Game Notes From Ohio State vs. Akron – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/8/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 8, 2001
Recap| Stats| Quotes
The game today between the Buckeyes and the Zips was the first in the series since 1895. The squads met every season from 1891-1895, with the Buckeyes winning all but the 1894 meeting. Ohio State now leads the series, 5-1.
The attendance today of 102,602 is an Ohio Stadium record. The old mark of 98,568 was set last season against Michigan.
With the win, OSU improved its opening day record to 96-12-4. The Buckeyes have won 23-consecutive home openers, dating back to 1979.
Coach Jim Tressel is now 1-0 on opening day at Ohio State. His all-time career mark in season openers is 10-5-1. His record against Akron now stands at 8-2-1.
Making their first career starts today were juniors Cie Grant and Derek Ross, and sophomores Darrion Scott, Tim Anderson, Shane Olivea, Michael Jenkins and Bryce Bishop.
True freshmen seeing action today included Mike Nugent, Dustin Fox, Chris Gamble, Angelo Chattams, Simon Fraser, Lydell Ross and Maurice Hall.
Others making their first career appearances were Harlen Jacobs, Thomas Matthews, Jack Tucker, Maurice Lee
This game marked the fourth two-touchdown output of Wells’ career. The others were vs. Michigan (2000), vs. Miami, Ohio (2000) and vs. Iowa (1999). He ended the game with 119 yards rushing, marking the third time he posted over 100 yards in a game and the second-highest total of his career. The others were last season at Illinois (131) and vs. Miami (Ohio) (113).
Jenkins went over the 100-yard receiving mark with a 16-yard reception at the 12:21 mark of the fourth quarter. Both Ken-Yon Rambo (130) and Reggie Germany (123) passed the century mark last season at Iowa. Jenkins’ first career reception was a 27-yard grab in the first quarter.
Steve Bellisari finished with 246 passing yards, marking the 10th time he has eclipsed the 200-yard mark and the second-highest total of his career. His career game-high is 315 yards, set last season at Iowa.
Jamar Martin’s 10-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter was the second TD catch of his career. The other came on the road at Michigan in 1999.
Rickie Coble’s interception return of 87 yards for a touchdown ties the record for the longest by an opponent in Ohio Stadium history and the second-longest ever against OSU. John Edwards of Nebraska also returned an interception for 87 yards in 1955. Illinois’ Julius Rykovich holds the record with a 98-yard return in 1946
Tyson Walter has started 38-consecutive games he has appeared in (he missed all of last season). This was his first start at left guard.
Josh Huston opened the 2001 Buckeye season with the first kickoff of his career, booting it out of the end zone. Nugent’s first career kickoff followed Wells’ second touchdown with 9:14 remaining in the first half.
Mike Nugent added the extra-point following Jonathan Wells’ 14-yard run. It was the first attempt of his career. He also added the extra point on the second TD.
Huston posted his first career point with the PAT (on his first attempt) on Wells’ second touchdown (and the third Buckeye score) of the game.
Chris Vance caught a deflected pass in the third quarter and raced for a 61-yard touchdown for the first catch and score of his career. The last Buckeye to score a touchdown on his first career catch was Ricky Bryant (Fresno State, 2000).
Andy Groom’s 50-yard punt in the second quarter was his first attempt as a Buckeye.
Gamble’s 11-yard catch at with 13:48 left in the first half was the first of his career.
Jason Bond had his first career fumble recovery in the second quarter. The recovery led to Wells’ 1-yard TD run
True freshmen Lydell Ross and Maurice Hall each got their first career carries late in the game. Ross rushed for 5 yards and a first down at the 2:13 mark and Hall scampered for a 28-yard gain to the OSU 3 on his first carry.
