Both teams had their fair share of momentum swinging plays. It just so happened that the Nittany Lions made one more than their neighborly rivals.
It was the Buckeyes who drew first blood in the 'big play game' though. After the Lions stalled on their first drive of the game, Ohio State took little time in taking advantage as quarterback Steve Bellasari hooked up with wideout Michael Jenkins for a 66 yard touchdown on the Buckeyes' first play from scrimmage.
The Buckeye defense then got into the mix when cornerback Cie Grant picked off Penn State quarterback Zack Mills with the score 7-6 in Ohio State's favor. That essentially stopped any momentum the Lions had gained through a fairly well played first half.
Bellasari hit Jenkins again for another big gain (68 yards) late in the second quarter to put the Buckeyes on the Penn State one-yard line, allowing Ohio State to tack on a field goal to extend their lead to four points.
And the Buckeyes kept pouring it on early in the second half. After Ohio State received the opening kickoff, tailback Jonathan Wells burst up the middle ended 65 yards later in the end zone to put he Buckeyes up 20-9.
On the very next series, Mills fired a pass to Eddie Drummond who tipped the ball into the air and into the waiting arms of Buckeye cornerback Derek Ross who promptly coasted into the end zone to make it 27-9.
That's when the fireworks ended for Ohio State and ignited for the Lions.
As soon as Penn State got the ball back, Mills ran the option from the shotgun up the Penn State sideline for a 69-yard touchdown on second down to make it 27-15.
"That was only supposed to be a seven or eight-yard play," Paterno said. "He just got a crack and he took it and then he took off."
Three series later, Penn State safety Yaacov Yisrael stripped Ohio State's Lydell Ross and Mayer recovered at the Lions' own 45 yard line to end a potentially successful Buckeye drive.
The Lions hit pay dirt on the following drive when Mills hit Tony Johnson with a perfectly placed pass for a 26-yard score to cut the Lions deficit to five.
"All week, coach (Kenny) Carter kind of told us that we only had one receiver that was dominating and that was Bryant Johnson," Johnson said. "We needed another one. I took that upon myself as a challenge to go out there and make some plays."
Then early in the fourth quarter, Mills made the play of the game. After Joe Iorio's snap sailed over Mills' head, the freshman signal caller scooped up the loose ball and calmly delivered a strike to tight end R.J. Luke who thundered down to the Ohio State 19-yard line.
A five-yard facemask penalty put the Lions on the 14 where Mills lofted a beautiful finesse pass to Eric McCoo who snuck out of the backfield for the go-ahead score.
That puts the big play count for each team at five. But the Lions had one more in store.
Several drives later, after Paterno made a gaffe by not going for two after McCoo's touchdown, Ohio State trudged down to the Penn State 17 and lined up for the potential go-ahead field goal. But Mike Nugent's kick was blocked by Bryan Scott, essentially ending the game.
"I think we're getting pretty good, I really do," Paterno said. "I think some of the things they did today would indicate that we're getting better."
