Ohio State vs. Rutgers 2016 final score, with 3 things to know from OSU’s 58-0 win
Ian Cuevas via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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The Buckeyes cruised to an easy win over Rutgers after a slow start.
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After a long bye week following Ohio State’s big win at Oklahoma, the Buckeyes were finally on the football field once again, this time hosting Big Ten opponent Rutgers. The last time the Scarlet Knights were in Columbus, Urban Meyer’s squad cruised to an easy win. It was much the same on Saturday, as Ohio State rolled once again, shaking off a slow start.
Rutgers would start the game with the football but after a few first downs would eventually have to punt. The Buckeyes would move the ball on the ground well but after a deflection on a J.T. Barrett pass, the ball was intercepted and the Scarlet Knights would take over once again. After a failed drive, Ohio State would strike first late in the first quarter when Barrett would step up in the pocket and deliver a pass to Dontre Wilson who would find the endzone. The Buckeyes would miss the extra point, but went up 6-0.
On Ohio State’s next drive a 49-yard burst through the middle by Mike Weber would set up a Tyler Durbin field goal to put the Buckeyes up 9-0 early in the second quarter. After another stop from the defense, Ohio State would drive down the field and convert a fourth down in the red zone. A few plays later, J.T. Barrett found Terry McLaurin in the endzone with a great catch to put Ohio State up 16-0. A quick three and out by Rutgers on its next possession would set up great field position for the Buckeyes. After a couple of plays, Barrett would break the all-time school passing touchdown record by hitting tight end Marcus Baugh putting Ohio State up 23-0.
If that wasn’t enough, another stop by the Buckeyes defense would allow Ohio State’s offense to run a nearly perfect two-minute drill and eventually Barrett would add to his excellent day by throwing a short dart to Curtis Samuel for another touchdown. The Buckeyes would go up 30-0 right before the end of the first half.
It didn’t take long for Ohio State to strike. J.T. Barrett would make a nice read and hand the ball off to Mike Weber for a 46-yard touchdown run. That would put the Buckeyes up 37-0 early in the third quarter. Another stop by the defense would set up Ohio State nicely as Barrett drove his squad down the field until Parris Campbell took a reverse near the goal line and rushed into the endzone to put Ohio State on top 44-0. Campbell’s touchdown was the first of his career.
After Barrett came out of the game, Joe Burrow would hand the ball to Demario McCall would house his first carry of the afternoon for 20 yards into the endzone. Ohio State would up its lead to 51-0. McCall took advantage of his time on the field as the next time the Buckeyes had the ball he burst to the outside for a 39-yard run to set Ohio State up in the redzone. Several plays later, Burrow would hand it off to Johnnie Dixon who would fight his way into the endzone to put the Buckeyes up 58-0.
Here are three things we learned from Ohio State's 58-0 win.
3 things we learned:
1. J.T. Barrett’s one of the best to do it at Ohio State. J.T. Barrett having a great game was nearly a given heading into Saturday against Rutgers, but he added to his legacy against the Scarlet Knights as he
passed Joe Germaine and Bobby Hoying in career passing touchdowns all-time. When the first half was all said and done, Barrett had thrown for 173 yards and four touchdowns (giving him 59 in his career) on 16-of-23 passing. In his time at Ohio State, Barrett has been the model of efficiency and leadership at the quarterback position.
Barrett’s day would come to an end late in the third quarter. Overall, a pretty great day for No. 16, finishing 21-of-29 passing for 238 yards and four touchdowns. He did throw an interception at the start of the game but in similar fashion as the first game of the season against Bowling Green, he bounced back in a big way.
What’s really impressive is that these sort of numbers come when he didn’t even start as the quarterback for the majority of 2015. But now Barrett is the all-time leader in passing touchdowns and will only add to his lead over the record over the rest of the season.
2. Mike Weber is showing flashes of greatness in his early career. Mike Weber has been on fire since his first game at Ohio State. He’s showed speed and power when running the ball and in the first half alone against Rutgers, he proved why he’s going to be a quite a problem for Big Ten defenses for seasons to come. In the first half, Weber carried the ball 10 times for 92 yards including a 49-yard burst in which he showed off his elusiveness with a nice juke move up the middle to set up an Ohio State score.
While he may be overshadowed some by Curtis Samuel (59 yards rushing and 70 yards receiving in the first half) this season, it’s no slight on Weber’s ability as he’s proved through his first four games that he’s a big-time running back that is a threat to have a big run at any moment.
Weber added to his day with a 46-yard touchdown early in the third quarter to push him over the century mark on the day. Weber would finish the game with 14 carries for 144 yards and a touchdown. He would later be relieved by Demario McCall.
3. The defense continues its dominance. Rutgers wasn’t expected to be much of a threat to score against this talented group of Ohio State defenders, but credit to the Scarlet Knights quarterback Chris Laviano, who made things interesting in the first half, scrambling for several first downs on third and longs. Still, the Buckeyes defense once again shut down the opposing offense keeping them out of the endzone for the first half. Standouts included linebacker Chris Worley and defensive lineman Robert Landers, who had a sack in the first half.
Between the front seven and the defensive backs, the Silver Bullets seem to be alive and well in Columbus. Malik Hooker and Marshon Lattimore made their presence felt with a couple of pass deflections and some great tackling overall. Rutgers was held to just 84 yards of total offense in the first half.
Ohio State would add to its sack total on the day in the second half as well, getting to the backup quarterback Tylin Oden in the third quarter. Nick Bosa got his fair share of game time as well and contributed in the second half as well. The shutout was held by the defense in the second half, capping off an impressive showing.
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