From the season's opening kickoff, Ohio State sent out a message to opponents and to the nation: These Bucks are not playing around.
OSU took a 14-0 lead less than 5 minutes into the game, led 35-7 at halftime and routed Marshall 45-7 Thursday in the season opener at Ohio Stadium.
Marshall's Martin Ward fielded the opening kickoff and took a wicked shot from OSU's Dorian Bell. Ward fumbled and Buckeye Nate Oliver recovered inside the Ohio State 25. Moments later QB Terrelle Pryor hit receiver Devier Posey for the first of their 2 td connections. Then after a quick 3 and out by Marshall, Brandon Saine sprinted for a 4 yard TD run for a 14-0 OSU lead.
Freshman Drew Basil later attempted a 52 yard field goal which was blocked and returned for a touchdown by Marshall's Ahmed Shakoor. But the Herd's enthusiasm was curbed quickly. OSU responded with a Pryor deep pass to Dane Sanzenbacher for a 65 yard touchdown and a 21-7 lead.
In the 2nd quarter, Saine sprinted 45 yards for his 2nd touchdown on the day and lead bumped to 28-7. The Bucks scored again with less than 3 minutes to play in the opening half when linebacker Brian Rolle intercepted Herd QB Brian Anderson and returned it 35 yards for his first career touchdown. It set a 35-7 halftime score.
Pryor connected with Posey on an 11 yard score to open 3rd quarter scoring, at 42-7. A 4th quarter field goal by Devin Barclay capped the scoring.
"There was a lot we got out of it, coming out of a hard training camp... It was good to see that some our kids have grown. "Ohio State Head Coach Jim Tressel said. "Reality is we have a tremendous challenge next week, and if we get rested it could be fun."
The Buckeyes host top 15 ranked Miami next Saturday at the 'Shoe in OSU's key non-conference game of the season.
The Buckeyes started the season ranked second in the country. Do you think the Buckeyes lived up to the preseason hype? Sound off below or vote in the poll to the right.
OHIO STATE POSTGAME NOTES
• Ohio State has not lost a home opener in 33 years. The last loss was Sept. 16, 1978 when No. 6 Ohio State suffered a 19-0 loss to No. 5 Penn State in Woody Hayes’ final season as head coach.
• Ohio State has an all-time opening day record of 105-12-4. Ohio State is 109-8-4 in home openers since the inception of the program in 1890.
• The Buckeyes boast an all-time record of 148-22-5 in September games and a 122-10-4 mark in September home games.
• Head coach Jim Tressel has won 15 consecutive season openers and 19 of his last 21. His Buckeye teams have outscored opponents 354-116 in 10 openers, an average margin of victory of 23.8 points. He is 19-5-1 all-time in season openers and 10-0 at Ohio State.
• Jim Tressel is now 230-78-2 in his 25th season as a head coach and 95-21 in his 10th year at Ohio State.
• Under Jim Tressel, the Buckeyes are 26-2 at Ohio Stadium vs. non-conference teams.
• Ohio State is 86-6 when it has allowed fewer than 24 points under Jim Tressel.
• Ohio State is 31-4 in non-conference regular-season games under Jim Tressel.
• Jim Tressel is 16-1 at Ohio State against head coaches in their first season at the opposing school.
• Jim Tressel became the fourth Ohio State head coach to begin a 10th season at Ohio State, joining John W. Wilce (1913-28), Woody Hayes (1951-78) and John Cooper (1988-2000).
• Ohio State has won 54 consecutive regular-season non-conference games against teams not ranked in the AP Top 25. The last unranked non-conference team to beat Ohio State was Pitt, a 42-17 winner on Sept. 17, 1988.
• Ohio State has won 55 consecutive regular-season non-conference home games against teams not ranked in the AP Top 25. The last unranked non-conference team to beat the Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium was Florida State, a 34-17, on Oct. 2, 1982.
• Ohio State is 7-3 at home (27-13 away from home) in night games (games starting 5 p.m. or later local time) since 1959 and 34-16 in night games all-time. Under Jim Tressel, the Buckeyes are 16-10 in night games and 3-3 at home in night games.
• Ohio State is 88-16 (.846) since the start of the 2002 season, the fourth-best record among FBS teams. The only teams with a better record in this span are: Boise State (94-11, .895), USC (91-13, .875) and Texas (90-14, .865).
• Ohio State is 53-5 at Ohio Stadium since the start of the 2002 season.
• Ohio State has had 56 consecutive crowds of more than 100,000 at Ohio Stadium.
Series NOTES
• Ohio State has won both meetings with the Thundering Herd. The first meeting was Sept. 11, 2004 in Columbus with the Buckeyes prevailing, 24-21, on a last-second field goal.
• Ohio State is 12-1-1 all-time against current members of Conference USA.
OFFENSIVE NOTES
• Running back Brandon Saine recorded his third career 100-yard rushing game with 102 yards and two touchdowns. It was his second game running for two scores (Iowa Nov. 14, 2009).
• Tight end Jake Stoneburner recorded career highs with three catches for 41 yards. He had two career receptions entering the game.
• Junior quarterback Terrelle Pryor is 20-3 as Ohio State’s starting quarterback and Ohio State is 17-1 in the games in which Pryor has thrown at least one touchdown pass.
• Ohio State is 85-6 in the games in which it has rushed for at least 125 yards since Jim Tressel became the Buckeyes coach in 2001.
• DeVier Posey has caught at least one pass in 15 consecutive games, trailing Purdue’s Keith Smith (24) and Wisconsin’s Nick Toon (17) among active players in the Big Ten. Posey caught two touchdown passes vs. Marshall, tying a career high.
• Ohio State is 25-4 in the games in which Dane Sanzenbacher has recorded at least one catch.
• The Buckeye offense combined for 529 total yards, the first game with more than 500 yards since New Mexico State Oct. 31, 2009. It was the first time the team rushed and passed for 200+ yards since that game vs. the Aggies, with 280 rushing and 249 passing against Marshall.
DEFENSIVE NOTES
• Senior Brian Rolle recorded his third career interception in the second quarter and ran it back 30 yards for his first career touchdown off an interception.
• Senior Tyler Moeller matched his career high with seven tackles, first set at Illinois Nov. 15, 2008.
• Ohio State has held 53 opponents to 21 points or fewer since the start of the 2005 season. TCU is now second among FBS teams in this span with 52 and Virginia Tech is third with 51 entering this season. OSU has allowed fewer than 10 points 26 times since the start of 2006.
• Ohio State has allowed 101 touchdowns overall since the start of the 2005 season. That is the fewest by any FBS team in this span. Virginia Tech has allowed the second-fewest with 107.
• Ohio State has surrendered 39 rushing touchdowns since the start of the 2005 season. That is the fewest among FBS teams in this span. Alabama is second with 41 and Penn State is third with 47 in this span.
• Ohio State has surrendered 53 passing touchdowns since the start of the 2005 season. That is the second-fewest among FBS teams in this span. Only Virginia Tech has surrendered fewer with 48. TCU is third with 54 allowed and Penn State is fourth with 55.
• Ohio State has allowed just seven 100-yard rushers since 2005, the fewest among FBS teams. Boston College and Alabama are second with eight.
• It has been 24 games since the Buckeye defense allowed a 100-yard individual rushing performance; that was by USC’s Joe McKnight, who gained 105 yards on 12 carries in the 2008 meeting. That streak is second-longest in the nation, trailing only Alabama (32 games).
• Since the beginning of the 2005 season, the Buckeyes have allowed only seven 100-yard rushers during a span of 65 games. That mark is the best by an FBS school during that time period.
• The Buckeyes held Marshall to just 44 yards rushing in the game and 199 total yards.
OHIO STATE POSTGAME QUOTES
Brian Rolle, senior linebacker
On winning the first game
“I think it’s very important to get this win; it will give us a great boost. We’re playing a good team (Miami) next week and you know that they’re going to come in with swagger.”
On being a leader
“I feel great being a senior and a captain. I’m already in a position to be a leader, but everyone has been stepping up too.”
On scoring
“It was such an incredible feeling to be able to score. I just turned around and I was like, ‘wow, all I see is red.’”
On playing Miami (Fla.) next week
“I’m very excited. It’s a team I liked growing up, but I don’t like them next week. They’re the competition.”
Dexter Larimore, senior defensive tackle
On the defense
“Obviously, you want the defensive line to do well. Once you stop the run you want to get the quarterback and we were able to do that against a good Marshall team.”
On Brian Rolle’s touchdown
“It is always great for the team when the defense can score. It can really change the momentum of the game.”
Adam Bellamy, freshman defensive end
On senior leadership on the defense
“Cameron Heyward has helped me a lot. He was my roommate at camp and he’s like another coach. He is a great guy and one of the most selfless people I’ve ever met. He’ll give you tips from your steps to using your hands. He really helps the younger guys.”
On his first game as a Buckeye
“I was nervous at first, but after the first snap you just get in the zone. We did so many snaps at practice, so it was easy.”
Tyler Moeller, senior linebacker/safety
On returning to game action
“It was everything I hoped it would be – felt great to be able to get out and play a real game again.”
On adjusting to game speed
“We practice so hard and so fast, that there really isn’t a huge difference between a game and practice. The coaches always have us prepared to play.”
On his hitting
“That’s one thing I’ll never lose confidence it. It’s the best feeling.”
Andrew Miller, senior lineman
On getting back on the field after injury
“I feel great; even better than I did pre-surgery. Moving around wasn’t too bad out there.”
On Marshall
“They’re tough guys and they gave it their all. They fought us hard the whole way, and we’re thankful to have come out on top.”
Jake Stoneburner, sophomore tight end
On catching the first pass of the game
“It was a big relief to bring it in, especially with the hard hit I took going down. I ended up with three catches tonight, so overall I feel like it’s a good start for me.”
On the upcoming Miami game
“It should be fun. Coach Tressel just reminded us that the last time we had a big game at home we couldn’t get it done [against USC], so we’ll be extremely focused in our game prep next week. The whole world will be watching.”
Bryant Browning, senior offensive lineman
On the start of the game
"The coaches told us to start fast. That’s just what the kickoff team did when they got the ball back on the first kickoff. That kind of got our offense going and we executed pretty well after that."
On Brandon Saine’s performance
"When Brandon [Saine] gets a shot he’s going to run hard, along with the other [running] backs. The [offensive] line did a good job making big lanes and the backs capitalized all game.”
Brandon Saine, senior running back
On the first game of the season
"The biggest thing is to see another defense out there in live action. It was great playing against another defense."
On the Big Ten alignment
"It doesn’t affect me personally since I won’t be playing next year. I think the game is going to be good no matter the circumstances though."
Zach Boren, sophomore running back
On the offensive line’s overall performance
“I think the whole team and the offensive line worked very hard. We got back to the basics and the offensive line ended up playing well.”
On play calling
“We came out and had some good runs plays and opened it up a little bit by throwing it deep. I don’t think we necessarily held back, but there’s still more to come from the playbook.”
Ross Homan, senior linebacker
On training camp
“Training camp is just tiring, that’s how it is. It’s a grind. We just try to get everything cleared up and get ready for the season.”
Justin Boren, senior offensive lineman
On facing Miami next week
“Miami is a good team and we’re going to have to work hard. We’ll have to go through and study the film.”
MARSHALL POSTGAME QUOTES
Doc Holliday, Marshall head coach
Opening Statement
“Well, that’s a hell of a way to play your first game; Ohio State is a great football team. Terrelle Pryor is a handful, he does some things and you just can’t get him on the ground. You just can’t turn the ball over and compete.”
On being surprised with Terrelle Pryor passing game
“No I wasn’t at all surprised. He’s a great quarterback and he made some great throws.
On opening kickoff
“Book [Andre Booker] had a great camp. We stress not to put ball on ground and he hadn’t done that, but it’s unacceptable. Any time you do that and your playing Ohio State you don’t have a chance. They are a great football team.”
Mario Harvey, senior linebacker
On the kick-off
“It was definitely a sudden change for us right off the bat. We dug ourselves a hole. It was our job to go out and stop them after that and we didn’t. We need to suck it up and fight back. They are a good team. We can’t cry about it.”
Brian Anderson, senior quarterback
On regrouping after the kickoff fumble
“The fumble deflated us a little bit. But we still should have gone out and adjusted better. When we get the ball, we have to do a better job of moving it. Ohio State doesn’t have to bring a lot of extra people with the front four that they have. They can still drop seven to defend the pass, and they obviously can stop the running game. Moving the ball in the second half was a little easier. We just need to be more consistent from the start.”
Aaron Dobson, sophomore wide receiver
On creating space on his long reception
“I just came out and played hard. I ran a good route and Brian [Anderson] threw a good ball and I took advantage and made a play on it.”
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