STATE COLLEGE, Pennsylvania. — About 150 miles from here, across the Allegheny Mountains and down Interstate 76, there is a small town about an hour west of Philadelphia.
You’ve probably never heard of Downingtown, Pennsylvania, and if you’ve heard of Downingtown, Pennsylvania, it’s probably because of Auntie Anne’s, the pretzel shop franchise founded there.
There’s more to Downingtown; someone else, in fact.
That’s where Ohio State Buckeyes starting quarterback Will Howard grew up, a kid who dreamed of playing at Penn State, who never got a college offer, who went to Kansas State and then came back for the first time. Saturday at a roaring white-covered Beaver Stadium in a Big Ten showdown between the No. 3 and No. 4 teams in the country.
They make movies about these things, usually about revenge and redemption.
Well, on a sunny Saturday in Happy Valley, Howard had the last laugh on this featured film. He got his redemption, his revenge. He earned his victory, 20-13, over the school that never offered him a scholarship.
“There’s nothing like it, man,” he said later.
Howard’s QB bouncers on the final drive (three for 14 yards) seized the clock, secured the victory, and sent him into an emotional on-field celebration that projected a very obvious message: This was no ordinary game.
“We did it, man!” he shouted to his teammates before a long hug with offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. Among the celebrating Ohio State players (maybe it was Howard, maybe not), someone yelled, “Fuck you!”
No, this was not just any game.
Even his coach, Ryan Day, later acknowledged the magnitude of the matter. “We didn’t say it publicly,” he told reporters. “We said it behind closed doors (this week). It’s a great game for us.”
Several Buckeyes surrendered during the victory. Their quarterback got revenge in his home state (he recovered from a pick-6 and a fumble into the end zone); his coach won a resounding victory to calm the skeptics (there are many); their maligned offensive line pushed the Penn Staters (176 rushing yards); and its defense, at times exposed 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 plays inside the 4-yard line. They gained two yards.
“We held our ground,” Ohio State defensive end JT Tuimoloau said.
While speaking to reporters, Tuimoloau picked up a book, “Total Release Performance: A New Concept in Winning“. It’s a short, 32-page pamphlet by author Wes Neal that “shows a new perspective on winning and losing,” according to one description.
“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 an eighth straight game to Ohio State and an 11th straight to AP’s top five teams. His offense did not surpass the 300-yard mark, converted only three third downs and, through the first three quarters, had two plays of more than 20 yards.
They tried everything, it seemed. For example, five different Penn State players participated in the plays (two quarterbacks, two running backs, and one tight end). They tried a bunch of nice trick plays that went nowhere, and then when they were at the goal line with a first down at the 3, they ran up the middle three times.
“We didn’t make it,” Franklin said afterward.
Upon entering the tunnel, Franklin was gawked at by two fans. Boos rained down on him. “Fire Franklin!” was shouted.
“I understand (the fans’) frustration,” he said at the post-match press conference. “The guys in the locker room are just as frustrated, if not more so, but college football has changed.”
In fact, it has. Money has never been more important. Resources are essential. Patience is in short supply.
Franklin is 1-10 against Ohio State. In 11 seasons, he is 6-21 in games against those with deep pockets (the Buckeyes, Michigan and SEC teams). Penn State feels close to competitors in off-field investments perhaps for the first time in years, AD Pat Kraft said earlier this week.
But on Saturday, on the field, it was more of the same. Few explosive offensive weapons. Bugs at the end of the game. Silly clock management.
Get this: Penn State’s first completion to a wide receiver came 29 minutes into the game.
Meanwhile, on the other end of the line, there was a guy from Pennsylvania with a lot of weapons at his disposal. Howard hit eight different receivers and escaped some potentially critical sacks.
But its most impressive feature? Resilience, after some massive mistakes.
He threw a pick-6 to put the Buckeyes in a 10-0 hole early on. He then fumbled toward the side of the end zone while looking to score in the second quarter. He also missed a pair of open touchdown passes.
He later owned the game and described it as “probably the worst” game of his season.
And yet he “wished” for victory, Day said.
The boy from Downingtown did it.
“He was clear all week that he was not going to lose this game,” Day said. “I wanted to be a Nittany Lion. “He refused to lose.”
