Hackenberg holds key to Ohio State-Penn State game

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A year after the worst beating in Penn State’s highlight-filled history, the Nittany Lions know they need to protect quarterback Christian Hackenberg if they want to avoid another lopsided loss to Ohio State.”Overall they are a very fast, athletic defense,” Hackenberg said Wednesday. ”We just have to continue to execute and stay on track and limit the negative plays and try to continue to keep the sticks moving throughout the game.”They certainly did not do any of that a year ago.The Buckeyes sacked him four times and intercepting him twice in a stunningly one-sided 63-14 victory over the then-freshman. It was a seismic defeat for Penn State – the most points surrendered and the biggest loss in the program’s 114 years.Having followed that script once, they hope to harass Hackenberg again under the lights at Beaver Stadium.”That’s going to be a big priority,” Buckeyes linebacker Joshua Perry said. ”We saw how that worked out last year. We got after him a little bit and we had some success there, so we’ll see what we can do against them. I know our D-line’s pretty hungry, so we’ll get after it.” View gallery Ohio State cornerback Doran Grant (12) intercepts a pass intended for Rutgers wide receiver Leonte C … The Nittany Lions (4-2, 1-2 Big Ten) must rely on an offensive line that includes one junior scholarship player (not counting injured senior Miles Dieffenbach) and one freshman. That’s it.”Consistently being able to protect (Hackenberg) starts up front,” first-year coach James Franklin said. ”As our offensive line continues to grow and play better, then our quarterback will be protected and we’ll throw the ball better, and then our running game will be more effective. All of those things are based on consistency.”Hackenberg’s numbers are impressive, but not overwhelming. He’s completed 134 of 227 passes for 1,637 yards but only has five touchdown passes against seven interceptions.”We’ve got a lot of respect for that big quarterback,” Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer said. ”Tremendous player. …

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