10/01/2006No. 1 with a bullet By: Jason Lloyd Journal Register News Service
Buckeyes look destined for Arizona with each win
IOWA CITY, Iowa - It's October this morning, and Ohio State is still No. 1 in the country.
Given the September obstacle course the Buckeyes just completed, that's pretty impressive.
The road to Glendale, Ariz., and a Jan. 8 date in the national championship game became much clearer Saturday night after the Buckeyes' 38-17 win over Iowa, officially completing a 5-0 September when Ohio State won on the road in Austin, Texas, and Iowa City at night.
Given Michigan State's collapse at home Saturday against Illinois, combined with Ohio State's penchant under Jim Tressel of improving as the season progresses, it would seem today that no one left on the schedule could pose a legitimate threat to the Buckeyes until what is shaping up to be a colossal Nov. 18 clash against Michigan.
The Buckeyes surgically cut apart Iowa Saturday night, slicing through an overmatched front seven with a heavy dose of Anthony Gonzalez and Antonio Pittman. Gonzalez, inexplicably covered by Iowa middle linebacker Mike Klinkenborg on multiple pass routes, added two more touchdown catches and the defense battered Hawkeyes quarterback Drew Tate for the second straight year.
"Iowa is a good football team," Tressel said. "Our kids hung in there. This was tough odds. There was a bunch of gold (T-shirts) out there. Our kids hung together and didn't make many mistakes."
The Buckeyes started to take control in the second quarter. They were already leading, 14-10, when a poor punt from A.J. Trapasso gave Iowa great field position at midfield.
But Iowa's Damian Sims was stuffed at the line on first down and Tate threw incomplete on the next two plays, forcing Iowa to punt without gaining an inch.
Ohio State flexed its muscle on its ensuing drive, when left guard Steve Rehring and left tackle
Alex Boone began to dominate the right side of Iowa's defensive line. Ohio State ran the ball eight times in 12 plays, including four runs right behind Rehring and Boone.
A completion to Ted Ginn gave the Buckeyes a first down at Iowa's 25, then Pittman took three straight runs over the left side to carry the ball to the 5. That's when Troy Smith hit Roy Hall in the end zone, giving the Buckeyes a 21-10 lead and command of the game.
Already down two starters on the offensive line because of injuries, Iowa's offense struggled to score when it mattered against an Ohio State defense that continues to impress. Iowa turned the ball over four times, including three interceptions from Tate, who steadily grew worse in the fourth quarter while trying to make something happen.
Tate's first mistake came in the second quarter, when he threw over the middle and into the hands of safety Brandon Mitchell. Iowa receiver Herb Grigsby was open, but Tate waited too long and Mitchell read the play perfectly, giving Ohio State possession on Iowa's 30. It only took three running plays for Pittman to chew up those 30 yards and the Buckeyes had a 14-3 lead.
Tate was under pressure most of the night, and even when he had time, his receivers didn't help him. Iowa receivers dropped four passes in the first half, including consecutive attempts to fullback Champ Davis and receiver Andy Brodell that would've given Iowa a first down. Davis also dropped a sure touchdown in the fourth quarter, although Brodell made up for it with a touchdown two plays later. Brodell's touchdown cut the Buckeyes' lead to 31-17.
Iowa had one last chance, but it ended when Scott Chandler fumbled a completion from Tate near midfield with 8:45 left in the game. Mitchell, who earlier had the interception, also came up with the fumble to end Iowa's hopes of a comeback. Tate threw two more interceptions late, to linebackers Marcus Freeman and James Laurinaitis, but by then, it didn't matter.
The Buckeyes controlled the tempo from the opening drive. After slow starts the past two weeks against Cincinnati and Penn State, the Buckeyes rectified that with a seven-play, 54-yard drive on their opening possession for a 7-0 lead when Gonzalez caught the first of his two touchdowns. Like has been the case so many times this year, Gonzalez provided every big catch the offense needed.
On first down from Iowa's 30, Gonzalez caught a slant from Smith, ran backward 10 yards to get the corner and turned what should have been a routine completion into a dazzling 30-yard touchdown catch reminiscent of Smith's scrambling touchdown throw last week against the Nittany Lions.
It was one of four touchdown passes for Smith, who finished 16-of-25 for 187 yards. Pittman ran for 117 and Gonzalez caught five passes for 77 yards and the two touchdowns.
Over their last seven games, the Buckeyes have now beaten Michigan, Notre Dame, Texas, Penn State and Iowa.
That's why they're No. 1.
http://a.tribalfusion.com/l.click?c...OOHMHWLL&clickURL=http://www.autismspeaks.org ?The News-Herald 2006
) and therefore miss the other 3 hours of comments where he praises OSU. He jammed OSU down the throats of ND fans during the entire fiesta bowl, and was certainly complimentary yesterday.