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COLUMBUS, Ohio- In the seventh-ever meeting between the schools, No. 2 Ohio State defeated Ohio University by a final score of 43-7 in front of 105,075 fans - the largest crowd that a Bobcat football team has played in front of at Ohio Stadium.
Ohio State’s defense stood strong on the first Bobcat drive as Tyler Moller intercepted quarterback Phil Bates’ second-down pass. The Buckeyes began their first offensive possession of the day with good field position, starting at the Ohio 30-yard line. However, the Green and White forced OSU to settle for a 25-yard field goal from Devin Barclay.
The Buckeyes struck again with 5:53 remaining in the first quarter when Terrell Pryor found receiver Brandon Saine over the middle for a nine-yard touchdown strike.
After a Bobcat possession that ended in an impressive 53-yard punt by Paul Hershey, Ohio State found the end zone again. Pryor took off diagonally across the field, scoring on a 13-yard run to cap a four-play, 61-yard drive. With the ensuing point-after touchdown, the No. 2 Buckeyes were ahead 17-0 near the end of the first quarter.
Ohio was able to prevent the hosts from getting into the end zone on their next drive, but the Buckeyes were able to score on a 33-yard field goal by Barclay to make the score 20-0 with 13:17 remaining in the first half.
Dallas Brown contributed a good kickoff return for Ohio in the second quarter, running for 31 yards. This was followed immediately by a 16-yard scamper from Phil Bates, but a fumble on the next play gave the ball back to the Buckeyes.
Ohio State added two more touchdowns in the second quarter to increase its advantage to 34-0.
A big play at the beginning of the third quarter gave Ohio some momentum. Billy Gonzalez-Santos blocked an Ohio State punt and teammate Storm Timson recovered the ball on the Buckeye 27-yard line to give the Bobcats their best field position of the day. However, the drive ended after two plays when OSU recovered a Bobcats fumble.
Ohio State registered a safety and a rushing touchdown by Daniel Herron in the third quarter to increase its lead to 43-0.
Led by quarterback Boo Jackson, Ohio put together a scoring drive in the fourth quarter. The drive spanned nine plays, 61 yards and 5:42. The scoring play was an 11-yard pass from Jackson to Terrance McCrae in the corner of the end zone. Jackson registered his 22nd career touchdown pass on the play, putting him in fourth place in Ohio University football history. McCrae’s touchdown grab was the 11th of his career, tying him for fifth place all-time with Scott Mayle (2002-06) and Lou Sawchik (1951-53).
NOTES: The Bobcats will next head to Huntington, West Virginia, where they will face the Marshall Thundering Herd on Saturday, September 25. Kickoff is set for 7 pm.
- Interesting to note: During one first half drive, Pryor completed a six yard pass to wideout Devier Posey. After catching the ball, Posey was tackled near the sideline by his brother wearing Green and White, Ohio’s Julian Posey
- Donovan Fletcher snagged two interceptions, bringing his season (and career) total to three.
- Ohio punter Paul Hershey had an impressive game, netting 274 yards on six punts for an average of 45.7 yards per punt. He pinned the Buckeyes inside their own five-yard line on two separate occasions.
Courtesy of OU Athletics |
