'' Paterno said. "We back out of the national scene'' in mid-November, when Big Ten teams end their regular season.

Best for last; Rigorous November schedule gives Ohio State chance to win Big Ten again, go to Rose Bowl

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Ohio State has been playing hide-and-seek all season, but now, time is up. The Buckeyes vanished from the national radar after a loss to Southern California. They had just started to reappear when they were exposed in a shocking loss at Purdue. There's a feeling that, even at 7-2, they're still scrambling, particularly on offense, where "inconsistent" is the kindest possible adjective. Now, though, the countdown has stopped. Ready or not, November has arrived. Ohio State travels to Penn State on Saturday to begin a three-game stretch that will determine whether the 2009 Buckeyes team is remembered fondly or considered a disappointment. If OSU beats Penn State, Iowa and Michigan, it will claim a fifth straight Big Ten championship and head to the Rose Bowl. If the Buckeyes lose a game or two, they will fall into Capital One or Outback bowl territory, a shock to the system for a program that has played in Bowl Championship Series bowls the past five Januarys. "We know how important all these games are," receiver Dane Sanzenbacher said. "It's come to a point in our season where we have to win out and we have to play well in November to be a great team." Under coach Jim Tressel, the Buckeyes generally have had good Novembers: 23-4 in his eight seasons, never losing twice in a November. But this is the toughest November schedule in six years. Penn State is 8-1 and ranked 10th in both polls that count in the BCS standings. Iowa is 9-0 and ranked anywhere from No. 6 to No. 8 nationally. The last time OSU faced two such highly ranked teams back-to-back in the regular season was November 2003, when the Buckeyes beat No. 11 Purdue and then lost to No. 5 Michigan. Michigan is 5-4 and unranked, but it's "The Game," and it's at Ann Arbor. "We definitely have a tough schedule ending our season, but we really wouldn't want it any other way," safety Anderson Russell said. "I'm sure a lot of people think we've got a lot to prove." Defensively, they don't. The Buckeyes have been stellar, posting three shutouts and ranking sixth nationally in rush defense, scoring defense and total defense. But on offense, it has been a case of fits and (false) starts. They began the year running a pro-style set, then switched to a shotgun, one-back look. Lately, they've used a dizzying array of formations, but the one constant has been the lack of an identity. Quarterback Terrelle Pryor is completing a lower percentage of passes and throwing interceptions at a higher rate than he did as a freshman. The offensive line and running backs have been hampered by injuries and ineffectiveness. To top it off, last week OSU lost kicker Aaron Pettrey for the season because of a torn knee ligament. When the Buckeyes struggled offensively in past years, they mostly had figured things out by this point of the season. "We don't do a whole bunch of comparing to the past or comparing to what we hoped we would be," Tressel said. "We do all our comparing on where we are. And where we are is we know we're facing a great defense. We've got to make sure that we eliminate anything that we can control." He referred to not jumping offsides and not turning the ball over, two problems the Buckeyes have had this season. OSU ranks 63rd nationally in total offense, and that's up significantly from a few weeks ago. Given that, it bears repeating that the Buckeyes still could end the season as conference champions and with a top-10 ranking. But only if they conquer November. "We're almost fortunate to be in the position we're in, and we're happy that we can control our own destiny," Sanzenbacher said. "I think everybody realizes that, and everybody is focused." kgordon@dispatch.com Copyright 2009 The Columbus DispatchAll Rights Reserved

OSU AD: Buckeyes to unveil Nike unis at Michigan

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 19:20:00 +0000

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A statement from Ohio State director of athletics Gene Smith: "During spring, 2009, Ohio State was invited by Nike to participate in its Rivalry uniform program with several other universities from around the nation. They offered us a chance to try a new uniform product featuring cutting-edge fabrics and technology; participation in the program also offered us a one-time opportunity to salute one of those great championship teams that have built the Ohio State football tradition. Our coaches and players were excited to see the different elements Nike presented in the prototype designs and samples. The uniform elements are still in production, and we are extremely eager to see the finished product when it arrives. For this special program, we chose to recognize the achievements of our undefeated 1954 national championship team, winning the Big Ten title outright before capturing a Rose Bowl victory. These great Buckeyes celebrated their 55th anniversary with us at the Minnesota game, and this is another way for us to pay homage to their stellar achievements. Our fans will be able to get the first look at these unique uniforms on Sunday, Nov. 15, when we will share photos of the finished product on our website OhioStateBuckeyes.com. Fans can also take a look at the actual uniform up close that week in our official Team Shop in the Schottenstein Center. And our team will wear these custom designs when the Buckeyes take the field Nov. 21 up north in Ann Arbor. Again, this is a one-time opportunity to honor a great championship team. We have no plans to make any changes to the traditional Buckeye uniform for the foreseeable future."

OHIO STATE FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK; Kick-off to determine starter

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

When kicker A goes down, it makes sense to turn to kicker B. But the question Ohio State coaches must answer this week, in the wake of losing Aaron Pettrey for the rest of the year, is whether kicker B will be Devin Barclay or Ben Buchanan. Jim Tressel said the two will engage in what amounts to a kicking derby in preparation for Saturday's critical Big Ten game at Penn State. "So between Devin and Ben, we've got to step up," Tressel said. Barclay, a former professional soccer player, took Pettrey's place after the injury in the first half of the win over New Mexico State. Buchanan, formerly of Westerville Central, missed his chance because he was ill and not at the game. "If we had a game this moment, Devin would kick off and kick field goals because I haven't seen Ben for a week," Tressel said at mid-day yesterday. "But we have Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday practices." Barclay made just one of his three field-goal attempts against the Aggies, but his kickoffs were high and long. Buchanan, a redshirt freshman, has yet to try a scoring kick for the Buckeyes, but he fared well as the fill-in punter for Jon Thoma against Toledo on Sept. 19 in Cleveland Browns Stadium. \ Surgery 'went well' A source close to the situation said the surgery to repair the torn medial collateral ligament in Pettrey's right knee "went well" yesterday afternoon. It reportedly was performed by Dr. Chris Kaeding, the OSU head team physician. Though Pettrey, a senior, likely has kicked for the last time for the Buckeyes, Tressel said he could return to action in time for the Texas vs. The Nation college all-star game in January in Houston. Senior offensive tackle Jim Cordle said the team has faith in Barclay and Buchanan, but the loss of Pettrey was a blow. "I mean, he's the No. 1 kicker on Mel Kiper's draft board," Cordle said, referring to the ESPN NFL draft expert. In a related note, Tressel said the New Mexico State player who delivered the low block on Pettrey "sought me out (after the game) and said, 'Please tell your kicker I apologize, I didn't mean to block him below the waist. I just was trying to make a play.' And you could just tell the young man was distraught." \ Pryor is good to go Terrelle Pryor is nicked up, the result of the first nine weeks that have seen him lead the team in rushing (110 carries for 554 yards) and passing, Tressel said. Though off the field "he has ice bags everywhere," Tressel said, Pryor practiced full speed yesterday and the coach expects it to be that way Saturday when he plays his first college game in his native Pennsylvania. "Adrenaline is an amazing thing, even when you're feeling a little bit sore or whatnot," Tressel said. "All of a sudden the blood starts flowing and the lights are turned on and it's time to go. ... He'll be ready to go." Tressel said that also goes for defensive tackle Dexter Larimore, who missed the past four games because of a knee sprain, and left guard Justin Boren, who was out last week because of a foot ailment. tmay@dispatch.com Copyright 2009 The Columbus DispatchAll Rights Reserved

OSU's Lavender named to preseason AP team

Tue, 3 Nov 2009 18:35:00 +0000

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State junior center Jantel Lavender has been named to the Associated Press' 2009-10 Preseason Women's All-America basketball team. She is only the second women's player at Ohio State to be named to the five-member preseason squad. Former Buckeye All-American Jessica Davenport was the first. A 2009 WBCA All-American and the Big Ten's Player of the Year the last two seasons, Lavender recently was picked to win her third conference player of the year honor last week at Big Ten media day in Chicago. The junior also is a member of the preseason Wade and Wooden award watch lists after finishing last season first in the conference and 11th in the nation with 20.8 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. Reigning Big Ten freshman of the year Samantha Prahalis also received consideration for the preseason squad. Led by Lavender, Ohio State, ranked No. 3 in the preseason AP poll, was tabbed by the conference coaches and media to win the program's sixth straight Big Ten title. The Buckeyes return four starters from last year's 29-6 squad that won the Big Ten championship and tournament before advancing to the NCAA Sweet 16. Below is the Associated Press' 2009-10 preseason women's All-America basketball team, with school, height, year, key stats from last season and votes from a 40-member national media panel: Maya Moore, Connecticut, 6-0, junior, 19.3 ppg, 8.9 rpg, .521 fg pct (40 votes) Jayne Appel, Stanford, 6-4, senior, 16.1 ppg, 9.2 rpg, .602 fg pct (34) Tina Charles, Connecticut, 6-4, senior, 16.5 ppg, 8.9 rpg, .620 fg pct (28) Jantel Lavender, Ohio State, 6-4, junior, 20.8 ppg, 10.7 rpg, .541 fg pct (20) Monica Wright, Virginia, 5-11, senior, 20.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 117 3-pointers (20) Others receiving votes (in alphabetical order): Ashley Barlow, Notre Dame; Angie Bjorklund, Tennessee; Alysha Clark, Middle Tennessee State; Elena Delle Donne, Delaware; Alexis Gray-Lawson, California; Brittney Griner, Baylor; Allison Hightower, LSU; Danielle McCray, Kansas; Deirdre Naughton, DePaul; Nnemkadi Ogwumike, Stanford; Samantha Prahalis, Ohio State; Andrea Riley, Oklahoma State; Danielle Robinson, Oklahoma; Courtney Vandersloot, Gonzaga.

All eyes on Clark-Pryor matchup

Mike Gross — Tue, 3 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

If Joe Paterno thinks his quarterback has been comparatively attention-starved, wait until this week plays out. The deck is cleared for Penn State-Ohio State, Saturday (3:30 p.m.) at Beaver Stadium. That also means Darryl Clark vs. Terrelle Pryor. Pryor, the Buckeyes' sophomore QB, will no doubt be the most talked-about player in the run-up to the game. That makes him a star in ways that go beyond his actual performance on the field. It also makes him a lightning rod. Pryor was arguably the nation's top, and undeniably it's highest-profile, recruit two years ago, after leading Jeannette (Pa.) High to state championships in football and basketball. Penn State (8-1 overall, 4-1 Big Ten), and defensive coordinator Tom Bradley in particular, persued Pryor hard. When same-conference rivals battle over a kid like Pryor, rabid fans of each school take the kid's decision almost as hard as an on-field victory or defeat. The week before Penn State-Ohio State last year, after his team beat Michigan State, Pryor said, "I'm from Ohio now. That's still my hometown, but this is where I am now. I don't need to make Penn State happy." You've got the wounds, he may as well have said, and I have the salt. Since then, Ohio State coach Jim Tressel has made Pryor available to the media only sporadically, and not at all, last year, during Penn State week. This is where Clark comes in. Consider the contrasts. Clark is from Ohio and plays for Penn State; Pryor is from Pennsylvania and plays for Ohio State. Clark was lightly recruited out of high school; Pryor was a teenage celebrity. Clark is as thoughtful, cooperative and professional with the media as any athlete, college or pro; Pryor, uh, don't need to make Penn State happy. The most important contrast is that at least right now, Clark is a much better college QB. He's completed 62 percent of his passes for nearly 1,900 yards, 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Pryor has completed 55 percent for a hair over 1,400 yards, 13 TDs and nine picks. Clark's been even better lately. During Penn State's current five-game winning streak, he's thrown for nine touchdowns and run for five, with just one turnover. In the last two games, conference road wins over Michigan and Northwestern, he's gone 38 for 58 (65 percent) for 504 yards and five touchdowns. Of course, Pryor is the better runner, and he's rushed for 61 yards a game. Sacks bring down the yardage figure, but that's arguably deceptive since part of Ohio State's offensive MO is for Pryor to freelance, running around and creating. Clark could probably do some of that, if asked. Even so, he's now Penn State's career leader in rushing touchdowns by a quarterback. It's fair to point out that Clark hasn't won a big game against a top-shelf opponent. His only win against a team ranked in the top 25 was last year's blowout of Michigan State. He came up decidedly small in the losses to Iowa in 2008 and '09. He was unable to stem the USC wave in January's Rose Bowl, but Peyton Manning may not have been able to pull that off. Clark left with a concussion in the second half of last season's 13-6 defeat of Ohio State at Columbus. Backup Pat Devlin led the winning touchdown drive in that game, but did it mostly by handing off. That game was a defensive war that had relatively little to do with quarterbacking. All of which is why, for Clark, Saturday's game figures to impact his Penn State legacy. He likely won't back away from that, when it comes up this week. And it will. Last week Paterno made a point, in his weekly press conference, of saying that some of his players, Clark being exhibit A, weren't getting enough publicity or accolades. "Whether you guys know it or not you guys have a little bit of prejudice and it shows,'' he scolded. When the subject came up after the Northwestern game, Paterno said, "don't get me into that again.'' This week, he may not have much choice. Nit Notes: The Big Ten story continues to be Iowa. The Hawkeyes trailed Indiana 21-7 at halftime Saturday. QB Ricky Stanzi threw four interceptions in the third quarter. And Iowa won the fourth quarter 28-0 and the game 42-24. It's getting spooky. Iowa has the statistical profile of a sub-.500 team. It has trailed in eight of its nine games. The exception is 1-AA Arkansas State, which Iowa barely held on to beat. The Hawkeyes are 9-0, ranked fourth in the country, and ranked second by the computer portion of the BCS, which doesn't take into account margin of victory. Other than once-beaten Penn State and Ohio State, every other Big Ten team has at least three conference losses now. Barring an bizarre upset (although it's unclear if that term has meaning any longer), only Ohio State, which hosts Iowa Nov. 14, can get the league title and BCS automatic berth away from the Hawkeyes. To so do, Ohio State would have to beat both Penn State and Iowa in back-to-back weeks. Copyright 2009 Lancaster Newspapers, Inc.

Ohio St.-Penn St. Preview

Rusty Miller — Mon, 2 Nov 2009 11:04:00 +0000

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) No sooner had Ohio State and Penn State wrapped up their latest victories than both were looking ahead to their critical tangle at Beaver Stadium on Saturday. "The crowd is going to be against us, especially against me,'' Buckeyes quarterback Terrelle Pryor said of a showdown with Big Ten title implications. "But it really doesn't matter. I got my family with me, all 75 (teammates) that travel, and we're going to be ready to rock. I can't wait.'' That emotion is at the other end of the spectrum from what the No. 15 Buckeyes faced last Saturday. They barely raised their pulse rate in eclipsing overmatched New Mexico State 45-0, holding the Aggies - statistically the worst offense in the Bowl Subdivision - to 62 yards. On offense, the Buckeyes piled up 559 yards and had seven players amass more individual yards than the Aggies did as a team over 45 plays. Still, coach Jim Tressel was well aware that about the only thing New Mexico State and No. 11 Penn State have in common is their last name. "Are we consistent enough right now to be the contending champions for the Big Ten? Not yet,'' said Tressel, whose team has won at least a piece of the last four conference titles. "That's why we're going to practice like crazy and get ready for the Nittany Lions.'' Those Nittany Lions rattled off three touchdowns in less than 4 minutes to turn a squeaker into a rout in a 34-13 victory at Northwestern. As quarterback Daryll Clark was leaving the field, he encountered 82-year-old Penn State sage Joe Paterno. "He called to me and told me that this was a good win,'' Clark said. "We've got our big one next week. We all laughed about it.'' Neither team can afford many laughs this week. Both are 4-1 in the Big Ten and a game back of unbeaten Iowa, which defeated Penn State earlier in the year and still must play Ohio State. A loss doesn't eliminate either team from the league race, but it sure would make things difficult. A year ago, the teams met under somewhat similar circumstances at Ohio Stadium, with both perfect in league play. The Buckeyes led 6-3 in the fourth quarter when Pryor fumbled on a third-down play. The Nittany Lions, with Pat Devlin taking over for an injured Clark, drove 38 yards and scored on a 1-yard touchdown run. Ohio State had two more possessions, but had to punt after the first. Devlin then guided the Lions to a field goal for a 13-6 lead. Pryor's deep throw with 27 seconds left was picked off by Lydell Sargeant to seal the game. Both quarterbacks - Clark from Youngstown, Ohio, and Pryor from Jeannette, Pa. - would like nothing better than to engineer wins that would break hearts back home. "I think Daryll is the leader of the offensive football team,'' Paterno said after his 391st career victory Saturday. "He is a guy that makes us go.'' Pryor, who chose Ohio State over Penn State and Michigan, is expecting a less-than-warm welcome from the fans in Happy Valley. He knows he won't be a favorite son. "I'll probably get booed as soon as I go out to warm up,'' he said. He has no concerns that the Buckeyes will be up to the challenge. "Just the way we carry ourselves, we feel confident. I'd preach that to any team I'd be on,'' Pryor said. "You have to be confident, because if you go into a game thinking you're going to lose, that's not how you win. So we go in thinking that we can beat everybody. "We know it's going to be a very tough job to do at Penn State, but the way we think, you have to think you're going to win. So we have to be positive-thinking, just like Penn State will be positive-thinking.'' Buckeyes defensive tackle Doug Worthington might have been speaking for both teams. "We still have a chance of doing something great in the Big Ten,'' he said. The atmosphere should be something else. "Penn State is definitely a big game,'' safety Kurt Coleman said. "I love their crowd and the challenge of playing against Daryll Clark. From the beginning it's an electric atmosphere.'' A loss would almost certainly knock a team out of the BCS picture. "This is as big as they come,'' Pryor said. "I've been at Penn State a lot. It's a crazy stadium, but it's going to be fun. I was there the one day and the whole stadium was just shaking. It's crazy like that, but I always want to play in tough stadiums against tough opponents. That's where you measure yourself.''