Ohio State, Arizona Look to Build Off Season-Opening Wins – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/6/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 6, 2000
Associated Press
Defense and turnovers were the name of the game in season-opening victories for Ohio State and Arizona. They should be again when the schools meet on Saturday.
Hoping to put the memory of last season’s disappointing 6-6 record behind them, the No. 18 Buckeyes (1-0) got this season off to a flying start Saturday with a 43-10 rout of Fresno State.
The Buckeyes’ defense stole the spotlight by scoring a modern-era, school-record four touchdowns, two on fumble recoveries and two interception returns.
Senior cornerback David Mitchell recorded two of those scores, running 34 yards with a recovered fumble and 51 yards with his second career interception. On the day, the Buckeyes intercepted four passes.
Ohio State’s offense, however, had a very quiet day, with junior quarterback Steve Bellisari completing 8 of 14 passes for 95 yards and one touchdown. Senior Derek Combs led the rushing attack, carrying 14 times for 88 yards.
“We need to learn from our mistakes last week and get better,” Ohio State coach John Cooper said. “This is our first trip of the year and we need to be mature enough to handle playing on the road. It will be hot out there, but it was hot last Saturday. Our mind-set has to be ‘nothing should keep us from winning.”‘
Bellisari suffered a bruised left hip Saturday and left late in the third quarter, but expects to start against Arizona (1-0).
The Buckeyes will put their power attack up against an Arizona defense that was on top of its game in a 17-3 victory over Utah Saturday. The defense recorded six sacks and forced two fumbles that led to a pair of touchdowns.
Senior linebacker Adrian Koch returned a fumble 10 yards for a TD and Larry Croom scored on a 13-yard run for Arizona, which managed just 146 yards of total offense but committed no turnovers. Quarterback Ortege Jenkins was a dismal 3-for-15 for only 11 yards and will need a much better effort against Ohio State.
“I measure quarterbacks in terms of victories, and O.J. helped us get there,” Arizona coach Dick Tomey said. “The good thing is he knows we can still win if he has a bad day.”
These teams were a combined 23-2 in 1998, but both dropped to .500 last season.
“We will relish the opportunity to play Ohio State. We know it is going to be a battle,” Tomey said. “Their defense is tremendously quick, they have a powerful running game, and their quarterback is a very good athlete. It is going to be a whole different kind of challenge.”
Ohio State has won two of three meetings between the schools, including a 28-20 victory at home in 1997.
