Football
Buckeye Defense Dominates, Offense Tepid in Win Over SDSU
By John Porentas
The San Diego State offense had 11 second of glory followed by 59 minutes, 49 seconds of pain as the Buckeyes claimed a 27-6 win over the Aztecs in Ohio Stadium.
Aztec quarterback Kevin O'Connell flipped a screen pass to Brett Swain on the first play of the game and Swain went untouched 80 yards up the east sideline to give SDSU a 6-0 lead before many of the 104,533 on hand had really settled into their seats. The Aztecs missed the extra point, foreshadowing a missing offense the rest of the day.
"Ashton Youboty had contain out there and lost leverage and the guy ran up the sideline all the way," explained Buckeye defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock.
"One of the things we stress is that the next play that comes is the most important play. The next play was the extra point and they missed that. From there on we were able to step up," Pitcock said.
The Ohio State defense simply dominated the rest of the way, forcing nine three-and-outs and giving up just two more first downs the rest of the game. (The official box score credits San Diego State with three total first downs. That's because a first down is awarded when a touchdown is scored). SDSU could muster just 13 net yards rushing in the game and 166 passing. After the first play of the game went 80 yards, SDSU totaled 99 yards the rest of the day.
"It's a terrific defense as I anticipated it to be. It's physical, quick, strong. They're as good a defense as I've ever seen," said and obviously impressed SDSU Head Coach Tom Craft.
"Going into this thing we really felt that this was going to be a big challenge for us, their defense with our offense, the matchups. We got exposed in a couple of areas today," Craft said.
Troy Smith got his first start at quarterback since the Michigan game last year, and while he didn't exactly light it up, the Buckeyes got enough done on offense to come away with a comfortable win. What the Smith lacked in big play production in the passing game he made up for with his legs. Smith was the leading rusher in the game with 87 net yards on 14 carries. Antonio Pittman added 66 more on 18 totes.
The Buckeyes led 14-6 at the half time intermission on two Troy Smith touchdown runs one from 14 yards out, the other a one yard plunge, but missed a golden scoring opportunity when the drove to the SDSU one-yard line on a nine-play, 75 yard drive, but came up empty when Brandon Schnittker fumbled the ball at the goal line. Schnittker appeared to be attempting to reach the over the goal line when the ball came loose.
"I was (trying to extend the ball over)," said Schnittker.
"I thought I got it over. The guys on the sideline thought I did," Schnittker said.
"For a little while I was pretty down. I was disappointed. If they're going to give us the opportunity to carry the ball into the end zone and you drop it, that's not going to work," Schnittker said.
The turnover kept the first half close, and the Buckeyes could add just a field goal in the third quarter to extend their lead to 17-6. At the end of the quarter, however, the Buckeye defense got a turnover that offset Schnittker's fumble.
On what appeared to be the last play of the quarter, OSU punter A. J. Trepasso punted the ball away to the Aztecs, but SDSU was flagged for holding penalty on the play. The penalty moved the ball back to the seven-yard line, and an untimed down was played since a period cannot end on a defensive penalty. On the ensuing play, an errant pitchout from O'Connell on an option play resulted in a fumble that was recovered by linebacker Anthony Schlegel at the one-yard line. The play gave the Buckeyes the ball and Schnittker a reprieve.
On the first play of the fourth quarter Schnittker's number was called again, and this time the senior from Sandusky, Ohio found pay dirt.
"I was happy. I was glad that coach had the confidence in me that I would be able to come back and have the trust in me to do it," said Schnittker.
Josh Huston added his second field goal of the game in the fourth quarter, a 39 yarder with 5:55 on the clock to cap a 21 yard drive.
Smith finished the day with 14 completions in 26 attempts, one interception and no touchdowns. He accounted for 149 yards passing. Justin Zwick completed nine-of-10 on OSU's final possession for 47 yards. The drive covered 53 yards in 11 plays and ended on the 12-yard line when time expired in the game.
OSU's longest play of the day from scrimmage was 25 yards.
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