STATE COLLEGE -- Once again, there were stone-faced, quiet jogs off the field as they headed to the locker room at the end of another significant afternoon.

Certainly, this does seem to be turning into a habit for the Nittany Lions.

Ever since that blustery, snow-flurrying weekend one year ago in Iowa City, these guys have struggled when the big-game lights are shining the brightest and the nation is really paying attention.

And this latest misadventure probably hurt just as much as the others.

Just like the two losses to Iowa and the stomp-down by USC in the Rose Bowl.

Sure, Saturday's matchup against the Ohio State Buckeyes was supposed to be another part to the crescendo of a wonderful career for likeable

Susquehannock graduate Chaz Powell can't haul in a long pass from Daryll Clark in Penn State's 24-7 loss to Ohio State on Saturday at Beaver Stadium. (DAILY RECORD/SUNDAY NEWS -- KATE PENN)
quarterback Daryll Clark and his other senior teammates.

Instead, it turned out to be a surprising 24-7 fadeaway that just about ends Penn State's biggest bowl dreams.

"It feels horrible, man," said defensive end Jerome Hayes. "Being a fifth-year senior and to go out on your home turf and to lose as bad as we did, it's the worst feeling in the world."

Coach Joe Paterno didn't have many answers for the performance in the postgame interview room. He spoke for less than eight minutes before giving a half-hearted smile and getting up from his seat and walking away.

And Clark really didn't have anything comforting to offer, either, after admitting that he simply just didn't play that well. No grand revelations to explain his meager 12-of-28 passing effort for 125 yards and a forced interception.

Once again, a fire-breathing defense pressured him hard throughout and his offense had few successful replies.

He tried to vary the snap count. He tried to sprint out on pass plays to buy more time. He tried to run himself on plays that looked like sure-bet winners, only to be clogged up time and again.

He tried to keep feeding former walk-on receiver Graham Zug on intermediate routes, tried to find Chaz Powell deep and short, tried to locate his big, fast tight end on one route after another.

Nothing really worked.

"It was a couple of plays when they got back there on me faster than I expected," Clark said about Ohio State's rushers. "And when you have someone in your lap it's tough to throw the football down the field."

The outcome was decided mostly on two fronts, the only two areas that seemed to clearly favor the underdog Buckeyes:

That OSU defensive line and its special teams play.

The line play controlled Penn State's running and passing from beginning to end, always pressing the matter, never letting a flow develop. And that special teams play, mainly the punt returning part of it, delivered quick-strike power that crippled the Lions at crucial moments.

"We knew we were going to have troubles. Their front seven played the run about as good as anyone we've seen, including Iowa," Paterno said. "We knew we were going to have our hands full.

"For three quarters this was the kind of game I expected. We just didn't make a play."

With the Lions vulnerable, the finishing touches were left to a young quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who played beyond his years for the Buckeyes, making smooth, smart decisions on running and passing and converting key plays whenever he needed.

It all left the Lions frustrated and wanting, heads down as they tried to figure out how another defining moment slipped through their grasp.

"I could

Penn State tight end Andrew Quarless makes a catch in the Nittany Lions' 24-7 loss to Ohio State on Saturday at Beaver Stadium -- the 300th game in the 50-year history of the place. (DAILY RECORD/SUNDAY NEWS -- KATE PENN)
have played 10 times better," Clark said. "When I had time, some of the balls were overthrown, some were thrown low. Things felt really good coming into this football game, it's just hard to succeed on offense when you don't develop a rhythm.

"This one really hurts, man. This one really, really hurts because we had so many chances and just didn't take advantage of them."

Take a mid-second quarter pass that Clark rifled long to Powell down the middle of the field. Powell had a step or two on his defender, had him on his back. His team only trailed by three, the momentum for the taking.

And Clark threw a bit late and too far to the inside, allowing the defensive back to break up the pass.

"That's the kind of night it was," Clark said.

He kept talking until everyone else was gone from the interview room, and then he finally got up and left, too.

He would find his family who traveled in from Youngstown, Ohio, talk things out, maybe get a bite to eat.

And then he planned on heading to his apartment to watch TV and relax and wonder.

"Think about what could of, should of, would have happened," he said.

"And on Sunday, think of it again.

"And, Monday, it's gone."

Then it must be on to Indiana and the next game and what's left of the season.

On to make the best of a situation they hoped they would never have to face.

fbodani@ydr.com; 771-2104