Big Ten beatdown: Buckeyes rout ’Cats

Ohio State scored 45 points in the first half en route to a 58-7 win.

By TOM WILLIAMS

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

COLUMBUS — Three weeks of fretting about Ohio State’s slow starts on offense quickly evaporated in Saturday’s heat at Ohio Stadium.

Thanks to fabulous field position provided by aggressive defensive and special teams coverage, the Buckeyes enjoyed their most productive scoring first half in 11 years.

With the Buckeyes hounding Northwestern into multiple panic moves, Ohio State pummeled its Big Ten rival for 45 points in the first two quarters en route to a 58-7 victory.

Afterwards, the Buckeyes (4-0) did their best to downgrade the blowout.

“It’s always good when you have a game like that,” said Jim Heacock, Ohio State’s defensive coordinator. “The good thing is that we were able to get a lot of guys playing time today.

“It’s important that we realize that there are a lot of good football teams down the road that we’ve got to play,” Heacock said.

The Buckeyes rushed for 205 yards and passed for the same amount.

“Ohio State’s offense is always going to come after you with a balanced attack,” Northwestern (2-2) coach Pat Fitzgerald said. “Ohio State came out and looked like a championship team.”

Defense is outstanding

The defense limited the Wildcats to 61 yards rushing and 120 in the air, mostly in the second half.

In the second half, Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel dug deep into his bench. By the end, nine Buckeyes had rushed the ball at least once while three quarterbacks took snaps.

That’s because the game was essentially over before latecomers had settled in their sun-baked seats.

In the first 7:35 of play, the Buckeyes pounced for three touchdowns, two caught by junior flanker Brian Robiskie.

Robiskie, who had another scoring reception in the second quarter, said the Buckeyes were far from perfect on offense.

“When we watch the film, there’s a lot of things we’re going to see to work on,” Robiskie said. “I can think of a couple of things I need to do to get better.”

Those won’t be the plays he sees watching highlights on this weekend’s sports shows.

Robiskie in the clear

It took Ohio State just three plays — one had a fumble that was almost lost — to grab the lead.

Robiskie easily shed the coverage of Wildcats safety Reggie McPherson then slowed up near the end zone to await the 42-yard pass from junior quarterback Todd Boeckman.

“We wanted to come out throwing,” said Boeckman who completed 11 of 14 passes for a 179 yards and four scores. “The last three weeks we didn’t.

“We had a game plan [Saturday] where we thought they were going to bite on a few fakes,” Boeckman said. “Our receivers ran right by them.”

The Wildcats’ first three plays (an incomplete pass, a 3-yard screen pass and a 5-yard sack) summed up the long afternoon awaiting them. Stefan Demos shanked his first punt and the ball went out of bounds at the Northwestern 36.

That set up Boeckman’s second scoring play to Robiskie, a 28-yard sideline toss.

“He’s been extremely accurate on the deep ball,” Tressel said. “Todd had another day where he could grow ... he seemed in command of what we were trying to do.”

Punt return sets up TD

Ray Small’s 21-yard punt return to the Northwestern 31 set up Maurice Wells’ 3-yard touchdown run with 7:25 remaining in the first quarter.

Then the Buckeyes’ defenders got into the scoring act.

Trailing 21-0, Wildcats quarterback C.J. Bacher rolled left and was slammed by safety Anderson Russell, jarring the ball loose. Defensive end Vernon Gholston swooped up the ball at the Northwestern 25 and raced into the end zone for a four-touchdown edge before 10 minutes had elapsed.

“My eyes got big when I saw it hit the ground,” said Gholston of the fumble that set up his first career touchdown at any level. “My first ever. It was a great feeling but at the same time I like stopping guys.”

Northwestern’s woes multiplied in the second quarter as five possessions did not produce a first down.

The Wildcats’ only points came on Kyle Petty’s 99-yard return of the second-half kickoff.

“Our kickoff coverage was very good except for one,” Tressel said. “About four guys didn’t hit him on that play.”

williams@vindy.com