First Half
Maryland won the toss at the beginning of the game and they deferred to give the Buckeyes the opening possession of the game. J.T. Barrett took the Buckeyes 70 yards on just 9 plays on 4 for 5 attempts before running it in from the 2-yard line to put the Buckeyes up 7-0.
On the first Maryland possession, it only lasted 3 plays and 1:31 minutes long. The Buckeye defense pressured Bortenschlager and Nick Bosa blew by the Terps linemen for a strip sack that led to the Buckeyes first defensive touchdown of the season courtesy of Jerome Baker.
The Special Teams play, Urban Meyer’s baby constantly hurts the Buckeyes. Ty Johnson swung the momentum in their favor as he took it to the house from 100 yards out to cut the Buckeye lead in half.
Barrett gets the Buckeyes back on track as he completes a swing pass to Mike Weber that ended at the Maryland 12-yard line before hitting Binjimen Victor on a skinny post in traffic for another touchdown, but unfortunately, due to a fumbled snap on the extra point attempt, the Buckeyes couldn’t extend the lead much more. The Buckeyes still lead 20-7.
Ohio State was the victim of the much-hated targeting penalty that earned Denzel Ward a trip to the Buckeyes locker room. Appearing much worse than it was, Ward appeared to be well within the target zone, but to no avail. A missed opportunity and a bad call that cost the Buckeyes another turnover and a starter on defense, but they have more talent waiting in the wings for their opportunity to show their worth.
Another starter, this time starting RG Brandon Bowen suffered a lower leg injury during an offensive play, which seemed to kill the momentum and the rhythm. It had ill effects on the Buckeyes as it resulted in another Special Teams gaffe as Munford and Pridgeon let a defender through for the block.
Once again, the Buckeyes stand up and defend their home turf as they turn away the Maryland offense once again, this time it was on a 4th and 5 attempt. On the next Buckeye possession, J.K. Dobbins uncharacteristically coughed the ball up as Chandler Burkett rocked him on his rushing attempt. Like clockwork, Ohio States defense does their job once again to force another punt.
The momentum not in the Buckeyes favor as they are forced to punt for the first time, but Chrisman shanked it inside of their 50 yard line to give Maryland possession in Buckeye territory, but Big Play Baker showed up to the party and sacked Bortenschlager on 4th down to stop the Terps offense
J.T. Barrett drove the ball down the field with his stable of running backs before finding Marcus Baugh tip-toeing on the sideline for a 10-yard touchdown to put the Buckeyes up 27-7.
The Buckeyes with some trickery after forcing another Maryland punt as they hand the ball off to Dobbins before he did the same for Campbell as he took it for 24-yards on the reverse to extend the Buckeye lead to 34-7., for a 24 rushing score to extend the Buckeyes lead to 34-7.
The Buckeye defense stiffened up and gave Barrett the ball on the 50-yard line. Hill actually returned it for a touchdown but a block in the back by Riep cost them. Barrett drove 50 yards to add another score when he found Austin Mack with 10 seconds left to extend the halftime lead to 41-7.
The defense has been the star of the game so far and going into halftime, the smothering defense held the Terps to 26 total yards, which is so far, a good sign for this team looking ahead.
Second Half
The second half picked up where the first left off as Ohio State started with a kickoff out of bounds, another Special Teams penalty. In obvious distress over the error, Urban looks to the ground in disbelief. Tyquan Lewis shuts down Bortenschlager as he sacks him on 3rd and long, which is their fourth sack of the day.
Barrett takes the opening second-half possession and takes the first play 35 yards to the Maryland 22 yard line, but Nuerenberger missed the easy field goal for another miss on Special Teams.
The Maryland offense couldn’t muster up any points as they forfeit the ball on another punt. Barrett and Weber punished the Terps on an 11 play drive that went for 65 yards before Weber punched in his fourth touchdown of the season.11 plays 65 yard drive that resulted in another Buckeye touchdown.
Maryland seemed to be clicking but Chase Young got the strip sack on Bortenschalger, then Cornell recovered the ball. Dobbins took the first touch for 14-yards to the Maryland 13 before juking a Terp before punching it in for more Buckeye points–Buckeyes lead 55-7.
Another Buckeyes was ejected by another targeting penalty, so next week at Nebraska Damon Arnette will be out for the first half of the game.
Maryland back-up running back Leake punched it in on 4th and short to cut into the insurmountable lead, but the Buckeyes still lead 62-14. The game ends with the same result, but there are still a few improvements that need to be made.
Next week they visit Nebraska which will be another opportunity to show how much they have grown. With Arnette being unavailable in the first half, the players after him need to be ready, and Special Teams needs to be on point. Enjoy the win, Go Bucks!
i really thought this would be a much closer game but superior athletes prevailed. The team really has a lack of leadership and against more equal opposition hopefully some players will stepup into that role. Barrett shows little emotion eitherway. Penn State looks like the team to beat in the B1G.