Postgame Notes From Ohio State vs. Kent State – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/7/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Recap| Box Score| Quotes
Sept. 7, 2002
Columbus, Ohio
Attendance: 98,689
This is the first meeting between Ohio State and Kent State. The Buckeyes are 17-1 vs. teams representing the Mid American Conference.
Ohio State’s Donny Nickey blocked a punt in the first quarter. It was OSU’s first punt block since Michael Doss blocked one at Indiana Sept. 29, 2000.
Following the blocked punt, the Buckeyes scored on a 2-yard TD run by freshman tailback Maurice Clarett. It was Clarett’s fourth career TD run. Clarett notched his first career touchdown reception with 13:57 to play in the second quarter. He took a Craig Krenzel pass 7 yards for the score. It was also Ohio State’s first touchdown pass of the season.
Krenzel’s TD pass was his second of his career. He threw a 17-yard TD pass vs. Illinois Nov. 17, 2001.
Mike Doss intercepted a Joshua Cribbs pass with 9:21 to play in the first quarter and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown. It was Doss’ fourth career TD (3 fumble returns/1 interception return). The last Ohio State interception return for a touchdown was by Derek Ross vs. Penn State Oct. 27, 2001. That play also was a 45-yard return.
Maurice Hall scored his first career touchdown on a 28-yard run (which tied his career long rush) with 4:35 to play in the opening quarter.
The last time Ohio State scored 21 points in a quarter was against South Carolina in the Outback Bowl Jan. 1, 2001. The last time the Buckeyes scored 21 points in the first quarter was against Texas A&M in the Sugar Bowl Jan. 1, 1999. Ohio State quarterback Craig Krenzel completed his first 11 pass attempts vs. Kent State and his last pass vs. Texas Tech to tie an Ohio State record for consecutive passes (12) completed at Ohio State. Bill Mrukowski (1961), Mike Tomczak (1983) and Jim Karsatos (1985) hold the record. Karsatos is the only Buckeye to complete 12-consecutive passes on a single game (Wisconsin). Krenzel went 7 for 7 in the first quarter for 56 yards.
Krenzel finished the day completing 12 of 14 passes for a completion percentage of (.857). Krenzel’s effort ranks third all time for single game completion percentage. In the last two games, Krenzel has completed 23 of 28 passes (.821) for 308 yards and a TD. He completed 11 of 14 attempts for 118 yards against Texas Tech.
Ohio State completed 11 consecutive passes before Scott McMullen threw an incompletion in the second quarter. Krenzel completed his last pass vs. Texas Tech and his first nine vs. Kent State before giving way to McMullen, who completed his first pass.
Freshman linebacker A.J. Hawk scored the second defensive touchdown of the game (both INTs) for the Buckeyes when he intercepted a Cribbs pass and returned it 34 yards for a touchdown with 7:31 remaining in the second quarter. The last time the Buckeyes had two defensive touchdowns in a game was against Fresno State Sept. 2, 2000, when the Buckeyes recorded a school-record four defensive scores (2 INTs/2 fumble returns).
With 51 points against the Golden Flashes, Ohio State scored 40 or more points in back-to-back games for the first time since victories over UCLA (42-20/Sept. 11) and Ohio University (40-16/Sept. 18) in 1999. Both games were played at Ohio Stadium.
Sophomore kicker Mike Nugent has made his last five field goal attempts after making field goals of 40, 33 and 45 yards vs. Kent State. His 45-yarder with 14:56 left in the fourth quarter tied his career high.
Redshirt freshman running back JaJa Riley saw his first game action as a Buckeye on the kick return squad and then got his first carry on the ensuing drive.
Redshirt freshman tight end Ryan Hamby caught his first touchdown on Ohio State’s scoring drive with 4:09 to play in the fourth quarter. The play was an 18-yard pass from Scott McMullen.
