Ohio state roundup \ News and notes

Nice hops: It’s a play that’ll be replayed a thousand times this week on highlight shows. Chris “Beanie” Wells looked like Edwin Moses as he ran the ball in the second quarter of No. 14 Ohio State’s 34-21 win over Minnesota on Saturday. Wells, playing his first game since injuring his right foot in the opener, made a quick cut outside at the line to avoid a tackler, then rolled down the heart of the field until he encountered Minnesota safety Kyle Theret. “There was a guy there and I tried to shift, but then I just jumped,” was how Wells described what happened next. While Theret submarined low in an attempt to knock Wells off his feet, Wells leaped over the top of the defender. He ended up gaining 21 yards on the play, part of an impressive 14-carry, 106-yard day.

Local connection: Canfield High graduate Justin Kucek, a four year starter for Minnesota, punted four times for 170 yards (42.5) with a high of 51 yards. He pinned one punt inside the 20. Kucek is averaging 42.2 yards per punt this season.

Weird play: It wasn’t necessarily a turning point, but without question Minnesota will send a note and a video to the Big Ten office to complain about one call in the game. Just a two plays before Wells’ big jump, the Golden Gophers had the ball on third and 7 at their own 23. Quarterback Adam Weber completed a pass over the middle to tight end Jack Simmons for 12 yards. But the play never ... seemed ... to ... end. There was no whistle, even after several seconds with Simmons surrounded by Buckeyes and with his progress stopped. Suddenly, Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis started motioning to an official that the Buckeyes had the ball. Lo and behold, they did. As the play continued, safety Anderson Russell leaped into the scrum and, after a few seconds, wrestled the ball away from Simmons as he was falling to the turf. The officials deliberated for a few seconds more before awarding the ball to Ohio State. “They never blew it [the whistle],” Minnesota wide receiver Eric Decker said. “I don’t know what they were calling. They said he was still making progress down the field and they couldn’t see the ball. You have to blow the whistle — that’s unfair to us.” The replays of it were reviewed, but it could not be reversed because there never was a whistle until the ball had changed hands. Minnesota coach Tim Brewster was livid, angrily gesturing to the nearest official. Ohio State went on — thanks in large part to Wells’ big leap — to score on Pryor’s 8-yard TD pass to Brian Robiskie, to take a 20-3 lead.

Injuries, etc.: Tailback Maurice Wells did not play because of a back injury. Offensive lineman Steve Rehring was sidelined by a hurting foot. Tight end Rory Nicol suffered an ankle injury that may linger.

Associated Press