Canton
Buckeyes' Pryor heaps blame for loss on himself
Monday, October 27, 2008
By Todd Porter
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER
COLUMBUS His eyes red and watered, his spirit crushed and his confidence cracked like never before, Terrelle Pryor sat before reporters after midnight Sunday morning. His voice trailed off, even cracked at times, but Pryor faced the music.
And he accepted full responsibility for Ohio State's 13-6 loss to Penn State on Saturday night. The defeat set the Buckeyes back to 13th in the Associated Press poll. Pryor fumbled on a quarterback sneak late in the game, a turnover that Penn State turned into the game's only touchdown.
Pryor was also picked off on a long heave for the end zone late. The ball was underthrown.
"When you turn the ball over two times in a game ... everyone says it's not my fault, but when you look at it, it is," Pryor said. "The fumble put pressure on our defense. The defense could've stopped them and made them kick a 3-pointer, but that's not how it happened. (Penn State) only had to drive 40 yards. ... Then the pick at the end. I should have known not to throw the ball there. ... Yes, the game is on me."
The fumble was a designed sneak up the middle. Pryor noticed the Nittany Lions defensive front pinched inside. He believed if he got around the safety, Mark Rubin, he could score a touchdown. Instead, Pryor improvised even after, he admitted, he could have gotten the first down on a half-yard sneak.
"They knew the quarterback sneak was coming," Pryor said. "I knew I had the edge and all I had to do was beat No. 9 (Rubin), and I got stripped.
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