Ohio State throttles Toledo

CLEVELAND (AP) — Terrelle Pryor hooked up with Dane Sanzenbacher on two early touchdown passes and No. 11 Ohio State defused Toledo’s high-scoring spread attack to beat the Rockets 38-0 Saturday at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

It was a resounding response after a week of criticism and sniping in the wake of the Buckeyes’ 18-15 loss to No. 3 Southern California.

Leading an Ohio State (2-1) offense that was relatively punchless a week earlier, Pryor feasted on a Toledo unit giving up 45 points and almost 500 yards a game. He passed for three scores, completing 17 of 28 passes for 262 yards, including a 76-yard strike to Sanzenbacher on the Buckeyes’ third offensive play and an 18-yard TD on their next possession. He also ran for 110 yards on 12 carries, including a touchdown.

Toledo (1-2) quarterback Aaron Opelt, who came in leading the nation in total offense with 437 yards a game, was harried all day. He was sacked twice and hurried 10 times while completing 22 of 45 passes for 197 yards with an interception.

With Ohio State’s front wall bearing down on him, he had to throw the ball away on four of the Rockets’ first six plays. It didn’t get much better after that as they managed just 210 yards.

The game marked only the second appearance in Cleveland for either school.

For more details, read Sunday's Vindicator or visit Vindy.com.