Carolyn Kaster / AP

Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor, right, celebrates after the No. 15 Buckeyes defeated No. 11 Penn State on Saturday night.

OPINION

By Dave Curtis

updated 2:32 a.m. ET Nov. 8, 2009

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - With his right hand raised in the air and an index finger pointed to the sky, Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor sprinted three-quarters of Beaver Stadium's turf to celebrate. He high-stepped into the end zone, then stopped and stared into the disbelieving Penn State student section.

Penn State game may be looked back upon as a breakthrough for Terrelle Pryor.

Pryor will treasure that 68-yard touchdown hook-up with DeVier Posey as one of his sophomore season highlights. It proved one of the biggest plays in the Buckeyes' biggest victory so far this season, a thumping of PSU before over 110,00 fans.

But the kid from down the road in Jeanette, Pa., who gave Penn State a hard look before choosing scarlet and gray for his college wardrobe, was far from Saturday's star. OSU won this game on the line scrimmage, with both its offensive and defensive lines turning Happy Valley sad.

The big play from Ohio State's big guys, especially on offense, ranks as an even bigger surprise than OSU's second straight victory here. Hurt by injuries and inexperience, the Buckeyes have often looked lousy up front much of this year. The shaky play hurt the running game and left Pryor scrambling more than setting his feet.

In conversations this week, a pair of Big Ten coaches called for Penn State victories. The rationale was identical — Ohio State's offensive line would not be able to block the Nits' front seven, especially with linebackers Sean Lee and Navorro Bowman on the field.

Yet through three quarters, the Bucks' rushing attack owned the game. In 30 rushing attempts (out of 44 offensive snaps), OSU had 151 yards, including 64 from Dan Herron and 42 from Pryor.

This success didn't come without hiccups. After a conservative series in the second quarter to set up a Devin Barclay field goal, Pryor looked to coach Jim Tressel and with his right arm gave the football sign for "We need to throw more." Tressel patted Pryor on the chest, the universal sign for "Coach knows best."

And Saturday, in this cauldron, the best move was to go heavy with the run on offense, and trust a thriving defense. OSU ranked among the Top 10 in the nation in most defense categories, but Saturday marked the group's most complete effort.

The Nits couldn't match OSU's rushing stats, managing just 61 yards on their first 28 carries. Quarterback Daryll Clark went from Heisman candidate to Pryor look-a-like, taking a pair of sacks and spending much of the day trying to avoid trouble.

Need a player of the game? Try Cam Heyward. The Buckeyes' star defensive end sacked Clark on the game's first snap and spent most of his time pushing around PSU offensive linemen Dennis Landolt and Johnnie Troutman. Thad Gibson on the other side chipped in, too, chasing down Evan Royster on a key third-down in the third quarter.

A year out, the world might point back to today as the turning point in Pryor's career. And sure, he played better and with more confidence, and he finished with two passing touchdowns, against no interceptions, as well as a rushing score, as evidence.

But Ohio State won Saturday's game along the line of scrimmage. The Buckeyes' big guys kept them alive for a Big Ten championship.

SportingNews.com Lots of hype, hope _ and Dion Lewis _ for Pitt 6 teams with something to prove Rutgers looking for bigger and better bowl in 2010 After the fall, a new subdued era at USC It's what's up front that counts for Buckeyes

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