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Jesse Mirco flips field vs. Penn State with booming 72-yard punt
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Jesse Mirco saved the day for Ohio State on one drive early in the second half of action against Penn State.
The Buckeyes opened that drive by generating a first down, but it did not take long to go backward. The first miscue was a false start that was further compounded by a holding call after Ohio State had picked up a first down play.
A sack by Adisa Isaac and a negative running play from Miyan Williams forced Ohio State into a 4th-and-27 from its own 4-yard line. That led Mirco to punt from deep in his own end zone, but he delivered.
Mirco’s punt was a low line drive that the Penn State returner did not have a read on and did not attempt to field the kick. Instead, the ball bounced and rolled down inside Penn State’s 25-yard line.
The official tally on the punt went down as 72 yards, a key kick to flip the field in an instant.
What a punt 👏@Jesse_Mirco29 x @OhioStateFB
📺: FOX/@CFBONFOX pic.twitter.com/3QUAfh5LUc
— Ohio State on BTN (@OhioStateOnBTN) October 21, 2023
The kick delivered its purpose, pinning Penn State deep and limiting the Nittany Lions. Ohio State was able to force a 3-and-out on the ensuing possession to get the ball back.
Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.