Bucks’ run roughshod over Illini
Right: Beanie Wells bullies his way past Dere Hicks in Ohio State’s 30-20 win over Illinois. (AP Photo)
I am having a hard time figuring out this game. On one hand, Terrelle Pryor and Beanie Wells combined to rush for 243 yards on 37 carries and two touchdowns, but on the other hand, the Ohio State’s defense surrendered 455 yards of total offense to Illinois, which is a season-high.
Sure, after Malcolm Jenkins blocked Anthony Santella’s punt and the ball sailed through the end zone for a safety giving Ohio State a 9-7 lead with 1:10 left in the first quarter, the Buckeyes never trailed.
Following a very short free kick, Ohio State needed just five plays to go 43 yards to take a 16-7 advantage after Beanie plowed in from the three yard line just 45 seconds into the second quarter. The Buckeyes held a two-score lead the rest of the way.
And Christmas did come early for Ohio State. The Buckeyes scored 14 first-half points off turnovers, which included OSU’s first touchdown after Illinois’ quarterback Juice Williams fumbled at the Illini 19 yard line and was recovered by Nader Abdallah. Five plays later Pryor hit paydirt on a QB keeper from the one yard line.
With the Buckeyes leading 16-7 in the second quarter, Kurt Coleman intercepted a Williams’ pass at the Illinois’ six yard line. That resulted in a six play, 76-yard scoring drive that was capped off on a 20-yard pass play from Pryor to Dane Sanzenbacher that put Ohio State ahead 23-7 with 6:30 left until halftime.
Illinois managed just two Matt Eller field goals the rest of the half and trailed Ohio State 23-13 at intermission.
The Buckeyes returned one of the gifts on their first possession of the second half when Beanie fumbled at the Illini 18 yard line, but neither team did much with the pigskin in the third quarter.
Ohio State put the game out of reach when Boom Herron scored on a 12-yard run 11:55 left to play in the game.
During that possession, the Buckeyes faced a third-and-4 at the Illini 49 and Pryor’s pass to Sanzenbacher fell incomplete, but Illini safety Donsay Hardeman was flagged for a helmet-to-helmet personal foul penalty that kept the drive alive. Three plays later, Herron’s touchdown made it 30-13.
But still, Illinois outgained Ohio State 455-354, and had 25 first downs to the Buckeyes’ 16.
Numbers in Ohio State’s favor include 305 rushing yards to Illinois’ 214, and time of possession went the Buckeyes way. Overall, OSU had a 33:50-26:10 advantage, which includes having the ball for 19:47 in the second half.
With Ohio State running the ball so well, Pryor threw just 10 passes and completed six of them for 49 yards.
Beanie finished with 143 yards rushing on 24 carries and Terrelle added 110 in 13 attempts. It was the first time since Antonio Pittman had 171 and Troy Smith had 127 vs. Iowa on Sept. 24, 2005, that two backs had more than 100 yards on the ground.
Defensively, Coleman recorded a career-high 11 tackles while James Laurinaitis and Marcus Freeman both had eight.
Granted, Illinois had the top passing offense in the Big Ten going into the game, but Ohio State’s defense is going to have to tighten a few things up next week.
Speaking of next, Ohio State hosts Michigan at Ohio Stadium on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m., and it will be televised on ABC.
Well obviously Illinois was way off center on offense and they gave away this game. It is a good thing because on the defense side OSU’s D was very erratic all day. It was like the D went on cruise control and just played a containment game very uninspired.
I think Tressels moods of going into ultra conservative, play not to lose, thinking that can be contagious. Often Ohio State seems to pull back and quit playing aggressive over powering smash mouth ball. I blame Tressel and his low key plain vanilla approach for these lapses in the teams lack of a killer instinct.
When I think of all games played by this 2008 team so far I rate The OSU D squad with a “B-minus” average for the year. Offensivily it’s a “C-plus” at best.
Ohio State should win this week by 30 plus points minmum. But will they?
If the Buckeyes struggle and win by 10 points against the Blue, and then, again look awful and get out classed in their bowl appearance I wonder how the majority of us “fans” will react.
Right now I see no reason to believe Ohio State could hang with any of the top ten nationally ranked teams. I said 3 weeks ago I ranked this years team no better than 18th nationally. I have seen nothing to change my opinion.
Good football team, but, not a powehouse team at all. If they keep having just an average performance in this weeks game a potential post season matchup against Alabama in the Sugar Bowl really worries me.