Ohio State's Will Howard gets revenge on Penn State with home win – “He refused to lose”

STATE COLLEGE, Penn. – About 150 miles from here, through the Allegheny Mountains and along Interstate 76, lies a small town about an hour west of Philadelphia.

You've probably never heard of Downingtown, Pennsylvania, and if you have heard of Downingtown, Pennsylvania, it's probably because of Auntie Anne's, the pretzel shop franchise founded there.

There's something else from Downingtown – someone else, actually.

Will Howard, the Ohio State Buckeyes' starting quarterback, grew up there, a kid who dreamed of playing for Penn State, who never got an offer from the university, who went to Kansas State and then returned for the first time Saturday A Big Ten showdown between the No. 3 and No. 4 teams in the country takes place at roaring, white-covered Beaver Stadium.

They make movies about this stuff, mostly about revenge and redemption.

Well, on a sunny Saturday in Happy Valley, Howard got the last laugh on this feature film. He got his redemption, his revenge. He earned his victory, 20-13, over the school that never offered him a scholarship.

“There’s no feeling like it, man,” he said afterward.

Howard's QB keeper on the final drive – three for 14 yards – drained the clock, secured the win and sent him into an emotional celebration on the field that sent a very clear message: This wasn't just any old game.

“We did it, man!” He yelled at his teammates before sharing a long hug with offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. Among the cheering Ohio State players – maybe it was Howard, maybe it wasn't – someone shouted, “F*** them!”

No, this wasn't an old game.

Even her coach, Ryan Day, acknowledged the magnitude of the matter afterwards. “We haven’t said it publicly,” he told reporters. “That’s what we said behind closed doors (this week). It’s a big game for us.”

During the win, several Buckeyes delivered. Their quarterback got revenge in his home state (rebounding a pick-6 and a fumble into the end zone); Their coach scored a rousing victory to appease the doubters (of which there are many); their vicious offensive line swarmed around the Penn Staters (176 yards rushing); and their defense, exposed at times this season, played its most complete game of the year (Penn State did not score an offensive touchdown).

A goal-line stand by coordinator Jim Knowles' group in the fourth quarter sealed the deal. Penn State had four snaps inside the 4-yard line. They got two yards.

“We held our own,” Ohio State University defensive end JT Tuimoloau said.

While speaking to reporters, Tuimoloau noticed a book called “Total Release Performance: A New Concept in Winning.”.” It's a short, 32-page booklet by author Wes Neal that, according to a description, “shows a new perspective on winning and losing.”

“I read it before the game,” Tuimoloau said with a smile.

For Penn State, the prospects were all the same. Under coach James Franklin, the Nittany Lions lost their eighth straight game to Ohio State and their 11th straight loss to AP top five teams. Their offense failed to break the 300-yard mark, converted only three third downs and had two plays of over 20 yards in the first three quarters.

It seemed like they had tried everything. For example, five different Penn State players took snaps (two quarterbacks, two running backs and one tight end). They tried a few nice tricks that went nowhere, and then when they got to the goal line at the 3 for a first down, they ran up the middle three times.

“We didn’t get it done,” Franklin said afterwards.

As Franklin entered the tunnel, he scolded two fans. Boos rained down on him. “Fire Franklin!” was shouted.

“I understand (the fans’) frustration,” he said in the post-match press conference. “The guys in the locker room are just as frustrated, if not more so, but college football has changed.”

It actually has. Money has never been more important. Resources are of utmost importance. Patience is thin.

Franklin is 1-10 against Ohio State. In 11 seasons, he has a 6-21 record in games against those with ample resources (the Buckeyes, Michigan and SEC teams). Penn State feels like it's getting close to its rivals in off-the-field investments for perhaps the first time in years, AD Pat Kraft said earlier this week.

But on Saturday, on the field, it was similar. Few explosive offensive weapons. Late game bug. Stupid clock management.

Get this: Penn State's first completion to a wide receiver came 29 minutes into the game.

Meanwhile, on the other side was a boy from Pennsylvania with lots of weapons. Howard hit eight different receivers and missed some critical would-be sacks.

But its most impressive feature? Reliability after a few massive errors.

He hit a pick-6 to put the Buckeyes in an early 10-0 hole. He then fumbled on the side of the end zone while running for a score in the second quarter. He also missed a couple of wide-open touchdown passes.

Afterwards he was of the opinion that it was “probably the worst” game of his season.

And yet he “wanted” the win, Day said.

The guy from Downingtown did it.

“He was under the impression all week that he wasn't going to lose this game,” Day said. “He wanted to be a Nittany Lion. He refused to lose.”