Just over 75,000 fans ventured into Ohio Stadium for the last game that will feature a natural grass playing surface, and to soak up the abundant sunshine while watching some stellar defensive plays.

But if you were one of the many who was hoping to see one of the three quarterbacks step up to become the front-runner for the starting job, you probably left disappointed.

The Gray team defeated the Scarlet squad, 17-9, in a game that featured two defensive touchdowns to just one scored by an offensive unit.

Both teams combined for a mere 389 yards of total offense in 99 plays from scrimmage, though there were three, 12-minute quarters, and the fourth quarter began with 10 minutes on the game clock.

The three quarterbacks, junior Todd Boeckman, sophomore Ron Schoenhoft, and redshirt freshman Antonio Henton were in a word, unspectacular.

The Scarlet squad drew first blood when linebacker Marcus Freeman picked off a Henton pass and raced 49 yards for a touchdown.

Ryan Pretorius’ PAT was blocked by redshirt freshman defensive tackle Dexter Larimore and the score was 6-0 in favor of the Scarlet with 8:44 left in the first quarter.

The only other scoring in the first half came when Pretorius drilled a 37-yard field goal with 11:44 remaining until intermission that put the Scarlet squad ahead 9-0.

Arguably the best sustained drive of the afternoon netted zero points.

After taking over on downs at the 18-yard line, the Gray team drove 78 yards in 12 plays, thanks in part from the help of punter A.J. Trapasso.

Faced with a fourth-and-11 at the Gray 39 yard line, Trapasso rushed around the left end on a fake punt for a gain of 16 yards and a first down.

On the very next play, Schoenhoft connected with junior wide receiver Devon Lyons down the middle for a gain of 39 yards that put the ball on the Scarlet 6.

After two running plays by tailback Maurice Wells netted two yards, Schoenhoft threw two incompletions as the Gray team turned the ball back over to the Scarlet squad on downs.

The Gray team got the ball right back five plays later when junior defensive end Alex Barrow intercepted a Henton pass at the Scarlet 23 yard line.

Unable to move the ball in three tries, the Gray team settled for a 40-yard field goal by Aaron Pettrey that trimmed Scarlet’s lead down to 9-3 with 9:47 left in the game.

The only offensive touchdown was scored by the Gray team following a short punt by John Thoma that put the ball at midfield.

In eight plays, Schoenhoft was 3-of-4 passing for 32 yards, including a six-yard strike to tight end Brandon Smith for a touchdown.

Pettrey’s successful PAT try put the Gray team ahead 10-9 with 5:24 remaining.

The Scarlet squad, led by Boeckman, began their next drive on their own 20 yard line, and advanced the ball into position for a possible game-winning field goal.

On a second-and-6 at the Gray 13 yard line, linebacker Larry Grant came around the right side and hit Boeckman hard, forcing and recoving a fumble before racing 80 yards for a touchdown with 30 seconds left to play.

In the battle of the quarterbacks, Boeckman completed 6-of-14 passes for 103 yards for the Scarlet squad, but was sacked twice and lost a fumble.

Playing for both teams, Schoenhoft was a combined 7-of-15 for 83 yards with a lost fumble, while Henton was 8-for-16 for 45 yards, but threw three interceptions.

Junior tailback Maurice Wells led the Gray team in rushing with 48 yards in 14 attempts. The Scarlet squad was led by sophomore Joe Gantz, who had 10 rushes for 36 yards.

Sophomore running back Chris “Beanie” Wells did not play due to a sprain ankle, but figures to be “The Man” on offense this fall.

The top receiver on the day was Lyons, who hauled in three passes for 72 yards.

For this game, the Buckeyes wore “VT” stickers on the left side of their helmets. There was also a moment of silence before the game for the 32 victims of Monday’s massacre at Virginia Tech.

On Sunday, the natural grass will be rolled up in preparation for the new artificial FieldTurf surface that should be in place at Ohio Stadium by June.

Tags: Buckeye Football //