Ohio (1-2) was filled with energy heading into its week three matchup at Ohio State (3-0), after a big win at home against West Virginia. Despite the team’s intensity, the Bobcats lost 37-9 to the Buckeye’s intense offense.
The Buckeyes started fast on the opening drive, as wide receiver Jeremiah Smith had a combined 52 yards and set Ohio State up in the red zone. Ohio did not surrender a point to the nation’s number one team on its first drive, however, with a stand inside the five after a fourth-and-goal sack from Anas Luqman.
Ohio did not make much of its first possession and punted after only gaining one first down on the drive. Ohio State capitalized by driving down the field with a mix of run and pass, but Ohio was able to once again tighten up in its own end, limiting Ohio State to a 38-yard field goal to go up 3-0.
The Bobcats' offense stalled on drive two as they struggled to run the ball, which became a theme for the night as Ohio ran for just 68 yards on the night.
“We try to put ourselves into situations where we can be really efficient, which allows us to control the clock,” Ohio head coach Brian Smith said. “We were in way too many third longs, which isn't a place I don't think anyone really wants to be.”
That resulted in another punt and great field position for the Buckeyes, who made quick work and found wide receiver Carnell Tate on a 30-yard reception to the Ohio 35-yard line. Ohio State was again held up inside the five by Ohio after a stellar open-field tackle by senior safety Adonis Williams Jr. The Buckeyes had to settle for another field goal after the effort.
Down 6-0, Ohio’s offense looked sharper, even converting on fourth down, but eventually ended up punting the ball back to Ohio State. The Buckeyes were hungry for more points, and it was only a matter of time before they found them. They did so on an eight-play drive that ended on a 16-yard strike to tight end Max Klare for a score, bringing the Buckeyes up 13-0.
Ohio got the ball back, but Ohio State utilized its timeouts and got the ball again just after the two-minute warning. The clock management was all for naught as Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin was intercepted by Ohio graduate student cornerback Michael Mack II.
The Bobcats looked to get on the board before the break. They tried a field goal with little time remaining. The kick was drilled by redshirt sophomore kicker Brack Peacock to cut the lead to 13-3 heading into halftime.
Ohio came out of the tunnel fast as Graduate student quarterback Parker Navarro found junior wide receiver Chase Hendricks on a run-pass-option, and he took it all the way for the 67-yard touchdown to make it 13-9.
“I knew we needed a spark coming out of halftime, and I knew we got the ball, so when coach called a play, and I saw it was man, I was like, just go win, go make a play," said Hendricks. “Parker threw it up, made a play. And as I'm running down the sideline, I'm thinking just score.”
Ohio State bounced right back as freshman running back Bo Jackson took off for 64 yards to open the next drive. The Buckeyes had a CJ Donaldson touchdown called back and had to once again settle for three.
The Bobcats got the ball back, trailing 16-9 and in perfect striking distance, but they did not take advantage and had to punt it back to the Buckeyes, who worked quickly this time, scoring in four plays.
The Buckeyes found the endzone on a 47-yard touchdown pass from Sayin to Smith to extend the lead to 23-9 in the middle of the third quarter. The Bobcats responded with a strong play as Navarro hit senior tight end Jake Bruno for 16 yards. However, the drive would not go much further as Ohio punted after the next set of downs.
“I think struggling on early downs on offense put us in some bad situations,” Smith said. “I think that they had some explosive plays in the second half that got the game away from us.”
Ohio State began its next drive working methodically, going on a drive that lasted four minutes before Carnell Tate beat the Ohio secondary and caught a 49-yard touchdown.
Ohio State got the ball back again after a short Ohio series, but did not have it long. Sayin threw his second interception of the night, this one to sophomore defensive tackle Austin Mitchell. Ohio did not make use of the turnover as it could not convert on fourth down and the ball went back to Ohio State.
“Well, you're stealing possessions, sometimes you're putting yourselves in a better field position to flip on your opponent," Smith said. “Anytime you do get a turnover, you would love for it to turn into points. I don't think we did that today."
Ohio State ate away at some of the clock before some trickery to find the endzone. Smith was given the ball on an end-around to score from 17 yards out. That closed the door on this one with Ohio falling 37-9.
