Bellisari Leads No. 14 Buckeyes Over Iowa – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/21/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 21, 2000
Box Score| Quotes| Notes
COLUMBUS-Buckeye quarterback Steve Bellisari threw for 315 yards, completed 17 passes and connected on three touchdown passes, all career highs, in leading Ohio State to a 38-10 win over Iowa.
Ohio State (6-1, 3-1) forced Iowa (1-7, 1-3) to turn the ball over on each of its first two possessions leading to a 10-0 lead that never was relinquished by the Buckeyes.
OSU senior defensive end Rodney Bailey sacked Iowa’s Jon Beutjar, forced a fumble recovered by linebacker Courtland Bullard. That set up a 14-yard touchdown run by senior Derek Combs with 12:36 to play in the first quarter to give Ohio State an early 7-0 lead.
On the Hawkeyes’ next possession, Beutjar was pressured by OSU defensive back Derek Ross forcing the Iowa quarterback to thrown a pass intercepted by Ohio State’s Donnie Nickey.
Buckeye senior kicker Dan Stultz then tied the Buckeye career field goal record with his 49th on a 37-yard kick giving Ohio State a 10-0 lead. Stultz tied Tim Williams (1990-93) with the first quarter kick.
Iowa cut the lead to 10-3 on its next possession on a 22-yard field goal by Nate Kaeding with just over 3 minutes to play in the opening quarter.
Buckeye receiver Ken-Yon Rambo then broke a personal 10-game scoring drought with an 8-yard touchdown reception from Bellisari. Rambo gave the Buckeyes a 17-3 cushion. His last TD grab was against Iowa Oct. 30, 1999. He now has eight career scoring catches. The drive was aided by OSU senior receiver Reggie Germany. He made three catches for 56 during the 7-play, 65-yard drive.
Germany then was the beneficiary of a Bellisari TD pass on the Buckeyes’ next possession. With 12:13 to go in the second quarter, Germany caught a slant pattern, eluded the Hawkeye secondary, and outran the Iowa defense for a 37-yard score to give OSU a 24-3 advantage.
It was Germany’s first touchdown catch in 14 games dating back to the Wisconsin game last season Oct. 2, 1999. He finished the first half and the game with six catches for 123 yards, setting a career best in single-game receiving yards.
Iowa then drove 62 yards in its next possession to score on a 27-yard touchdown catch by tight end Erik Jensen with 9:32 to play in the second quarter.
The Buckeyes then missed on a pair of field goal attempts on their next two possessions.
Iowa failed to move the fall and was forced to punt with under three minutes to go in the half.
Buckeye return man Nate Clements returned Jason Baker’s 60-yard punt 48 yards to the Ohio State 32.
Bellisari then found senior Chad Cacchio over the middle for a 32-yard touchdown strike putting the Buckeyes up 31-10 at the half.
Cacchio’s scoring catch was his fourth of the season and just his eighth catch on the year. He returned to the lineup after missing two games with an ankle injury.
The Buckeyes got on the board first in the second half with 8:04 to go in the third quarter. Following a faked punt in which OSU holder Andy Groom rushed 14 yards for a first down. Senior Jerry Westbrooks then went off right tackle for a 1-yard touchdown run giving the Buckeyes a 38-10 lead.
