No. 5 Ohio State needed a spark up just three points late in the second quarter against No. 20 Penn State with the Nittany Lions driving to take the lead. The Buckeyes got that spark … just from an unexpected source.
With 2:36 remaining in the second quarter, Ohio State got some rare pressure on Nittany Lions quarterback Sean Clifford with a defensive back blitz. The pressure forced a fumble, which was picked up by defensive tackle Jerron Cage. The fifth-year senior, all 305 pounds of him, rumbled 57 yards nearly uncontested for a game-breaking touchdown to give his team a 17-7 lead. If nothing else, Cage’s fluidity with the scoop-and-score was an underrated athletic feat.
After the play, Ohio State’s bench treated Cage like a king, fanning him and finding him a seat to catch his breath. For a defensive lineman who typically is only asked to get five yards downfield into the quarterback’s face, running nearly 60 yards is a chore. Some of the pictures from the touchdown may be every bit as amazing as the video:
The play was a game-changer in that it helped an Ohio State offense having its most inefficient night of the season. The Buckeyes were averaging just 1.6 yards per carry at the time and outgained 209-189 in the first half. Their 10 offensive points were the least since they lost 35-28 to No. 12 Oregon at the Horseshoe back in September.
