You don't want to miss this last series that put Penn State back in the game

"We've got a shot," Penn State interim head coach Terry Smith said before heading into the locker room at halftime.

The Nittany Lions (3-4, 0-4 Big Ten) broke No. 1 Ohio State's streak of not allowing a single touchdown in the first half all season. Running back Nicholas Singleton, who was underperforming due to expectations and standards since the start of the season, recorded his 48th collegiate career score in the second quarter.

That wasn't all, though. Penn State's offense had a chance at the end of the first half that it handled too frantically. The Buckeyes (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) had the ball back in their hands with a 17-7 lead under the two-minute warning.

However, the Nittany Lions on defense weren't throwing in the towel.

On a handoff to running back C.J. Donaldson Jr., linebacker Amare Campbell brought the rusher down after two yards and stripped the ball right out of his hands. Defensive end Chaz Coleman, who had a pressure earlier in the game that forced Ohio State to try for a field goal instead of scoring a full six, recovered the ball with 1:48 on the clock. He returned it to the Buckeyes' 13-yard-line where the Penn State offense took over.

Quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer gave running back Kaytron Allen the ball twice in a row, only amounting to a four-yard gain. On third-and-six, Ohio State took a timeout and returned to the field itching for a stop. Grunkmeyer threw a short, shuttle pass to Allen who squeezed through the middle and picked up eight yards.

With four more tries in their hands, the Nittany Lions only needed one. After their timeout, Allen got the carry and fought through to cross the plane into the end zone.

The score cut down Penn State's deficit from 10 to three as kicker Ryan Barker's extra point attempt went through.

Heading into Saturday's battle, Smith said that his team had nothing to lose. That mentality is shining through as the offense puts insufficient drives in the past and the defense leaves everything on the field, frustrating both sides of the ball for the Buckeyes.