First thoughts on Ohio State’s Big Ten home-opening win over Maryland.
By PAUL GOTHAM
COLUMBUS, OHIO — Zeke Elliott netted 153 all-purpose yards, Braxton Miller re-emerged, and the Ohio State Buckeyes shook off a scare to defeat the Maryland Terrapins in the Big Ten home opener in front of 107,869 on Saturday.
Zeke’s train
Elliott came into the game with a ten-game streak rushing for 100 yards or more. Make that 11. The junior tailback continued the streak with a 16-yard run for his second touchdown of the game and 10th of the season. Elliott finished with 106 net yards on 21 carries.
Living and dying by the sword
Zeke highlighted a big-play offense a week ago which registered 10 plays from scrimmage of 20 yards or more. The junior tailback scored on runs of 75, 65 and 55 in the 34-27 win at Indiana. Maryland turned the tables and took advantage of Ohio State’s aggressive defense Saturday,. When the Buckeyes bit on play action, Perry Hills and D.J. Moore connected on a 52-yard pass play on the Terps first drive. Hills later rumbled 75 yards on a play that is best described this way.
Perry Hills goes Zander Diamont on Ohio State D, 75 yards straight up gut to OSU 3, then goes final 3 next play. MD cuts OSU lead to 21-14.
— Tim May (@TIM_MAYsports) October 10, 2015
Ohio State registered six plays of 20 or more yards including Cardale Jones and Jalin Marshall hooking up for a 48-yard pass.
Going for it
Cardale Jones and Braxton Miller connected on back-to-back passing plays to give Ohio State a 21-7 midway through the second quarter. Miller’s 19-yard reception was made possible by a fourth down conversion from the Buckeyes own 30. Zeke rushed over the left end for two yards.
Q-Threat
Jones completed a career-high 21 passes for a career-best 291 yards and a rating of 185.9. The clincher came from J.T. Barrett in the red zone. Barrett rushed for 65 yards on 12 carries and completed both of his passes. He finished with a career-high three touchdowns.
Speaking of the red zone
The Buckeyes converted all six of their opportunities inside the 20. Add to that zero turnovers on the day and Ohio State’s offense turned its most efficient outing of the season thus far. A far cry from the past three games which saw the Buckeyes committing multiple turnovers (Indiana-two lost fumbles, Western Michigan-two interceptions, Northern Illinois-two lost fumbles and three interceptions).
Second-half domination
After giving up a touchdown on the opening drive coming out of the locker room, the Buckeyes scored 28 straight to put the game out of reach. Ohio State entered play outscoring opponents 94-33 in the second half.
Miller time
After collecting just three receptions for 18 yards and five rushes for 25 yards over the last two games, Miller churned out 90 all-purpose yards with a season-high five receptions 79 yards and three rushes for 11.
#SaveEdsall
So much for being 33-point dogs. The Terps gained 69 in nine plays on the first drive of the second half to tie the score at 21. No coach has a hotter seat than Maryland’s Randy Edsall, and Maryland played like they were trying to save their coach’s job. Hills did not play last week. He rushed for 206 yards and threw for another 133.
Consistency
Michael Thomas hauled in another seven receptions to run his streak to 22 games with at least one catch. The junior wide out has 27 receptions on the season.
Coming up
Ohio State will host Penn State next week.
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