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Meyer defends confidence in kicker after blocked field goal seals fate

Dylan Buell / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Penn State shocked the world Saturday by upsetting No. 2 Ohio State on what proved to be a game-winning touchdown on a blocked field goal, but Urban Meyer isn't second-guessing his choice to trust his kicker.

With 4:27 left to play in the fourth quarter and a four-point lead, Meyer sent walk-on kicker Tyler Durbin to attempt the 45-yard field goal that ended up being blocked and then returned to put the Nittany Lions ahead for good. While some Buckeyes fans may have thought a different approach would have been better, Meyer doesn't see it that way.

"He hits that in practice," Meyer said of Durbin, according to Bill Landis of Cleveland.com. Durbin was perfect on two previous attempts in Saturday's game, nailing kicks from 30 and 33 yards respectively.

Meyer could have elected to go for it on fourth-and-7 on the Penn State 28-yard line, choosing instead to put his faith in his kicking unit despite contemplating every option.

"I was going back and forth," Meyer said. "That would've put us up by seven, obviously it didn't work out. You punt it there, I think it was on the 30-something yard line. I went through it in my mind, but I had confidence in Durbin to kick that thing because he does it all the time."

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