New Mexico State Aggies (3-5, 1-3 WAC)

vs.

No. 17/15 Ohio State Buckeyes (6-2, 4-1 Big Ten)

Saturday, October 31

12:00 p.m. EDT

Ohio Stadium – Columbus, Ohio

Will the real Ohio State football team, please stand up?

Last week’s game against Minnesota was a tale of two halves, and a microcosm of the OSU season. Putting up just seven points in the first half while turning the ball over deep in Gophers territory, Ohio State stormed out of the gate after intermission to post 31 second half points in a 38-7 rout.

Simply put, the Buckeyes have been consistently inconsistent so far this season on offense. In several contests, Ohio State has looked very good, but have struggled in a few games this year as well.

New Mexico State’s opponents are scoring, on average, 28.0 points per game and are yielding 369.5 yards per outing. The statistics below suggest that the Aggies have struggled mightily against the run, as they are surrendering 186.6 rushing yards per game, but are faring a little better against the pass.

This bodes quite well for the Buckeyes, though the status of Boom Herron and Brandon Saine remains unclear. Whether or not either of them plays, quarterback Terrelle Pryor and freshman running back Jordan Hall should have big games against New Mexico State.

The question remains, though, how will Pryor do in the passing department? There is about an 80 percent chance of rain for Saturday, which could mean head coach Jim Tressel calls a lot more running plays even though he would prefer to have a more balance offense.

The bottom line is this, the Buckeyes really need to get off to a good start, in similar fashion to how they played offensively in the second half last Saturday. It would be very benefical for Ohio State to score early and often so the second and third-teamers can get in for the second half because getting out of this game with a win while staying healthy in vitally important for the string of three big games that awaits the Buckeyes starting next week.

Ohio State 41, New Mexico State 3

Tags: Football by Matt Barker, Publisher & Editor of BuckeyeBanter.com
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Right: Coach Tressel speaking to reporters and other bar patrons at Mama’s Pasta & Brew, Tuesday afternoon. (Photo via Crackberry)

It’s that time of the week during football season where I disguise myself as a sports reporter dressed up in a dorky golf shirt and Dockers to crash Jim Tressel’s weekly press conference at the Mama’s Pasta & Brew.

As always, Senator Sweater Vest mentions last week’s player awards before talking about the past game and the upcoming opponent in his opening statements, then the media butt-kissers get a chance to ask him questions.

First, “The Vest” talks about this week’s award winners vs. Minnesota and he starts with the Special Teams Player of the Game which was…

Etienne Sabino. Etienne is on three of our units, made three kickoff tackles inside the 20, he’s done a heck of a job doing whatever needs to be done and keeps progressing as a linebacker as well but he was awarded with the special units player.”

The Defensive Player of the Game was…

…Thaddeus Gibson was the defensive player of the week. Thaddeus is an excellent football player and I think the conference named him as the co-Big Ten defensive player as well. And Thaddeus is a guy that he is constantly at that facility. He is studying film. He’s in that weight room. He’s a committed young guy. He’s a good leader. He’s the only member of the team in my coaching of football class and sits in the front row, so I can report to you from that standpoint. Just a good football player and was very disruptive Saturday against the Gophers.”

…and the Offensive Player of the Game was…

Offensively, Terrelle Pryor was the offensive player. As you know, he threw for 239 and rushed for 100 and some and something that’s only been done three times in our history, which a guy rushing for more than 100 and throwing for more than 200, did an excellent job. He, too, is very committed and at that facility and watching film and exceeding like crazy and was awarded the offensive player of the week.”

Hmm, and the Jim Parker Offensive Lineman of the Game was…

…Jimmy Cordle. Jimmy played tackle, played center. I think he’s played every position except for right guard or something he says and he would like to get a couple snaps there so he can get the trifecta, but it was good getting Jimmy back because we lost Mike Adams and probably won’t have Mike for, I would say, at least two more games. So Jimmy stepped in and Mike Brewster had been limping around for a couple weeks so he took a lot of snaps at center and he’s a smart football player and I’m glad he’s with us.”

…an Attack Force Player of the Game was…

…Doug Worthington. Doug has been steady all season. I think some of the things that defensively our guys went to, to really feature Thaddeus and Doug and what they do best, Dexter Larimore, what he does best, I thought they did a good job of kind of changing their scheme, and Doug, I think, has benefited from that as much as anyone. He’s been a great leader and just a very, very solid football player and he got the attack force player.”

Then Coach T talks about how his team fared offensively against Minnesota:

As you know, the Minnesota game was kind of a tale of two halves. I thought we came out and did some good things in the first half but we didn’t finish things. Got the ball on about the eight-yard line and drove it the length of the field and then came up empty after a missed field goal and later on in the half drove it the length of the field and came up empty with the turnover. So we head into the half with a 7-0 game.”

…and how did your Buckeyes do on the other side of the ball?

Defensively we were playing real solid. I’m sure Minnesota was affected with the loss of Decker, and you hope that he’s not out real long because he’s a great, great player, but then when the second half started, just like we always talk about, the two things we talk about the most which are special teams and turnovers happened on one play. And we chose to go against the wind and see if we could hang tough for the third quarter and then gain that advantage in the fourth quarter and so we decided to pooch it up in the air and see if we could put one up there hard to handle and Aaron Pettrey put a perfect kick up. The guy he was kicking at was actually a defensive end so that guy kind of moved out of the way and the deep guy had an awfully long run in a very difficult kick and we came up with the ball. And our offense was opportunistic which was critical to get in the end zone and we got a couple turnovers and one thing after another and we had a good wind.”

Now for some “coach-speak” on New Mexico State:

New Mexico State is in a transition mode. We’ve played a couple teams that are in that world that with the new coaching staff in the midst of developing relationships within their coaching staff and their team and New Mexico State in particular brought in a number of new players on their team so they’re still growing and trying to figure out who they are and they’ve had two different quarterbacks playing.”

What is your scouting report on New Mexico State’s offense?

We’ve got to prepare ourselves for a group that probably deploys a little bit different than what we’ve been seeing. They’re in two backs, two tights a decent amount. They’re in two tights, two wides. They do spread it out a little bit, but maybe not as much as some teams do it. Two different quarterbacks, two different styles. So our defense has got to be on task as to what needs to be the situation and how we go after them, how we try to affect those quarterbacks.”

Coach, what do the Aggies like to do on defense?

They’re a man-to-man team, pressure receivers, blitz probably, I don’t know, half the time perhaps, and they like to — they like to run, they like to do the things that Coach Walker did when he was the defensive coordinator at UCLA, so we’ve got to prepare ourselves for those types of things. And all the while, we’ve got to keep getting better at the fundamental things that will give us a chance to become a good football team.”

And how’s the health of your team, Jimmy T?

Mike Adams, I would say no to that this week or next week. Dexter Larimore, I would say, we’ll have to see how he does. He’s going to be able to practice some this week. Boom Herron, we’ll have to see this week. I would call him questionable for this week, which I don’t know what that means for next week. Brandon Saine won’t be able to have contact today. It’s just part of the procedure in his type of injury. He’ll be able to have a lot of cardio work and if he progresses there, I’d like to think he’ll be cleared. Orhian Johnson is in a similar situation as Brandon Saine.”

Senator, your Buckeyes are like 40-point favorites to beat NMSU, so are there any possibilities that maybe someone who has been banged up but could play just may sit out as your gear up for those three big games against Penn State, Iowa and Michigan?

Not at all. Not at all. If Brandon Saine is cleared, Brandon’s playing. If Orhian Johnson’s cleared, he’s going to play. If Boom Herron is cleared, he’s going to play. We need — this is an important game, that’s one thing. We need to get better. That’s just as important. So the best chance you have to get better is on Saturdays. Practices are critical. It’s at a certain level, but it’s not at the level that a game is, playing in front of the fans and the excitement and the energy, so, no, if a guy can play, if he’s allowed to play, he’s going to play.”

So Coach, what did you think about Jermil Martin’s play last week and were you able to get a good read on what type of player he is? What is your evaluation on your running backs?

That was the end of the game and emotionally our opponent wasn’t like they were at the beginning of the game, but that doesn’t lessen the fact that he did a good job. We of course feel better about Jermil being in the game now after having seen him carry it seven or eight times. Jordan we’ve always felt fine. Jordan’s a good back. Jamaal Berry might even get some work this week, he’s back on the active full practice roster. So the thoughts of going into the game and it’s Jordan and Jermil, I’m a little nervous about that, that’s awfully thin because what that tells me is that Brandon and Boom aren’t allowed to play. And so you might be thrust into a difficult situation with a guy like Jamaal because he’s a game that’s like what, game eight or nine? Nine? Do you spend a year at this point? The answer’s no if Boom and Brandon and Jordan and Jermil are ready. It all of a sudden we’re down to one of those four, the answer is yes even if it’s game 12, so you have to find out what the situation is.”

Tags: Football by Matt Barker, Publisher & Editor of BuckeyeBanter.com
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Right: Nex Mexico State’s junior running back Seth Smith leads the Aggies with 703 rushing yards. (AP Photo)

On Saturday, Ohio State hosts Western Athletic Conference member, the New Mexico State Aggies, who are currently 3-5 overall and 1-3 in WAC play. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. EDT, and it will be televised on the Big Ten Network.

New Mexico State’s first-year head coach DeWayne Walker was hired away from UCLA last January after being the defensive coordinator for the Bruins the last three seasons. He took over for former coach Hal Mumme, who went 11-38 in his four years guiding the Aggies.

There’s very little history involving the New Mexico State football program. The school has won just four conference championships, the last one coming in 1978 as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. The Aggies also have gone 48 seasons without a postseason bowl invite, which is the longest drought among the 120 Division I-A FBS teams. The last time N.M. State was invited to a postseason game was the 1960 Sun Bowl.

Last season under Mumme, the Aggies were 3-9 and lost their final seven games in a row, which included a 47-2 drubbing at the hands of Utah State in the season finale, who also finished the year 3-9.

Of New Mexico State’s three wins so far this season, the Aggies eked out three-point victories in each, defeating Prairie View A&M 21-18, downed in-state rival New Mexico 20-17, and beat Utah State by the same score. Neither of those three teams, though, currently have winning records.

Of the their five defeats, all have been by 15 points or more. In New Mexico State’s last two games, all losses, the Aggies have been outscored 79-10.

Last Saturday against Fresno State at home, New Mexico State gave up 410 yards of total offense, including 189 on the ground, as Bulldogs won 34-3. The Aggies managed to get just 283 total yards, with 45 of those coming through the air.

The biggest hole Walker has had to fill on offensive is at the quarterback position. Gone from last year’s squad is Chase Holbrook, who threw from 3,361 yards with 25 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, and his backup, J.J. McDermott, who transferred to Southern Methodist.

Battling for the starting QB position has been junior college transfer Jeff Fleming (6-4, 187) and redshirt sophomore Trevor Walls (6-5, 221), though neither of the two had any DI experience coming into this season and neither have played particularly well so far this year.

Fleming has played in eight games and has completed 52 of his 99 passing attempts (52.5%) for 492 yards with two touchdowns and six interceptions. Walls has made appearances in seven games, throwing for 339 yards on 45-of-87 passing (51.7%) with 2 TDs and 5 INTs. Fleming is the more mobile quarterback and has racked up 140 yards rushing in 50 attempts with two scores. Both have made four starts, though Walls is listed as this week’s starter.

Three of the top ground-gainers from a year ago returned, though neither of them either play significant amount of minutes or are even with the team anymore.

Senior running back Marquel Colston (5-9, 205) played in six games and rushed for 249 yards on 60 carries with two touchdowns before he was suspended two weeks ago after being charged with battery against a household member, a third-degree felony, following a fight with his live-in girlfriend.

Junior Seth Smith (5-8, 198), a JUCO transfer from the College of the Sequoias, is the Aggies’ leading rusher with 703 yards on 162 attempts and one TD.

With New Mexico State strruggling in the passing game, the two top receivers have just 18 catches each. Sophomore Todd Lee (5-9, 152) has accounted for 208 yards and senior Marcus Anderson (5-8, 168) has 178 receiving yards. Both have one TD catch.

On defense, the top tacklers include senior linebacker Ross Conner (5-10, 213) and junior linebacker Jason Scott (5-10, 201). Conner leads the team in total tackles with 70, while Scott is second with 67 stops.

Behind the line of scrimmage, a pair of sophomore defensive ends are tops in two statistical categories. Pierre Fils (6-3, 234) leads the Aggies with six sacks, and Donte Savage (6-1, 235) has a team-high 7-1/2 tackles for loss.

Cornerback Davon House (6-0, 178) leads the team with two interceptions.

Tags: Football by Matt Barker, Publisher & Editor of BuckeyeBanter.com
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Right: Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor leaps into the end zone for a touchdown in the third quarter vs. Minnesota. (AP Photo)

It took just a little over 30 minutes and greatly benefited from a muffed kickoff return by Minnesota, but Ohio State’s offense got back on track by scoring 21 third quarter points as the Buckeyes routed the Golden Gophers, 38-7, before 105,011 fans at Ohio Stadium, Saturday afternoon.

Ohio State’s scored the only points of the first half when DeVier Posey got behind Minnesota’s secondary for a 62-yard pitch and catch from Terrelle Pryor during the Buckeyes’ third chance with the pigskin.

After both teams traded punts to begin the game, the Buckeyes marched 78 yards in 18 plays but had to settle for a 30-yard field goal attempt by Aaron Pettrey, which sailed just outside of the left upright as Ohio State came away without any points after having a sustained drive that lasted eight minutes, 44 seconds.

It took two more punts back and forth before the Buckeyes got on the scoreboard as Ohio State needed just two plays to cover 75 yards thanks to the 62-yard pass from Pryor to Posey.

The Buckeyes had one other opportunity to put points on the board late in the first half. Beginning at their own 13 yard line, OSU drove down to the Minnesota 17, but Pryor threw an ill-advised pass that was intercepted at the goal line with 41 seconds left until intermission.

After moving the ball but sputtering once in the red zone during the first half, the Buckeyes had no problems getting the ball across the goal line against a porous Minnesota defense in the third quarter.

On the kickoff to begin the third period, Minnesota’s Troy Stoudermire mishandled the short kick and it was recovered by Ohio State’s Zach Domicone, who advanced it into the end zone. By rule, the Buckeyes retained possession at the Gophers’ 31 yard line, which is a rule I think needs to be changed.

It took Ohio State just three plays to cash in the turnover for seven points as Pryor ran around the right end and leaped into the end zone from 15 yards out to make it a 14-0 game with 13:43 left in the third quarter.

After both teams traded punts once again, Minnesota had the ball at their own 22 to begin their second possession of the second half. The Gophers didn’t have the pigskin long as quarterback Adam Weber was hit behind the line of scrimmage by John Simon and the fumble was recovered by Thaddeus Gibson.

The Buckeyes needed just five plays to go 22 yards as freshman running back Jordan Hall bolted in on a 11-yard TD run as OSU went ahead 21-0 with 6:00 remaining in the third.

Holding Minnesota to a three-and-out on their next possession, Ohio State covered 69 yards in a mere three plays capped off on a 57-yard TD pass from Pryor to a wide-open Posey that made the score 28-0 in favor of the Buckeyes.

Ohio State added another touchdown early in the fourth quarter when freshman running back Jermil Martin barreled his way 39 yards for a score and Pettrey connected on a 44- yard field goal.

Minnesota’s only points came in garbage time against Ohio State’s second and third-teamers as MarQueis Gray hit Stoudermire on a 16-yard strike with 4:15 left to go in the game.

Pryor was able to bounce back from his poor outing against Purdue last week, but he was far from perfect against Minnesota. The sophomore quarterback was 13-of-25 passing for 239 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed for 104 on 15 carries and another score.

Junior running back Brandon Saine had 45 yards on 11 attempts before leaving with an injury midway through second quarter. Hopefully, the Big Ten will review the play that Saine was injured on because he was sitting on the ground when a Minnesota player tried to rip his head off.

After Saine’s injury, Hall had 38 yards on 10 carries and Martin ran for 75 yards on seven attempts. Both had TD runs.

Posey was the Buckeyes’ top receiver, hauling in eight passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns.

Overall, Ohio State had 509 yards of total offense, including 270 yards rushing with 27 first downs.

Defensively, the Buckeyes held Minnesota to 286 yards of total offense. Ross Homan had eight total tackles while Gibson had six stops and three sacks.

Up next, Ohio State hosts New Mexico State, next Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. ET, and the game will be televised on the Big Ten Network.

Tags: Football by Matt Barker, Publisher & Editor of BuckeyeBanter.com
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