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Ohio State Edges Northern Illinois, 20-13
Ken via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
(Charles did the heavy lifting on this Recap. I merely skated in at the end)
Short Version
Ohio State extended it’s record to 3-0 by edging Northern Illinois University 20-13. It was a game marked by great defense/inept offense (take your pick) as NIU gained 190 total yards and OSU 298 yards. Ohio State had 5 turnovers, which may explain some of the bland offense. On a positive note, Zeke Elliott extended his 100-yard game streak by rushing for 108 yards on 23 carries.
First Quarter
After a lackluster performance from the offense for most of last week’s game, Ohio State fans were looking for the offense to get off to a good start in this one. Unfortunately the Buckeyes didn’t oblige them as nice run on the opening play was erased by a penalty for illegal motion and then Cardale Jones threw an interception on 3rd down which Northern Illinois returned to the OSU 23. Things quickly went from bad to worse for OSU as Huskie quarterback Drew Hare scampered for 15 yards on second down and Aregeros Turner found the endzone on the next play to put Ohio State in a 7-0 hole early.
Ohio State’s second drive started better as Curtis Samuel got things going with a 10 yard run to the outside. Things didn’t keep going OSU’s way for long though as two short runs and a short pass forced the Buckeyes to go for it on 4th down where a bad exchange on the hand-off from Jones to Ezekiel Elliot led to a fumble that Northern Illinois pounced on. This time the OSU defense woke up, getting pressure on Drew Hare and Eli Apple came up with a pick; the first interception thrown by Hare this season. Bad snaps continued to frustrate the Buckeyes with two miscues keeping OSU from fully taking advantage of the turnover. The Buckeyes did get points on the board as Jack Willoughby hit a field goal to make it 7-3.
The Ohio State defense continued to improve from their opening series, limiting Northern Illinois to one first down before forcing them to punt. The Huskie offensive line had been doing a good job of blocking but the Buckeyes got some pressure and two straight shots on Hare who came up looking a bit shaken up after the last one. Unfortunately the Northern Illinois defense also looked good, forcing Ohio State into a three and out but at least Cameron Johnston got a nice punt to force Northern Illinois to start their next series on their own 29. The game looked like it was going to become a defensive struggle as Ohio State forced a three and out. After a nice Huskie punt, the Buckeyes took over at their own 9 yard line.
Second Quarter
The second quarter started eerily like the first as Jones threw his second interception of the game and once again Northern Illinois took over inside the Ohio State 30. Fortunately the OSU defense stood strong this time, holding the Huskies to a field goal as NIU pushed their lead to 10-3. A change at quarterback by Ohio State didn’t end the defensive battle as JT Barrett was unable to get the Buckeyes a first down before they were forced to punt. After the Huskies were forced to punt, Jalin Marshall returned the kick into Northern Illinois territory. The return seemed to jump start the Buckeye offense and after feeding Zeke for a few nice carries, Barrett lofted a nice ball that Michael Thomas pulled down for a touchdown to tie the game at 10 midway through the second quarter. Momentum seemed to be swinging in Ohio State’s favor as while Northern Illinois got to midfield, a mishandled snap on the punt led to a turnover on downs and the Buckeyes getting the ball on the Huskies’ 37 yard line. Unfortunately that momentum swing quickly ended as OSU turned it over on downs; this was extremely frustrating for OSU fans as they had the ball 3rd and four and Zeke didn’t touch the ball on either of the next two plays. Northern Illinois seemed to be putting together a bit of a drive on the next possession but opted to punt instead of going for it on 4th and a foot at midfield with thirty seconds remaining. Ohio State opted to play it safe and go into halftime with the game tied at 10.
Third Quarter
The second half seemed to get off to a better start as the Ohio State defense got a stop and then the Buckeye offense finally looked like what was expected, putting together a nice drive that featured Elliot carving up some good yards and Barrett hitting a couple passes. Unfortunately things got bogged down in the redzone as once again the Buckeyes chose to pass instead of continuing to ride Elliott. Northern Illinois had the chance to end the OSU drive but dropped what should have been an easy interception and Ohio State hit a field goal to take their first lead of the game, 13-10. After a lackluster first half, the OSU offensive line seemed much more energized on this drive which played a big role in Elliot having room to run.
Things seemed to slowly be moving Ohio State’s way as the running game was having success on the two drives but the Buckeyes couldn’t finish them. A false start short circuited one drive and an interception thrown by Barrett ended the other; the Barrett interception was another example of the coaching staff out thinking themselves as the running game was looking unstoppable. Fortunately the Buckeye defense can come up with interceptions too and on Northern Illinois’s first play after intercepting Barrett, Darron Lee intercepted a Huskie pass and took it to the endzone to put Ohio State up 20-10 with less than two minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Fourth Quarter
Ohio State was finally starting to physically dominate the game but the Northern Illinois offense is good and they put together a drive the pushed inside the OSU 40 and was looking like it had a chance to score. However the Buckeye defense would have none of that, stepping up the pressure on Hare and coming up with a big third down sack to force a punt. Unfortunately the OSU offense continued to struggle and the Huskies got the ball back with plenty of life left in them. NIU showed that life, methodically driving down the field and getting inside the Ohio State five before a false start derailed the drive and forced the Huskies to settle for a field goal to trim the Buckeye lead to 20-13 with 7:46 to go in the game.
The officials could have pretty much called the game right there, because as a fan, you would have missed nothing. Here’s how the subsequent offensive series went for the Buckeyes and the Huskies.
I’m pretty sure there will be further post-game analysis in the next few days.
Go Buckeyes!
The post Ohio State Edges Northern Illinois, 20-13 appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
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Ken via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
(Charles did the heavy lifting on this Recap. I merely skated in at the end)
Short Version
Ohio State extended it’s record to 3-0 by edging Northern Illinois University 20-13. It was a game marked by great defense/inept offense (take your pick) as NIU gained 190 total yards and OSU 298 yards. Ohio State had 5 turnovers, which may explain some of the bland offense. On a positive note, Zeke Elliott extended his 100-yard game streak by rushing for 108 yards on 23 carries.
First Quarter
After a lackluster performance from the offense for most of last week’s game, Ohio State fans were looking for the offense to get off to a good start in this one. Unfortunately the Buckeyes didn’t oblige them as nice run on the opening play was erased by a penalty for illegal motion and then Cardale Jones threw an interception on 3rd down which Northern Illinois returned to the OSU 23. Things quickly went from bad to worse for OSU as Huskie quarterback Drew Hare scampered for 15 yards on second down and Aregeros Turner found the endzone on the next play to put Ohio State in a 7-0 hole early.
Ohio State’s second drive started better as Curtis Samuel got things going with a 10 yard run to the outside. Things didn’t keep going OSU’s way for long though as two short runs and a short pass forced the Buckeyes to go for it on 4th down where a bad exchange on the hand-off from Jones to Ezekiel Elliot led to a fumble that Northern Illinois pounced on. This time the OSU defense woke up, getting pressure on Drew Hare and Eli Apple came up with a pick; the first interception thrown by Hare this season. Bad snaps continued to frustrate the Buckeyes with two miscues keeping OSU from fully taking advantage of the turnover. The Buckeyes did get points on the board as Jack Willoughby hit a field goal to make it 7-3.
The Ohio State defense continued to improve from their opening series, limiting Northern Illinois to one first down before forcing them to punt. The Huskie offensive line had been doing a good job of blocking but the Buckeyes got some pressure and two straight shots on Hare who came up looking a bit shaken up after the last one. Unfortunately the Northern Illinois defense also looked good, forcing Ohio State into a three and out but at least Cameron Johnston got a nice punt to force Northern Illinois to start their next series on their own 29. The game looked like it was going to become a defensive struggle as Ohio State forced a three and out. After a nice Huskie punt, the Buckeyes took over at their own 9 yard line.
Second Quarter
The second quarter started eerily like the first as Jones threw his second interception of the game and once again Northern Illinois took over inside the Ohio State 30. Fortunately the OSU defense stood strong this time, holding the Huskies to a field goal as NIU pushed their lead to 10-3. A change at quarterback by Ohio State didn’t end the defensive battle as JT Barrett was unable to get the Buckeyes a first down before they were forced to punt. After the Huskies were forced to punt, Jalin Marshall returned the kick into Northern Illinois territory. The return seemed to jump start the Buckeye offense and after feeding Zeke for a few nice carries, Barrett lofted a nice ball that Michael Thomas pulled down for a touchdown to tie the game at 10 midway through the second quarter. Momentum seemed to be swinging in Ohio State’s favor as while Northern Illinois got to midfield, a mishandled snap on the punt led to a turnover on downs and the Buckeyes getting the ball on the Huskies’ 37 yard line. Unfortunately that momentum swing quickly ended as OSU turned it over on downs; this was extremely frustrating for OSU fans as they had the ball 3rd and four and Zeke didn’t touch the ball on either of the next two plays. Northern Illinois seemed to be putting together a bit of a drive on the next possession but opted to punt instead of going for it on 4th and a foot at midfield with thirty seconds remaining. Ohio State opted to play it safe and go into halftime with the game tied at 10.
Third Quarter
The second half seemed to get off to a better start as the Ohio State defense got a stop and then the Buckeye offense finally looked like what was expected, putting together a nice drive that featured Elliot carving up some good yards and Barrett hitting a couple passes. Unfortunately things got bogged down in the redzone as once again the Buckeyes chose to pass instead of continuing to ride Elliott. Northern Illinois had the chance to end the OSU drive but dropped what should have been an easy interception and Ohio State hit a field goal to take their first lead of the game, 13-10. After a lackluster first half, the OSU offensive line seemed much more energized on this drive which played a big role in Elliot having room to run.
Things seemed to slowly be moving Ohio State’s way as the running game was having success on the two drives but the Buckeyes couldn’t finish them. A false start short circuited one drive and an interception thrown by Barrett ended the other; the Barrett interception was another example of the coaching staff out thinking themselves as the running game was looking unstoppable. Fortunately the Buckeye defense can come up with interceptions too and on Northern Illinois’s first play after intercepting Barrett, Darron Lee intercepted a Huskie pass and took it to the endzone to put Ohio State up 20-10 with less than two minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Fourth Quarter
Ohio State was finally starting to physically dominate the game but the Northern Illinois offense is good and they put together a drive the pushed inside the OSU 40 and was looking like it had a chance to score. However the Buckeye defense would have none of that, stepping up the pressure on Hare and coming up with a big third down sack to force a punt. Unfortunately the OSU offense continued to struggle and the Huskies got the ball back with plenty of life left in them. NIU showed that life, methodically driving down the field and getting inside the Ohio State five before a false start derailed the drive and forced the Huskies to settle for a field goal to trim the Buckeye lead to 20-13 with 7:46 to go in the game.
The officials could have pretty much called the game right there, because as a fan, you would have missed nothing. Here’s how the subsequent offensive series went for the Buckeyes and the Huskies.
- OSU – 3 plays, 9 yards, punt
- NIU – 3 plays, -6 yards, punt
- OSU – 2 plays, 20 yards, lost fumble
- NIU – 3 plays, 0 yards, punt
- OSU – 3 plays, 9 yards, punt
- NIU – 4 plays, 0 yards, turnover on downs
- OSU – Victory Formation Kneel Down, 2 plays, end of game
I’m pretty sure there will be further post-game analysis in the next few days.
Go Buckeyes!
The post Ohio State Edges Northern Illinois, 20-13 appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
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