Article published October 19, 2008
GOOD AND PLENTY
6 TDs for Buckeyes, including 2 on defense
Ohio State junior running back Chris Wells stepped it up a notch yesterday against Michigan State, racking up 140 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries. Buckeye quarterback Terrelle Pryor added 72 yards rushing.
 VIEW: OSU - Michigan State photos
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THE BLADE/ANDY MORRISON
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By MATT MARKEY
BLADE SPORTS WRITER
EAST LANSING, Mich. - They had just about worn out the worry beads at Ohio State, fretting over an underperforming offense that had the Buckeyes spinning their wheels, even as they were winning Big Ten games.
But a series of brilliant defensive plays can make one forget all that, and even disguise the fact there might be a little punch coming back to that offense.
No. 12 Ohio State forced five turnovers by Michigan State and held the nation's No. 2 runner Javon Ringer to 67 yards while humbling the Spartans 45-7 here yesterday.
"We always preach that good defenses play well, and great defenses score, and it was great to see our defense out there putting points on the board," Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis said.
The Buckeyes got defensive touchdowns on two long fumble returns and set up another score with a lengthy return.
Chris "Beanie" wells rushed for 140 yards on 31 carries, while a number of jaunts by freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor produced almost 100 yards more, and the Buckeyes went all afternoon without a turnover.The win moves the No. 12 Buckeyes to 7-1 overall and 4-0 in the Big Ten, setting up a showdown Saturday in Columbus with unbeaten and third-ranked Penn State. The Buckeyes prepped for that matchup by hitting Michigan State from every direction.
Pryor pulled out the Houdini act early, with the Buckeyes pinned inside their 10-yard line on the game's first series after Lamaar Thomas had fumbled the opening kickoff. On the second play, Pryor faked inside to Wells, then swept outside. A block by fullback Brandon Smith got Pryor loose, and he raced 32 yards to the OSU 41.
With the enhanced field position provided by Pryor's run, the Buckeyes had room to operate after an exchange of punts, and once they drove in close, Pryor faked the give to Wells, then juked his way past a defensive back on an 18-yard touchdown run.
Early in Michigan State's second possession of the game, quarterback Brian Hoyer's pass to Keshawn Martin gained 10 yards before a hit by Kurt Coleman popped the ball loose. Ohio State's Donald Washington grabbed the ball and returned it 44 yards to the MSU 17.
Pryor soon hit Brian Robiskie for a seven-yard touchdown and a 14-0 lead.
"Things came together for them today," Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio said. "They had zero turnovers, and I didn't see very many mistakes by them, offensively or defensively."
Ohio State struck quickly again after forcing a Michigan State punt. Pryor went long to Brian Hartline, who jumped between two defenders to catch the ball and then shook loose down to the 1-yard line for a 56-yard gain. Wells punched in from there for a 21-0 lead with under three minutes left in the opening quarter.
"One game doesn't mean a whole lot, but I think with the way we played today, we're headed in the right direction," Hartline said. "We moved the ball, and I think we built a good foundation for the future."
The Buckeyes had to dodge a bullet before stretching the lead to 28-0 a little over midway through the second quarter. Ray Small fielded a punt deep in OSU territory, then fumbled, with the ball squirting loose inside the 5. But Ohio State's Austin Spitler came out of a huge scrum with the ball at the 3-yard line.
After a punt exchange, Ohio State started at its 23 and mixed things up, with Wells breaking a 25-yard run and Pryor hitting Smith for 21 yards. The touchdown came when Wells paved his way on a 12-yard run by flattening an MSU defender with a stiff-arm.
"We definitely answered some questions about our offense," Wells said. "We went out there and scored some points, and the offensive line did another big job today. I can't say enough about those guys."
The 20th-ranked Spartans went to backup quarterback Kirk Cousins in the second half, and he led an 85-yard scoring drive. The touchdown came on a three-yard pass to Deon Curry that cut the Buckeyes' lead to 28-7 with almost 11 minutes left in the third quarter.
The Buckeyes then handed the ball to Wells to consume the clock, while Michigan State was forced out of its comfort zone playing from behind. Early in the fourth quarter Cousins got blind-sided by Malcolm Jenkins and fumbled, with Ohio State's Thaddeus Gibson scooping the ball up and going 69 yards for a touchdown.
Ohio State added a 40-yard field goal by Aaron Pettrey a short time later to make it 38-7, and Jer-
male Hines ran a Michigan State fumble back 48 yards for the final touchdown late in the game.
Contact Matt Markey
at mmarkey@theblade.com
or 419-724-6510.
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