First reactions to Ohio State’s 20-13 victory over Northern Illinois.
By PAUL GOTHAM
COLUMBUS, OH — If the sign of a good team is one which wins when not playing at its best, then Urban Meyer’s Ohio State Buckeyes should plan a return to the national championship game. One week after an unconvincing victory (if such a thing is possible in a 38-0 game. Although they did score 21 points in the fourth quarter), Ohio State endured a choppy offensive performance en route to a 20-13 victory over the Northern Illinois Huskies.
How did it happen
Ohio State scored 17 straight to erase a seven-point deficit and win for the 16th straight time.
Play of the Game
Clinging to a three-point edge late in the third quarter, Darron Lee picked an Andrew Hare screen pass and rumbled 41 yards to the house for a 20-10 Buckeye lead. Oddly, Lee’s scamper represented the longest play of the day.
Flipping the script
NIU’s Drew Hare entered play completing 78.1 percent (50-for-64) of his passes with six touchdowns and ZERO interceptions. Ohio State came into the game tops in the nation scoring at least three TDs in the last 31 games (Baylor is second at 18). Hare completed 14-of-31 passes on the day with zero touchdowns and two interceptions. Ohio State found the end zone twice and one of those was the previously mentioned Lee pick 6.
Second-half dominance
The Buckeyes have outscored their three opponents (Virginia Tech, Hawai’i and Northern Illinois) in the third quarter by a combined tally of 27-0. This is part of an overall second half margin of 62-10.
Get off my island
NIU’s Kenny Golladay came into the game ranked second in the nation with a total of 357 yards on 17 catches. Saturday, Golladay managed three grabs for 19 yards. Gareon Conley was a big part of the reason for this. Conley registered just one stat all day – a fourth quarter pass break up. The sophomore corner finished with the loudest possible one-stat day. His single coverage on Golladay kept the wide out from getting into a rhythm with his quarterback. Conley’s was part of an overall effort in which the Buckeyes held their opponent to less than 100 yards through the air for the second straight week.
Century Man
Ezekiel Elliott gained more than 100 yards on the ground for the eighth straight time dating back to last season. The junior rushed for 108 yards on 23 carries. And then there was this:
?DOUBLE TAKE? @EzekielElliott ?? #GoBucks #niuvsosu pic.twitter.com/K1PdbeOnru
— Brutus Buckeye (@Brutus_Buckeye) September 19, 2015
WOOP, woop, woop, woop, woop…….
Turnovers, penalties and botched snaps
Aye caramba. The Buckeyes threw three interceptions, committed six penalties and had at least two botched snaps. Hard to wrap the brain how this is still happening to a talented squad, but so be it. Hard not to gnash the teeth from time to time.
Lurry’s big day
NIU’s Shawun Lurry finished with two tackles, two interceptions and two pass break ups. His first pick of the day and subsequent 33-yard run back to the Ohio State 22 on the fourth play of the game set up the Huskies’ first touchdown. His pass break up on fourth down play late in the second quarter helped Northern Illinois take a 10-10 game into the locker room at halftime.
Cue the irony
Lee (41-yard INT return) and Lee (33-yard return) notched the longest plays of the day.
Lest we forget
This is not a surprise from Northern Illinois nor the Mid-American Conference. Just last weekend Toledo won at Arkansas, and Bowling Green at Maryland.
They said it
Meyer: “So the best thing about 3-0 is a chance to go 4-0. And ever since last year, the end of last season, our defense was playing exceptionally well. I think they held that out to whatever yards they did, well below their average. And five turnovers on offense, that’s exceptional play by our defense.
“So I know there’s going to be a million questions about the offense. And there should be. There’s a little discombobulation that’s got to get worked out, and we’ve got good players, good coaches, good scheme.”
Looking ahead
Ohio State hosts the MAC’s Western Michigan next weekend.
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