Ohio State’s 118th season of college football lifted off with a solid, if non-descript victory over Youngstown State. It was the Buckeyes’ first ever matchup with a team from Division 1-AA (formally known now as the Division 1 Football Championship Subdivision for those of you who wish to waste keystrokes or your own oxygen calling it that). This first-ever meeting between the two schools was also the first time OSU has played a season opener against a team it has never met since waxing Wyoming in 1997.
105,038 fans filled Ohio Stadium on a picture-perfect day weather-wise. Saturday was the debut for the Big Ten Network, so those lucky ticket holders didn’t have to worry about sucking up to whomever of their friends has Direct TV, lining up outside a sports bar before sunrise to get a seat, or being relegated to watching the game on the radio.
After holding the Penguins to a three-and-out when Doug Worthington and Kurt Coleman teamed up to stuff tailback Jabari Scott on a third-and-one play, Todd Boeckman made his debut as Troy Smith’s successor. He and Brian Robiskie played pitch-and-catch on OSU’s first three plays, eating up chunks of 15, 42 and 7 to move the football to the YSU 6. But a red flag (OK, maybe scarlet) began to work its way up the pole as Chris Wells could only manage 2 yards on two totes. Boeckman leaned his 6’5" frame into the line to gain a first down, but Wells was promptly halted twice more to bring up 3rd-and-goal. Boeckman went back to the air and threaded the needle to Dane Sanzenbacher in the back of the endzone from three yards out for the season’s first points. It was the third year in a row that the Buckeyes had produced a TD pass on their initial drive of the season, matching Troy Smith-to-Ted Ginn, Jr. against Northern Illinois last year and Justin Zwick to Santonio Holmes vs. Miami in ’05.
After an exchange of punts, Lawrence Wilson barreled in to drop Penguin QB Tom Zetts for a loss of 10, pinning YSU back at their own 10. Ben Nowicki’s punt was partially blocked by Tyler Moeller, giving the Buckeyes primo field position at Y-State’s 27. With the second team offensive line getting some early work thanks to the short-yardage difficulties on the opening drive, freshman tailback Brandon Saine popped through the middle for 17 yards on his first carry as a Buckeye, bowling over safety Vince Gliatta in the process. Saine pounded for 5, then 4 to the YSU 6. The Bucks got a gift first down as the Penguins were whistled for illegal substitution, but then the second-teamers ran into rough waters as Saine and Chris Wells could only manage two of the needed three yards to paydirt. The teams switched ends of the field and C-Dub finally hammered over on third-and-goal for the touchdown. It was reminiscent of the Northern Illinois opener last year, when Wells scored his first collegiate touchdown on the opening play of the second quarter that day. This tally, the eighth of his career, put OSU up 14-0.
Sophomore Rob Schoenhoft saw his first action of ’07 on the Buckeyes’ next series, and made a nice scramble for 16 to move the sticks, but he couldn’t get the air game going and Youngstown State took over at their 15.
Jordan Edwards came on to play tailback for the Penguins, and got the drive jumpstarted with an 18-yard gain on a screen pass. Zetts made one of his nicest throws of the afternoon to Da’Michael Horne for 25 yards, converting a 3rd-and-6 and moving the ball into OSU territory for the first time. But the play was costly for Ohio State as junior defensive end Lawrence Wilson, going for the sack, broke the tibia in his right leg when his lower leg swung and hit someone else’s leg in the pileup. In his postgame news conference, coach Jim Tressel speculated that Wilson would probably be done for six to eight weeks, although he would be eligible for a medical redshirt if he sits out the year.
Youngstown State, getting good groundwork from Edwards and Zetts, advanced to the OSU 4, but on third-and-goal Zetts overthrew tight end Derrick Bush, whom he had wide open in the endzone. Brian Palmer booted a 21-yard field goal to get Y-State on the board and they now trailed 14-3.
The Bucks answered right away with the same formula that had worked wonders on the opening march. Boeckman and Brian Robiskie hooked up for 9, 28 and 13, setting up first down at the YSU 24. It looked like the drive would stall as Boeckman was sacked for a loss of 7 by tackle Torrance Nicholson, but safety Bob Perez was flagged for interference on a 3rd-and-17 pass to Brian Hartline, giving OSU a spot-foul first down at the 21. Mo Wells then took a screen pass to the left, and used excellent blocking from Ben Person, Jimmy Cordle and Hartline to motor down to the Penguin 2. Mo obviously isn’t going to get as many carries as Beanie, and he may not be as fast as Brandon Saine, but he sure is fun to watch in the open field. Chris Wells got the rock but was stood up at the 1 by linebacker Roshon Simons. After a Buckeye timeout, presumably to find out if the goal-line offense was going to wake up, Saine bulled over the right side for his first career touchdown. Ryan Pretorious, who won the placekicking battle from Aaron Pettrey in fall camp, tacked on his third PAT and OSU took the 21-3 lead in at halftime.
Anderson Russell, who it was nice to see again in the defensive backfield, broke off a nice 29-yard return on the second-half kickoff out to the OSU 37. Fullback Dionte Johnson was whistled for two false starts on the drive, so he was pulled. Working without a lead blocker, Chris Wells fired through on his longest run of the day, spinning for 21 yards to the YSU 32. Boeckman and “Robo” continued their productive partnership, teaming up for 24 on an out-and-up to the Penguin 9. They should have just gone for something deeper, because once again the redzone offense bogged down. Boeckman overshot tight end Rory Nicol in the endzone, then tried to run the same play to Dane Sanzenbacher that had worked for the first TD, but Roshon Simons read it and almost picked it off. Pretorious banged through the first field goal of the season from 24 yards out, extending Ohio State’s advantage to 24-3, then got his first touchback of the year on the ensuing kickoff.
YSU couldn’t get anything going and punted, but the Penguins got it right back as Vince Gliatta leveled Boeckman two plays later, forcing a fumble that nose tackle Jon Penick pounced on at OSU’s 27. But the defense responded, holding two running plays to three yards, then almost getting an interception from Anderson Russell. Brian Palmer knocked through his second field goal of the game from 41 yards away, making it 24-6.
Just as they had done after Palmer’s first field goal, the Scarlet and Gray offense responded. Mixing the running of Mo Wells with completions to 'Robo' and tight end Jake Ballard, the Bucks moved to the Penguin 22. Then more sloppiness as Ohio State was penalized back-to-back for illegal substitution and a false start. YSU let the Buckeyes off the hook with a pass interference penalty, but OSU couldn’t stand good fortune as a Brandon Saine touchdown run was called back on a hold. Brian Hartline made up most of the penalty yardage with an 18-yard snag, and a couple of runs by Saine had OSU knocking at the door from the YSU 1 as the third period ended.
Saine was, naturally, stood up for no gain on the first play of quarter four, so Boeckman went to the air and dialed up reserve fullback Trever Robinson for the touchdown. On an afternoon that would see three true freshmen get their first touchdowns in Scarlet and Gray, it was great to see Robinson, a fifth-year senior and former walk-on, have a moment in the sun. Pretorious’ extra-point upped the count to 31-6.
Youngstown State rang up a couple of first downs on their next drive, but backup quarterback Ferlando Williams, who was listed as a wide receiver on the roster, was chased by Robert Rose and brought down by Austin Spitler for a loss of 12 to fizzle things out. Ben Nowicki got off a 42-yard punt, pinning the Bucks at their own 12.
Third-string quarterback Antonio Henton entered the game, and if it wasn’t for the number 7 on his jersey, you would have thought Troy Smith had never left. Not only do Henton’s mannerisms remind you of last year’s Heisman winner, but it didn’t take long for the Buckeye offense to 'drive, drive on down the field'. Mo Wells steamed down the west sideline for 26, and a late hit gave OSU a gift 15 to the YSU 47. The law firm of 'Wells and Wells', first Mo, then Chris, worked the ball to the 37. Henton had Sanzenbacher open down the middle on a slant that might have gone for a score, but Dane couldn’t get the handle on it. No problem- Henton found freshman Taurian Washington open on the next play, and when the backside safety slipped, Washington took it the distance for six. Pretorious capped off a perfect day with his fifth extra point, providing the final margin of 38-6.
Todd Boeckman’s first start was a good one- 17 of 23 passing for 225 yards and two scores with no picks. Brian Robiskie established career highs with his nine receptions and 153 receiving yards.
Ohio State will welcome in Akron for a 12 Noon tussle this Saturday in Columbus, once again on the Big Ten Network. Youngstown State hosts South Dakota State in a primetime matchup on the Gateway Conference Network. Check your local listings!
RANDOM THOUGHTS- The season’s second AP poll will be released today, later than usual due to last night’s Florida State/Clemson game. Don’t look too high up for Michigan. OSU’s remaining opponents went 8-3 over this opening weekend. Eight true freshmen found the field Saturday, including defensive tackle Cameron Heyward, son of the late Craig “Ironhead” Heyward, who was called on after Lawrence Wilson’s injury.
(11)Ohio State 38 Youngstown State 6
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VS
September 1st, 2007
Ohio Stadium
Columbus, OH
Attendance 105,038
