STATE COLLEGE, Penn. — About 150 miles from right here, by the Allegheny Mountains and up Interstate 76, there's a small city about an hour west of Philadelphia.
You've in all probability by no means heard of Downingtown, Pennsylvania, and you probably have, it's in all probability due to Auntie Anne's, the pretzel store franchise based there.
There's one thing else from Downingtown – another person, truly.
Will Howard, the beginning quarterback for the Ohio State Buckeyes, grew up there, a child who dreamed of enjoying for Penn State, who by no means obtained a school provide, who went to Kansas State after which returned for the primary time on Saturday at white-blanketed Beaver Stadium in a Huge Ten showdown between the No. three and no. Four within the nation.
They make motion pictures about this stuff, often about revenge and redemption.
Effectively, on a sunny Saturday in Completely happy Valley, Howard bought the final snigger on this featured movie. He obtained his salvation, his revenge. He earned his victory, 20-13, over the varsity that by no means provided him a scholarship.
“I don't have a sense, man,” he stated afterward.
Howard's QB carries on the ultimate drive – three for 14 yards – milked the clock, secured the win and despatched him into an emotional celebration on the sector that projected a really apparent message: This wasn't any outdated sport.
“I did it, man!” he yelled at teammates earlier than an extended hug with offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. Among the many celebrating Ohio State gamers — possibly it was Howard, possibly it wasn't — somebody yelled, “F*** it!”
No, this wasn't an outdated sport.
Even their coach, Ryan Day, acknowledged the magnitude of it afterward. “I haven't stated it publicly,” he instructed reporters. “I stated that behind closed doorways (this week). It's an enormous sport for us.”
Totally different Buckeyes delivered throughout the win. Their quarterback bought revenge in his residence state (returned a pick-6 and a fumble in the long run zone); their coach pulled off a shocking win to reassure the doubters (there are a lot); their maligned offensive line pushed across the Penn Staters (176 dashing yards); and their protection, generally uncovered this season, performed its most full sport of the yr (Penn State didn't rating an offensive landing).
A fourth quarter stand by coordinator Jim Knowles sealed the deal. Penn State had 4 punts contained in the Four-yard line. They’d two meters.
“Let's cling in there,” Ohio State defensive finish JT Tuimoloau stated.
Whereas talking to reporters, Tuimoloau held up a ebook, “Complete Launch Efficiency: A New Idea in Profitable.” It's a brief, 32-page booklet by creator Wes Neal that “reveals a brand new perspective on profitable and shedding,” in response to an outline.
“I learn it earlier than the sport,” Tuimoloau stated with a smile.
For Penn State, the prospects had been all the identical. Below coach James Franklin, the Nittany Lions misplaced their eighth straight sport to Ohio State and their 11th consecutive top-five AP loss. Their offense didn't break the 300-yard mark, transformed simply three third downs and, within the first three quarters, had two performs over 20 yards.
They tried all the pieces, it appeared. For instance, 5 completely different Penn State gamers took snaps (two working backs, two working backs and a good finish). They tried a handful of good performs that went nowhere, after which once they bought all the way down to the aim line on a primary down on the three, they ran up the center thrice.
“We didn't make it,” Franklin stated afterward.
As he entered the tunnel, Franklin flew with two followers. Cheers rained down on him. “Fireplace Franklin!” was shouted.
“I perceive the frustration (from the followers),” he stated within the post-match press convention. “The blokes within the locker room are simply as annoyed, if no more so, however faculty soccer has modified.”
It has, certainly. Cash has by no means been extra vital. Sources are paramount. Endurance is skinny.
Franklin is 1-10 towards Ohio State. In 11 seasons, he's 6-21 in video games towards these with a number of assets (Buckeyes, Michigan and SEC groups). Penn State feels prefer it's near its rivals in off-field investments for maybe the primary time in years, AD Pat Kraft stated earlier this week.
However on the pitch on Saturday, it was extra of the identical. Few explosive offensive weapons. Late sport errors. Silly clock administration.
Get this: Penn State's first addition at large receiver got here 29 minutes into the sport.
In the meantime, on the opposite facet, there was a child from Pennsylvania with a number of weapons at his disposal. Howard hit eight completely different receivers and escaped some crucial sacks.
However its most spectacular function? Resilience, after some large errors.
He threw a pick-6 to place the Buckeyes in an early 10-Zero gap. Then he broke into the sting of the top zone whereas going for a rating within the second quarter. He additionally missed a few large open landing passes.
He later owned it, describing it as “in all probability the worst” sport of his season.
And but, he “wished” the win to occur, Day stated.
The man from Downingtown did it.
“He had a glance in his eye all week that he wasn't going to lose this sport,” Day stated. “He wished to be a Nittany Lion. He refused to lose.”