43
Ohio State rolls in Fickell debut
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo
Ohio State tight end Jake Stoneburner (11) heads to the end zone for a touchdown after catching a pass from quarterback Joe Bauserman as Akron cornerback Emmanuel Lartey (31) and linebacker Blake Fraley (46) pursue during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game in Columbus, Ohio on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo
Ohio State players sing "Carmen Ohio" after their 42-0 win over Akron in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Ohio State rolls in Fickell debut
Associated Press
COLUMBUS
Even missing eight players suspended for breaking NCAA rules, No. 18 Ohio State had more than enough talent left behind.
Joe Bauserman, a quarterback starting his first game in eight years, ran for a touchdown and threw for three to tight end Jake Stoneburner to lead No. 18 Ohio State to a 42-0 win over Akron on Saturday in a sweltering season opener.
“We’re going to focus on the guys we have here,” Luke Fickell said after his first game as head coach since taking over for the scandal-ridden Jim Tressel. “That’s the most important thing. If it changes week to week, we’re going to continue to have guys step up.”
Against overmatched Akron, the no-name Buckeyes had a bevy of stars.
Bauserman, who last started when he was a senior in high school, ran for a 15-yard score and threw TD passes of 28, 11 and 2 yards to Stoneburner — who became the first Ohio State tight end to catch three scoring passes in a game.
And the defense, led by linebacker Andrew Sweat — who had an interception — completely throttled the Zips.
Already missing five players because of the cash-for-memorablia scandal that cost Tressel his job, three other Buckeyes — two starters and a backup — were suspended indefinitely this week for accepting under $300 from a charity. Instead of being stunned by yet another body blow, the rest of the players picked up the slack.
“That’s the thing that I might be most excited about and this team might be most excited about, is that they didn’t whine about it, they didn’t bat their eyes about it,” Fickell said. “They just said, ’Next man up.’ That’s the amazing thing.”
First-year players also had a big day for the Buckeyes. Heralded freshman quarterback Braxton Miller tossed a TD pass to another true freshman, Devin Smith, and classmate Rod Smith ran for a score.
Bauserman, who spent the last two years on the sidelines watching Terrelle Pryor play, completed 12 of 16 passes for 163 yards and the three scores with no interceptions.
“Just waiting around all morning. Just waiting. That was the only thing,” said Bauserman, when asked the hardest part of his day. “I just wanted to get on the field.”
Akron’s offense managed just 90 total yards. The Zips, 1-11 a year ago, came closest to scoring when a 41-yard field goal just before the half went wide.
“I just know that their line of scrimmage controlled our line of scrimmage today,” Zips coach Rob Ianello said.
In addition to the final score, every stat was lopsided in Ohio State’s favor, including first downs (27-5), rushing yards (224-35) and sacks (5-0).
“Although we don’t have some big names like in the past, we have a lot of young guys who are fully capable of getting the job done,” said Sweat, who also had two tackles for minus yardage and forced a fumble. “We had a competitive camp at each position and we were ready to play today.”
The nearby Ohio State Medical Center reported around 20 people were treated for heat-related illnesses.
Almost half the crowd was gone by halftime as the temperature soared to the high 90s with high humidity. A referee had to leave the game due to dehydration. One Red Cross volunteer said his station had run out of baggies to put ice in and that all of the medical personnel were “swamped.”
Akron quarterback Clayton Moore ompleted just 6 of 16 passes for 54 yards with the one interception.
The Buckeyes took control early.
Bauserman, a 25-year-old former Pittsburgh Pirates prospect as a pitcher, completed passes for 9 and 28 yards on the opening drive.