No. 1 Buckeyes vs. Hoosiers on ABC-TV – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/25/1998 12:00:00 AM | Football
October 25, 1998
No. 1 Ohio State (7-0, 4-0) vs. Indiana (3-4, 1-3)
Game Facts Saturday, Oct. 31, 1998, 3:30 p.m. EST Memorial Stadium (52,354; Grass). Bloomington, Ind. ABC TV
The Broadcasts TV – ABC will broadcast the game regionally with Keith Jackson, play-by-play; Bob Griese, color analyst and Lynn Swann, sideline reporting.
Radio – Sports Radio 1460 (AM) The Fan and Oldies B97 (97.1 FM). Paul Keels, play-by-play; Jim Lachey, color analyst; Jim Karsatos, sidelines.
Ohio State Buckeyes Head Coach John Cooper, Iowa State ’62 OSU Record 93-32-4 (.736), 11th year Career Record 175-72-6 (.704), 22nd year Big Ten Record 59-21-4 (.724) Home Record 55-11-1 (.828) Road Record 38-21-3 (.633) Record Against Indiana 8-1-1 Offensive Coordinator Mike Jacobs Defensive Coordinator Fred Pagac
1998 Schedule & Results Sept. 5 at No. 11 West Virginia W, 34-17 Sept. 12 Toledo W, 49- 0 Sept. 19 No. 21 Missouri W, 35-14 Oct. 3 No. 7 Penn State W, 28- 9 Oct. 10 at Illinois W, 41- 0 Oct. 17 Minnesota W, 45-15 Oct. 24 at Northwestern W, 36-10 Oct. 31 at Indiana 3:30 EST (ABC) Nov. 7 Michigan State TBA (TBA) Nov. 14 at Iowa TBA (TBA) Nov. 21 Michigan Noon (ABC)
ANOTHER ABC-TV KICKOFF
The No. 1-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes, and a following of at least 14,000 fans, will travel to Bloomington, Ind., to take on the Indiana Hoosiers in a 3:30 p.m. game Saturday at Memorial Stadium. The contest between the 7-0 Buckeyes and the 3-4 Hoosiers will be televised regionally by ABC TV – OSU’s third ABC appearance of the season – with Keith Jackson, Bob Griese and Lynn Swann describing the action. In the weeks leading up to this game, the Ohio State ticket office went through its initial allotment of 5,000 tickets, and then it sold out of a second allotment of 9,000 tickets within two days of receiving them.
RADIO COVERAGE
The OSU vs. IU game will be broadcast around the state on the 73-station Ohio State Buckeyes Radio Sports Network with Sports Radio 1460 (AM) The Fan the flagship station. Calling the action is first-year play-by-play announcer Paul Keels. He is assisted in the broadcast booth by second-year analyst Jim Lachey. Jim Karsatos will provide sideline commentary.
OHIO STATE’S 7-0 START
John Cooper will say what he likes most about his 11th Ohio State Buckeye squad is its excellent chemistry and work ethic. It also is becoming a team of character that sticks to the situation at hand and doesn’t get influenced by thoughts of over-confidence or looking past the next opponent. The players have been poised and workman-like during the week, efficient and effective on Saturdays. Each week this season they’ve gone into battle with the No. 1 on their chests, but each week they’ve taken opponents’ best shots and have won in convincing, although not always pretty, fashion. Ohio State opened with two dominant wins: a 34-17 road win in No. 11 West Virginia’s hostile backyard and a 49-zip win over Toledo. Two convincing wins over two fine football teams, No. 21 Missouri and No. 7 Penn State, followed. The Buckeyes trailed Missouri 14-13 at halftime, but promptly scored 22 straight points in the second half. The Bucks trailed Penn State late in the first half, 3-0, but turned the momentum behind defense and special teams. Three straight poundings have followed to improve Ohio State’s record to 7-0: 41-0 at Illinois, 45-15 over Minnesota and 36-10 last week at Northwestern. The Buckeyes’ close-to-perfect game has yet to happen this season, but the team is getting a terrific balance on offense and a mighty effort from its defense. The Buckeyes have scored 16 rushing touchdowns and 15 passing touchdowns behind the Joe Germaine-led offense that is producing 216.4 rushing yards per game and 290.1 passing yards per game. All-Americans Andy Katzenmoyer and Antoine Winfield and rising stars Na’il Diggs and Ahmed Plummer spearhead a rock-solid defense that allows just 229.1 total yards per game and has given up only six touchdowns.
THE NO. 1 NATIONAL RANKING…
It’s been Ohio State’s all season and now only two Ohio State teams have held the Associated Press’s top spot longer than the 1998 team’s eight-straight weeks. The 1969 team and the 1975 teams each were No. 1 in the AP poll nine straight weeks. This week, Ohio State received 64 first-place votes and totaled 1,744 points in the AP poll, out-gaining second-ranked UCLA by 103 total points. In the ESPN/USA Today Top 25 Coaches poll, Ohio State received 55 of the 62 first-place votes and totaled 1,543 points. No. 2 UCLA totaled 1,453 points and received one first-place vote.
ALLTIME: OHIO STATE vs. INDIANA
Ohio State and Indiana will be meeting for the 66th time with Ohio State holding a commanding 58-12-5 advantage in the series. The two schools first met in 1901 and this week’s meeting will mark the 28th-consecutive season the two have met on the gridiron. Ohio State is working on a string of seven straight wins over Indiana, dating back to a 27-all tie in 1990 in Bloomington. Indiana’s last win over Ohio State came in John Cooper’s first season as coach, 41-7 in Blooming-ton, and it was part of two straight wins for the Hoosiers over the Buckeyes. Cooper’s Buckeyes are 8-1-1 vs. IU. Ohio State has won 19 of the 22 games played in Bloomington with one tie. OSU has a 39-10-4 record vs. IU in Columbus. Between 1960 and 1986, Ohio State won 23 in a row over Indiana.
LAST YEAR…DEFENSE DOMINATES
Ohio State’s defense allowed just 35 rushing yards off 32 carries and 179 total yards in a 31-0 shutout win. Gary Berry picked off two passes and Clinton Wayne raced 38-yards for a score with another interception to spark the defense. Kicker Dan Stultz booted the longest field goal by a Buckeye in Ohio Stadium: 55 yards. Michael Wiley rushed 18 yards for a touchdown and he threw an eight-yard TD pass to Steve Wisniewski. John Lumpkin scored on a 10-yard reception >from Joe Germaine.
JOE, JOE, DAVID & “D” SHINE IN CHICAGO
Joe Germaine threw for a season-high 342 yards and three touchdowns, David Boston caught eight passes for 171 yards, Joe Montgomery came off the bench to rush for 100 yards and the defense forced three interceptions and registered five sacks in the Buckeyes’ 36-10 win over Northwestern last week. Germaine completed 12-of-17 passes for 231 yards in the second half and he hit Boston with 38- and 31-yard TD passes. Montgomery’s third career 100-yard effort (he had 109 vs. Pitt & 160 vs. Iowa in 1996) included a bulldozing, 18-yard touchdown rush.
THEY’LL GET BUCKEYE, NOT MAPLE, LEAVES
The Buckeye’s Canadian connection of Brent Johnson (Kingston, Ontario) and Clinton Wayne (Brampton, Ontario) intercepted NU passes on back-to-back plays in the second quarter. Wayne deflected a pass at the line of scrimmage that Johnson cradled for his first career interception. Wayne than caught a ball tipped by an NU receiver. He returned it 17 yards to the NU 18. Four plays later the Buckeyes scored on a 35-yard air strike from Joe Germaine to John Lumpkin to take a 23-10 lead.
WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS
David Boston and Joe Montgomery shared the OSU coaches’ offensive player of the week honors and Rob Murphy and Ben Gilbert shared lineman of the week honors. For the sixth time this season the entire defense was cited for its fine play. Kevin Houser was named special teams player of the week.
BUCKEYES AS MAJOR AWARD CANDIDATES
Ohio State Buckeyes are candidates for a majority of the major awards. Three straight 300-yard passing games, strong seasonal stats (61-pct. comp.; 1,863 yards; 14 TDs) and quarterbacking the No. 1 team in the nation has boosted Joe Germaine’s candidacy for the Heisman Trophy. He is also a top candidate for the Davey O’Brien Award. Andy Katzenmoyer is on everyone’s Butkus, Bednarik and Lombardi Award lists. Katzenmoyer won the Butkus Award last year and was a finalist for the Lombardi & Bednarik Awards. Antoine Winfield (41 tackles; 10 PBUs) and David Boston (46 receptions.; 791 yards; 7 TDs; and 18 receptions, 362 yards and four touchdowns the past two weeks), are strong Thorpe Award & Biletnikoff Award candidates, respectively.
HONORED FOR ACADEMICA AS WELL
Three Buckeyes are in contention for major academic awards. Finance major and senior Jerry Rudzinski is the Buckeyes’ 1998 nominee for a National Football Foundation Scholarship. Ohio State leads the nation in NFF Scholarship recipients with 17. Rudzinski and junior starters Kurt Murphy (marketing) and Ahmed Plummer (human resources) have been nominated for GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-America accolades. Rudzinski and Plummer were each 1998 Regional All-Americans.
A RECORD SIX 500-YARD GAMES
Ohio State has topped 500 yards of total offense six times already this season which establishes an all-time school record. The 1969 and the 1995 teams, as well as this year’s, had been tied for most 500-yard games in a season with five. The Buckeyes have accumulated 518, a season-high 586 and 524 in the last three games (against Illinois, Minnesota and Northwestern, respectively) and will try for an Ohio State first four-straight 500-yard games this weekend. Ohio State’s 506.6 yards per game average leads the Big Ten and is fifth nationally.
MORE ON THE OHIO STATE OFFENSE
Ohio State is 14th nationally in passing (290.1 ypg) and 18th nationally in rushing (216.4 ypg) and it is scoring 38.3 points per game which ranks in a tie for 7th nationally. In the Big Ten, Ohio State leads in pass efficiency, scoring and first downs (per game), it is second in passing yards and third-down pct., and third in rushing. Quarterback Joe Germaine, in his first year as the starter, has directed the Buckeyes to 18 scoring drives of 70 yards or more. He is climbing the OSU passing records charts and is establishing himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the country with 1,863 passing yards, 14 touchdowns and only four interceptions. He throws to the best pair of receivers in the country: junior David Boston and senior Dee Miller, a duo that has combined for 81 receptions, 1,349 yards and nine TDs on the year. Michael Wiley and Joe Montgomery are combining for 173.2 yards per game and a per carry average of 6.5 yards. The two have scored 12 rushing touchdowns combined. Wiley’s 112.3 rushing yards per game average is 14th-best nationally. Fullback Matt Keller and TE John Lumpkin have combined for 17 receptions and both know how to block. The offensive line: it features just one senior and it has 101 combined starts.
“SILVER BULLETS” ARE No. 2 Ohio State’s “Silver Bullets” defense is the nation’s No. 2-ranked unit in total defense, allowing 229.1 yards per game. (Florida State leads at 212.3 ypg.) The Buckeyes are the top defense in the nation in pass efficiency, with a rating of 76.3 points (OSU has given up only four TD passes, has intercepted 12 balls and is allowing opponents a completion rate of 46.4 pct.). Three straight games of holding the opponent below 50 net yards rushing has vaulted the Buckeyes to No. 7 nationally against the run with an average 84.4 ypg. The unit is credited with 65 points allowed and its 9.3 points per game is third-best nationally. Additionally, the Bucks lead the Big Ten in total defense, passing efficiency, passing yards and scoring. The defensive secondary – led by All-American Antoine Winfield with Damon Moore, Ahmed Plummer, Gary Berry and Central McClellion – is considered the best in the country. All-American linebacker Andy Katzenmoyer leads a talented corps that co-stars Jerry Rudzinski and Na’il Diggs. The front four features three sophomore starters and one true freshman and it is improving each week. Last week against Northwestern the line contributed three sacks – one apiece from Brent Johnson, Ryan Pickett and Rodney Bailey – two interceptions and three passes batted down at the line of scrimmage. The defensive unit as a whole is blessed with terrific team speed.
GERMAINE’S RECORDS & MORE
Joe Germaine’s quarterback magic continues to lift him to heights that no other Ohio State quarterback has achieved. His season-high 342-yard passing effort against Northwestern increased his own school records for 300-yard games to five for a career, four in a single season and three consecutively. Germaine’s three touchdown passes against the Wildcats – the eighth time in his career he has thrown for three-or-more – bumps his career total to 45 and within striking distance of Bobby Hoying’s school record of 57. Art Schlichter (50) is second. Germaine owns the school record for career completion percentage (59.6 pct.). He has passed for 4,903 yards in his career and he needs 187 yards to join OSU’s top five. Jim Karsatos is currently fifth with 5,089 yards.
BOSTON’S BILETNIKOFF NUMBERS
David Boston has put together two spectacular weeks catching the football. His eight receptions for 171 yards and two touchdowns against Northwestern came on the heels of his superb 10-reception, 191-yard, two-touchdown afternoon against Minnesota. Those figures have lifted the junior from Humble, Texas to NCAA rankings of 8th in receiving yards per game (113.0) and 19th with 6.6 receptions per game. He ranks first and third, respectively, in the Big Ten.
BOSTON GRABS TWO FROM CRIS CARTER
David Boston, already the school record holder in season (73 last year) and single game (14 vs. Penn State last year) receptions, added two more records to his resume against Northwestern. Both belonged to Cris Carter, considered the greatest Ohio State receiver. Boston’s two touchdowns lifted his total to 28, breaking Carter’s record of 27. And his 171 receiving yards represented his ninth game with over 100 yards, topping the mark he shared with Carter. Boston enters the Indiana game with 142 career receptions and needing 13 to pass Gary Williams (154) and 27 to pass Carter (168) for the school record. Boston’s 2,211 receiving yards rank fourth all-time. He needs 42 to pass Doug Donley.
DEFENSIVE SCORES AND NO SCORES
Ohio State’s defense has scored three touchdowns. Against Minnesota, Central McClellion returned a fourth-quarter interception 60 yards for a score. At Illinois, end James Cotton rocked UI quarterback Kurt Kittner, forcing a fumble that Na’il Diggs scooped up and scored from 47-yards out. The key play in OSU’s 28-9 win over Penn State was Jerry Rudzinski recovering a fumble in the end zone after he had surprised quarterback Kevin Thompson. The defense has only allowed 11 scoring drives all year and 56 points. Opponents have a touchdown off an OSU fumble and a blocked punt safety which accounts for their 65 total points.
89 PCT. RED ZONE SUCCESS
Ohio State is converting on 89 percent of its trips inside the red zone. The Buckeyes have made 28 trips and have come away with 19 TDs and six field goals. Opponents have managed eight trips in the red zone with six scores (75.0 pct.)
BUCKEYE LEAVES
Dee Miller broke into OSU’s top five all-time receivers against Northwestern. His six catches boosted his career total to 108, tying him with Billy Anders….Na’il Diggs set a new personal best with 11 tackles vs. NU….Matt Keller had a season-high 22 yards rushing vs. NU….True frosh Steve Bellisari grabbed his first career interception late in the fourth quarter vs. NU….Talk about team defense; ten different Buckeyes have accounted for the 12 interceptions and nine Buckeyes have 20 or more tackles. Five tackles separate the top four….Diggs has a team-best 10 TFLs….OSU’s defense has shut out its last four opponents in the second half….Two receptions by John Lumpkin vs. NU included his eighth career TD….Brent Bartholomew became the second OSU punter to top 9,000 yards. He has 9,068. Tom Tupa punted for 9,564 yards. Bartholomew is tied with Tupa for most career punts (214)….Antoine Winfield needs two solo tackles for 200 career solos. The previous four Buckeyes to record 200 were all linebackers….Winfield (10) and Ahmed Plummer have combined for 19 PBUs. They rank 1-2 in the Big Ten….Joe Germaine leads the Big Ten and is 13th nationally in passing efficiency ….Five players have at least 10 receptions and all but one average at least 16.0 yards per catch….Michael Wiley’s 28-yard TD run vs. NU was his 19th career touchdown.
COOPERS BUCKEYES: 81 Ws IN 1990s
John Cooper’s Buckeyes have been on a roll in the 1990s, especially over the last five years. Ohio State’s 81 wins in the 1990s is sixth-best among Division IA schools and its 58 wins the last five years is fourth-best, trailing only Nebraska (67 wins), Florida and Florida St. (61 apiece).
SENIORS AFTER 40TH WIN
The senior class has a chance to become the third-consecutive senior class to break or tie a four-year Ohio State record for wins. This year’s class now has a four-year record of 39-6 with sights set on smashing the 1996 seniors’ mark of 41 wins. Their 32-6 mark entering the season was the fifth-best record in Division IA over the last three years, trailing only Nebraska (36-2), Florida (34-4), Florida State (32-4) and Tennessee (32-5).
PLAYMAKERS
Ohio State had nine rushing or passing plays covering 20 or more yards against Northwestern to boost its season big-play total to 45. David Boston set a season single game high with five against the Wildcats. He also has the team lead with 18 plays of 20-or-more yards. Michael Wiley’s 76-yard run from scrimmage, vs. Toledo, is the longest. Eight different players have taken part.
20-YARD RECEPTIONS (31) 18 David Boston – 53TD, 39TD, 38, 38, 38TD, 31TD, 30TD, 30, 29, 29, 27, 24, 24, 23, 23, 22, 21, 20 7 Dee Miller – 42, 40, 37TD, 34, 33, 32, 29 2 Reggie Germany – 47TD, 37TD. 2 John Lumpkin – 35TD, 28 1 Michael Wiley – 20TD 1 Ken-Yon Rambo – 39
20-YARD RUSHES (14) 8 Michael Wiley – 76TD, 59, 40, 37, 36, 29, 28TD, 21TD 5 Joe Montgomery – 30, 24, 22, 20, 20 1 Joe Germaine – 22
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THE SCOOP ON COOP
Twelve Buckeyes have been first round NFL draft picks under John Cooper.
THE COACH
John Cooper, now in his 11th season as head coach of the Ohio State University Buckeyes and in his 22nd season overall, is building as fine a collegiate coaching resume as any active coach in the business. Period. And the resume is getting better every year. Cooper, the second-winningest coach in OSU history – behind Woody Hayes’ 205 victories – and with the third-longest coaching tenure behind Hayes (28 seasons) and John W. Wilce (16), has guided four- consecutive Ohio State teams into New Year’s Day bowl games and each of his last three Ohio State teams to at least 10 victories. The former is part of nine-consecutive bowl appearances for the Buckeyes under Cooper. The latter is an accomplishment only three other current head coaches can match (Bobby Bowden at Florida State, Steve Spurrier at Florida and Phillip Fulmer at Tennessee).
THE 1990’s
Cooper’s Buckeyes have won 58 games since 1993 and in the decade of the 1990s, Ohio State has amassed an 81-22-3 record, the sixth-best win total in the decade among all Division IA schools. These streaks of successes has positioned Cooper with an Ohio State record of 93-32-4 and an all-time mark of 175-72-6.
THE AWARDS
Regarding student-athletes, the honors, awards and accomplishments Ohio State student-athletes have garnered under Cooper is matched by no other active coach. Consider, under John Cooper 15 Buckeyes have won first-team All-America honors, 12 have been first-round NFL draft picks, six have won National Football Foundation Scholarships, five have been named first-team Academic All-Americans and eight have won major athletic and academic awards in the last three years alone.
THE MAN
Away from football, Cooper likes any outdoor activities such as golf, fishing and lawn work and hates being confined to a desk and being in the office. As for dining, he says he has never had a bad meal and still loves an old fashioned home-cooked meal of beans, potatoes and cornbread. He enjoys oldies and country music and truly enjoys relaxing with his family.
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A LOOK AT INDIANA
With the Big Ten’s second-ranked rushing offense leading the way, the Hoosiers are off to their best start since 1994.
UPSTART HOOSIERS
After testing defending national champion Michigan on the road, Indiana returns home to host Ohio State in Memorial Stadium. The 3-4 Hoosiers are off to their best start since 1994, and could easily be better than that. One of IU’s losses came in overtime, and two others were by a combined eight points.
LAST WEEKEND
Indiana tried to join Notre Dame and Syracuse and become the third option team to beat the Wolverines this season, but fell short in the 21-10 loss. Led by freshman quarterback Antwaan Randle El, IU rushed for an impressive 235 yards but surrendered 315 total yards to Michigan. Indiana cut the lead to 14-10 with 5:11 remaining in the third quarter, but a four-yard Tai Streets touchdown catch in the final quarter sealed the game. Randle El rushed for 110 yards on 26 carries, but completed just 7-of-22 passes and was intercepted twice.
RUMBLING GROUND GAME
Indiana ranks second in the Big Ten in rushing offense, averaging 222.4 yards per game. Randle El ranks fourth individually in the Big Ten in rushing yards, averaging 80.3 yards per contest. A gifted all-around athlete, he is the only quarterback in the conference to rank in the top ten in rushing yards. Randle El, who will play for Bob Knight on Indiana’s basketball team, beat out 1997 starter Jay Rodgers for the quarterback spot this fall. He was a partial academic qualifier last season, allowing him to practice but not participate in any game action. The 1998 Indiana football media guide describes Randle El as, “one of the most talked about young players in the history of the Indiana football program.” He has rushing, receiving, and passing touchdowns to his credit this season. Junior college transfer Frankie Franklin has seen the majority of the carries at tailback for IU, rushing for 355 yards on 60 carries. Franklin, the 1995 USA Today Player of the Year in Florida, spent the past two seasons at Holmes (Miss.) Junior College. Senior co-captain Chris Gall returns for his final year at fullback, and is tied with Randle El for the team lead in rushing touchdowns with seven. The 6-1, 233-pound Gall is often used near the goal line by IU, and has not been dragged down for a loss yet this season.
GETTING BETTER
Indiana has struggled defensively this season, particularly against the pass. The Hoosiers rank tenth in the Big Ten in pass defense, allowing more than 239 passing yards per game. IU has been somewhat better at stopping the run, ranking fifth in the Big Ten and allowing 133 yards per contest. Head coach Cam Cameron said he saw improvement in his defensive unit against Michigan. “I thought our defense got better today, ” he said. “Greg Yeldell stepped up big for us.” Yeldell, a freshman safety, tied a school record by picking off three passes against Michigan. The Hoosiers are tied for the nation’s lead in interceptions with 16. Senior co-captain Jabar Robinson started all 11 games last season and led the team with 101 tackles. With a team-leading 70 tackles thus far, he is on pace to go beyond that this year. Robinson is also tied with Yeldell for the team-lead in interceptions with four.
1998 INDIANA STATISTICAL LEADERS
RUSHING Att. Yards Avg. TD Antwaan Randle El 143 562 3.9 7 Frankie Franklin 60 355 5.9 2 Chris Gall 54 249 4.6 7
PASSING Att. Co. Yds. TD Int. Antwaan Randle El 160 78 1204 4 6
RECEIVING No. Yards Avg. TD Tyrone Browning 32 581 18.2 2 Chris Gall 21 194 9.2 1
TACKLES Solo Asst. Tot. Sacks Jabbar Robinson 49 21 70 1 Justin Smith 33 15 48 2 Michael McGrath 33 8 41 0
Facts & Figures Location Bloomington, Ind. Enrollment 35,551 President Dr. Myles Brand Athletic Director Clarence Doninger Nickname Hoosiers Colors Cream and Crimson 1998 Record 3-4, 1-3 (Big Ten) Head Coach Cam Cameron Alma Mater Indiana ’83 IU Record 5-13-0 (second year) Career Record 5-13-0 (second year) Record vs. Ohio State 0-1 Offensive Coordinator Pete Schmidt Defensive Coordinator Jon Heacock Letterman Returning/Lost 38/23 Offensive Starters Returning 7 Defensive Starters Returning 6 Specialists Returning 1 Offensive Formation Pro-Style Defensive Formation Flex
1998 Schedule/Results Sept. 13, WESTERN MICHIGAN W, 45-30 Sept. 19, at Kentucky L, 31-27 Sept. 26, at Cincinnati W, 48-14 Oct. 3, WISCONSIN L, 24-20 Oct. 10, at Michigan State L, 38-31 (ot) Oct. 17, IOWA W, 14- 7 Oct. 24, at Michigan L, 21-10 Oct. 31, OHIO STATE Nov. 7, at Illinois Nov. 14, MINNESOTA Nov. 21 at Purdue
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OSU LAST WEEK
524 yards of total offense, five defensive sacks and three interceptions keys seventh win of the season for No. 1 Ohio State.
EVANSTON, ILL. – Behind record setting afternoons for both quarterback Joe Germaine and wide receiver David Boston, and the opportunistic play of the “Silver Bullets” defense, No.1-ranked Ohio State defeated Northwestern, 36-10, in front of 47,130 at Ryan Field. The Buckeyes jumped out to an early 17-7 lead in the first quarter. Tailback Michael Wiley got the afternoon going with a 28-yard touchdown run just 2:28 into the game. On its next possession, OSU marched 63-yards off 10 plays to set up a Dan Stultz 37-yard field goal. Northwestern answered immediately on its next possession with D’Wayne Bates’ 60-yard touchdown reception from Gavin Hoffman, bringing the score to 10-7. The touchdown marked the first time this season the OSU defense had allowed an opponent to score a touchdown in the first quarter. With 2:21 remaining in the quarter, OSU tailback Joe Montgomery powered his way into the end zone with a 19-yard touchdown run. A local product out of Robbins, Ill., Montgomery finished the afternoon with 100-yards rushing off 17 carries. It was his third career 100-yard game. Northwestern put its final points on the board with 6:32 remaining in the first half off a Brian Gowins 39-yard field goal. The remainder of the game was all Ohio State. With just under three minutes remaining in the half, defensive tackle Clinton Wayne intercepted a Hoffman pass at the Northwestern 35-yard line and returned it 17-yards to the NU 17. Just a minute later, on a fourth down play, tight end John Lumpkin made a spectacular catch in the corner of the endzone to bring the score to 23-10 going into halftime. In the second half, the Germaine to Boston connection proved too much for the Wildcats. With 2:31 remaining in the third quarter, the combo hooked up for a 38-yard touchdown reception to bring the score to 29-10. With 8:11 remaining in the game, the duo connected for a 31-yard touchdown to bring the score to 36-10. For Germaine, his 342-yards passing marked his third consecutive 300-yard game, fourth of the season and fifth of his career – all Ohio State records. Boston’s two touchdowns gave him 28 for his career, which sets an OSU all-time career record. His 171-yards receiving marked the ninth-time he has gone over the 100-yard plateau, also- a new school record. The Buckeye defense was as stingy as ever. The group pressured NU into five sacks, eight tackles for a loss, four pass breakups, and three interceptions. Linebacker Na’il Diggs paced OSU with a team high 11 tackles.
CANADIAN CONNECTION
Defensive linemen Brent Johnson and Clinton Wayne recorded their first interceptions of the season on back-to-back possessions in the second quarter. The two have the distinction of being the only two members of the team from Canada. Johnson is from Kingston, Ontario and Wayne is >from Brampton, Ontario.
THE OHIO STATE 500
Ohio State’s 524-yards of total offense marked the sixth time this season OSU had eclipsed the 500-yard plateau.
OHIO STATE vs. NORTHWESTERN
The game marked the 66th football meeting between Ohio State and Northwestern. The Buckeyes have now won all eight games against Northwestern under coach John Cooper, and they now have a 21-game win streak over the Wildcats, dating back to the 1971 season (a 14-10 Northwestern win at Ohio Stadium). OSU, which leads the all-time series 52-13-1, including a 22-5-1 record in Evanston, has not lost in Evanston since a 21-0 NU win in 1958. The Buckeyes have won 12 in a row in Evanston since that loss.
No. 1 Ohio State 36 Northwestern 10 Oct. 24, Ryan Field; ESPN2
Scoring Ohio State 17 6 6 7 36 Northwestern 7 3 0 0 10
First Quarter OSU – Wiley 28 run (Stultz kick), 12:32 OSU – FG Stultz 37, 5:31 NU – Bates 60 pass from Hoffman (Stultz kick), 4:07 OSU – Montgomery 19 run (Stultz kick), 2:21
Second Quarter NU – 39 FG Gowins, 6:32 OSU – Lumpkin 35 pass from Germaine (kick failed), 1:46
Third Quarter OSU – Boston 38 pass from Germaine (conversion failed), 2:31
Fourth Quarter OSU – Boston 31 pass from Germaine (Stultz kick), 8:11 Attendance – 47,130
Team Statistics OSU NU First downs 22 11 Rushes-yards 44-182 30-48 Passing yards 342 190 Return yards 13 74 Comp.-Att.-Int. 19-36-1 17-43-3 Sacked-yards lost 5-42 2-15 Punts 8-42.1 13-42.4 Fumbles-lost 3-1 1-0 Penalties-yards 10-82 10-70 Time of possession 30:01 29:59
Individual Statistics Rushing – Ohio State, Joe Montgomery 17-100, Wiley 13-37, Keller 4-22, Germaine 5-11, Garcia 1-6, Wells 1-4, Combs 3-2. Northwestern, Bennett 3-40, Anderson 9-28, Marshall 8-17, Gooch 3-9, Kreinbrink 3-(-17), Hoffman 4-(-29).
Passing – Ohio State, Germaine 19-35-1 342, Garcia 0-1-0 0. Northwestern, Hoffman 15-39-2 173, Kreinbrink 2-3-0 17, Broxterman 0-1-0 0.
Receiving – Ohio State, Boston 8-171, Miller 6-95, Lumpkin 2-41, Keller 2-16, Germany 1-19. Northwestern, Bates 7-95, Tant 4-30, Bennett 2-15, Anderson 1-17, Marshall 1-17, Stuart 1-11, Burden 1-5.
Missed Field Goals – Ohio State, Stultz 42.
