That’s more like it
Right: Terrelle Pryor cruising into the end zone on his 18-yard TD run in the first quarter vs. Michigan State.
AP Photo
For about the first time all season, the offensive play-calling was imaginative, not predictable, the offensive line actually blocked, and Ohio State’s offense finally looked like the well-oiled machine everyone was expecting it to as the Buckeyes defeated Michigan State 45-7 on Saturday.
With the win, Ohio State moved up to No. 10 in both polls, and are ranked ninth in the first BCS standings, setting up a Saturday night showdown at The ‘Shoe against third-ranked Penn State.
Offensively, most of the damage against the Spartans came in the first half as the Buckeyes gained 259 of their 332 yards and scored 28 unanswered points.
Defensively, Ohio State held Michigan State to just 240 yards of total offense and limited Spartans’ running back Javon Ringer to 67 yards on 16 carries. If that’s not impressive enough, the Buckeye D forced five turnovers and scored on two touchdowns on fumble recoveries.
After both teams traded punts to begin the game, Ohio State was able to work with a short field and drive 47 yards in four plays for the first score of the day, an 18-yard run by Terrelle Pryor around the left end virtually untouched.
Three plays into Michigan State’s next possession, Kurt Coleman knocked the ball loose from Keshawn Martin and Donald Washington picked up the fumble and raced 44 yards down to the Spartans’ 17 yard line.
Five plays later Ohio State was up 14-0 when Pryor rolled out to his right, avoided a sack, and lobbed a pass to a wide-open Brian Robiskie in the end zone for the touchdown.
The Buckeye defense held the Spartans to three plays before punting, and once again had a short field to work with starting at their own 43.
It took just two snaps to go the distance as Pryor hit Brian Hartline for a 56-yard pass play and Beanie Wells punched it in from the 1. With 2:11 left in the first quarter, Ohio State was leading 21-0.
The Buckeyes added one more touchdown in the second quarter when Wells ran 12-yards and did the “Beanie Hop” into the end zone with 6:34 left until halftime.
Michigan State got on the board in the third quarter when they took the half’s opening drive and marched 85 yards in eight plays capped off on a three-yard pass from Kirk Cousins to Charlie Gantt.
The Buckeyes added 17 points in the fourth quarter on a 69-yard fumble return for touchdown by Thaddeus Gibson with 14:41 left, a 40-yard field goal by Aaron Pettrey with 5:27 remaining, and Jermale Hines scored on a 48-yard fumble return for TD with just 15 seconds to go in the game.
Beanie Rushed for 140 yards on 31 carries and two touchdowns, and Pryor added 72 more yards on 12 tries and another score. Pryor was also 7-of-11 passing for 116 yards and a TD.
[...] Right: Terrelle Pryor cruising into the end zone on his 18-yard TD run in the first quarter vs. Michigan State. AP Photo For about the first time all season, the offensive play-calling was imaginative, not predictable, the offensive line actually blocked, and Ohio State’s offense finally looked like the well-oiled machine everyone was expecting it to as [...] Go to Source [...]
This is exactly what we needed going into this weeks big game. It was nice to see the play calling get changed up a bit to suit Pryors style as well. Can’t wait for Sat!
For weeks there has been an avalanche of criticism raining down locally on this years OSU team and coaching staff,
Out of the camp, both pregame, and very much post game the Buckeyes told the press they had heard all the complaints and had gotten upset. They came to play hard and silence their critics.
The problem with those comments is this; they prove that the critism was accurate. If outside media pressure and fans calling into talk shows can effect the team this much it makes you wonder where has the multimillion dollar coaching staff been?
Perhaps we all should call these shows the rest of this week and say “prove it for real!!! That you can beat a top ten team and not fold when a team with great line play and several weapons to attack you with invades the Shoe. Prove it two games in a row that you will show up and play not just hard, but, with 100% of what youve got to give”
It will take a near perfect smash mouth effort for Ohio State to beat Penn State. The question is not, can they do it? The true question is this. Will they do it?
It is about time!!! I hope our Bucks play this great against Penn State…
Hey Matt,
Do you think Tresell read my article? HA… Just kidding. Ok I am going to eat that CROW for complaining about our offense. I know that it is only one game, but man it was great to see that! Ok! Now we have our true 2nd bigest game coming up ! Phew PSU looked bad in the 1st half but turned it on in the 2nd. I think Tresell needs to look at that 2nd half adjustment their team made and install that into ours.
Ok over all we looked like an A- on O. Maybe a B+ because of our throwing. However, we didn’t need it so A+++++++++++ for how awesome we were!
What do you think for next week. GO BUCKS. If we win we better move up to #1. I hate Texas and all other non OHIO STATE TEAMS. HAHAH…