By Neil Schmidt
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Ohio State split end Michael Jenkins gets a foot down in bounds as he scores the game winning touchdown against Penn State Saturday. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - In the midst of Ohio State's nine-lives run to the 2002 national championship, there was a signature moment: the 37-yard, game-winning touchdown pass to Michael Jenkins at Purdue, on a fourth-and-1 play with 1:36 left. That was when it became clear the Buckeyes had become something special.

This year's team had been decidedly more mortal, and its season was at the brink Saturday: down by double digits, on the road, using a backup quarterback, trying to pass on a final drive against a Penn State defense ranked No. 1 nationally against the pass.

So when Jenkins again cradled a critical catch - the winning 5-yard score in a 21-20 victory, this time with 1:35 left - it was hard not to feel something similar.

"To have that chemistry on that final drive ... maybe there is a little magic to it," tight end Ben Hartsock said.

The eighth-ranked Buckeyes (8-1, 4-1 Big Ten) sweated out Penn State's 60-yard field-goal attempt on the game's final play, then celebrated as heartily as they have all season.

"This says a lot about the type of character we have, the way we fight through things," defensive end Simon Fraser said.

OK, so they're winning ugly. But three more victories would mean a shining Big Ten trophy.

Trailing 17-7 at halftime - the first double-digit deficit it faced in two seasons - OSU rallied behind backup QB Scott McMullen in the face of 108,276 fans.

The fifth-year senior came on in relief of Craig Krenzel, who was knocked out just before the first half ended with an unspecified injury - he was reportedly woozy - and went 12-of-17 for 112 yards, two TDs and no interceptions.

The winning drive was an 11-play, 72-yard march in which McMullen went 7-of-7 for 51 yards and ran three times for 18 yards.

"This team has a lot of heart," McMullen said. "I looked around that huddle (before that drive) and saw a lot of faces with confidence."

With Michigan State falling, OSU ranks as one of four teams with one league loss, and can win the title outright by winning out.

Penn State (2-7, 0-5), off to its worst start since 1931, played its finest game of the season Saturday. Nevertheless, it's on the first five-game losing streak in Joe Paterno's 38 years as head coach.

"I'm not much for moral victories," Penn State coach Joe Paterno said of the Lions' inspired play.

McMullen is a laid-back guy known to crack jokes in the huddle to keep his teammates loose.

The game-winner was a fade route to Jenkins, in which the 6-foot-5 receiver crept behind Alan Zemaitis.

"We knew this would be a knock-down, drag-out game," OSU coach Jim Tressel said. "...But our seniors would not let the rest of the team give up."

Ohio St.	7	0	7	7-21
Penn St.	7	10	0	3-20

First Quarter

OSU-Ross 1 run (Nugent kick), 5:40.

PSU-McHugh 2 pass from Mills (Kimball kick), :12.

Second Quarter

PSU-Zemaitis 78 interception return (Kimball kick), 10:15.

PSU-FG Kimball 42, 4:10.

Third Quarter

OSU-Jenkins 4 pass from McMullen (Nugent kick), 9:17.

Fourth Quarter

PSU-FG Kimball 48, 10:09.

OSU-Jenkins 5 pass from McMullen (Nugent kick), 1:35.

A-108,276.

	OSU	PSU
First downs	17	18
Rushes-yards	39-153	27-33
Passing	148	253
Comp-Att-Int	17-29-1	27-42-1
Return Yards	19	97
Punts-Avg.	6-46	5-45
Fumbles-Lost	1-0	1-0
Penalties-Yards	4-31	3-16
Time of Possession	30:49	29:11

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING-Ohio St., Ross 24-110, McMullen 8-25, Krenzel 4-14, Gamble 1-4, Hall 2-0. Penn St., Mills 10-20, Scott 12-15, McHugh 1-1, Hunt 3-1, Upton 1-(minus 4).

PASSING-Ohio St., McMullen 12-17-0-112, Krenzel 5-12-1-36. Penn St., Mills 27-42-1-253.

RECEIVING-Ohio St., Holmes 5-78, Hartsock 5-31, Jenkins 3-20, Gamble 2-10, Ross 1-6, Hamby 1-3. Penn St., Humphrey 7-64, McHugh 6-56, Kranchick 4-22, Lukac 3-31, Phillips 2-47, Scott 2-2, Smith 1-23, Upton 1-4, Johnson 1-4.

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E-mail nschmidt@enquirer.com