Aug. 30, 2008

Second-Ranked Ohio State Flexes Muscles in 43-0 Shutout Of YSU

    Columbus, Ohio -- The Youngstown State football team's inexperience showed at times against No. 2 Ohio State as the Buckeyes gained 495 yards and shut out the Penguins and their 10 first-time starters, 43-0 on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Ohio Stadium.

    Ohio State (1-0) opened the first possession of the game with a touchdown by Heisman Trophy candidate Chris Wells. Wells' rush for 43 yards up the middle, on a fourth-and-one play, gave OSU the early lead early in the first.

    YSU quarterback Todd Rowan, one of the 10 first-time starters, completed his first pass of the game to Ferlando Williams for 5 yards. Jarbari Scott ran for three more yards, but the Guins were forced to punt on fourth and two.

    On the ensuing possession, OSU's Todd Boeckman fired a 47-yard pass to Brian Hartline that gave the Buckeyes a first-and-goal on the next play. Tailback Dan Herron attempted to put OSU was stopped by linebacker Na’eem Outler. After a five-yard penalty for a false start, Boeckman threw two incomplete passes and Ohio State settled for its first field goal of the game by Ryan Pretorius.

    After a three-and-out, OSU freshman Terrelle Pryor stepped in as quarterback for the Buckeyes completing three passes and rushed for a total 16 yards. On third-and-goal defensive end Jaimie Frasure came up with his first career sack for eight yards stopping the Buckeyes' drive.
    OSU was forced to settle for another field goal holding a 13-0 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

    Brandon Summers made his first career appearance as quarterback for YSU, but fumbled the ball on the Guins' 34-yard line after a rush up the middle on the first play of the second quarter. Jermale Hines recovered the ball for the Buckeyes.
    OSU capitalized off the turnover converting another field goal attempt by Pretorius this time from 26 yards to make the score 16-0.

    Boeckman stepped back in as quarterback setting up a series of four quick passes that put the Buckeyes back in field-goal range. Outler broke up the third-down pass attempt and the Buckeyes completed the fourth field goal of the game and went up 19-0.

    Boeckman then launched a deep pass to Brian Robiskie for a 31 yard touchdown pass giving the Buckeyes the 26-0 lead at halftime.

    Rowan completed a nine-yard pass for a first down to Dominique Barns at the start of the third quarter. Scott attempted a rush up the middle, but was stopped for no gain. Da’Michal Horne attempted another rush for the Guins but was stopped for a five yard loss and YSU was forced to punt.

    In the third quarter, the crowd of 105,011 fans held their collective breath when Wells turned his ankle at the four-yard line and fumbled. YSU defensive end Luke Matelan recovered the ball, but Wells had to be assisted to the sidelines. After being taken for x-rays, Wells returned to the field, but did not play. He had 111 yards on 13 carries.

    YSU was forced to punt, and OSU's DeVier Posey caught a pass 25-yard touchdown pass from Boeckman putting OSU up by 33 points with 2:01 left in the third quarter.

    Pryor started the fourth quarter with a sideline pass to Wells for 10 yards to give OSU the first down. Pryor rushed on a quarterback draw for 21 yards and then on the next down for four more yards. Maurice Wells shorted the distance to the goal by 13 more yards while Pryor rushed for an 18-yard touchdown. Pretorius made the point after and OSU went up by 40-0. A 54-yard field goal by back-up kicker Aaron Pettrey concluded the scoring for the Buckeyes.

    YSU had 74 yards of total offense. The Guins had 85 in the air, but were held to minus-11 yard rushing. OSU showed great balance with 251 yards rushing and 244 passing. Rowan was 8-of-13 for 46 yards passing while Summers had 23 yards on three completions.
    The Penguins (0-1) will open Missouri Valley Football Conference play on Saturday on the road against South Dakota State. Game time is set for 7 p.m.