Buckeyes On The Offensive In 35-6 Rout – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/25/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct 25, 2003
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By MICHAEL MAROT
AP Sports Writer
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) – Lydell Ross rushed for a career-high 167 yards and three touchdowns Saturday, backup receiver Santonio Holmes caught two touchdown passes and Craig Krenzel threw for 272 yards as the eighth-ranked Buckeyes routed Indiana 35-6.
The Hoosiers (1-7, 0-4) lost their 10th straight Big Ten game and 11th in a row to Ohio State. The Buckeyes (7-1, 3-1) won their first road game of the season – if it could be called that.
With more than half the sold-out crowd wearing scarlet and gray, Ohio State chants resounded throughout rain-soaked Memorial Stadium throughout the game while boos reverberated when Buckeye fans didn’t like a call.
For the Hoosiers, it was every bit as embarrassing on the field.
Their offense sputtered to 131 total yards, 80 of which came in the final 15 minutes when the outcome had already been determined.
Ohio State’s offense, which entered the game ranked 114th out of 117 Division I-A schools, finished with a season-high 603 total yards, nearly doubling their previous best of 345.
And it didn’t take long to get started.
After one quarter, Ross had 113 yards rushing – four more than the Buckeyes averaged in their first seven games and just 17 off his career-best. Krenzel finished one yard shy of his career high.
Meanwhile, Indiana finished with minus-12 yards rushing and managed only 46 total yards in the first half.
It was that kind of day.
About the only thing that went wrong for Ohio State was an injury to starting wide receiver Drew Carter midway through the second quarter. Carter landed awkwardly on his right knee following a 17-yard reception and was carried off the field by offensive linemen Shane Olivea and Adrien Clarke.
Carter did not return and Ohio State spokesman Steve Snapp said he would be evaluated when the Buckeyes returned home.
Ohio State took control quickly with Ross breaking off huge chunks of yardage on the Buckeyes’ opening possession. He finished the drive with an 11-yard touchdown run. Ross averaged 7.3 yards on 23 carries.
Three series later, Krenzel hooked up with Carter on a 49-yard completion to set up Ross’ 2-yard TD run.
Ohio State made it 21-0 when Holmes, Carter’s replacement, caught a 15-yard touchdown pass diving for the final 2 yards with eight seconds left in the half. Holmes finished with six catches for 153 yards.
Chris Gamble’s 21-yard reception early in the third quarter set up Ross’ 1-yard TD run and Holmes caught a 47-yard TD from backup quarterback Scott McMullen with 6:23 left in the game.
Indiana averted a shutout when Chris Taylor scored on a 17-yard touchdown pass from Graeme McFarland.
Krenzel completed 19 of 26 passes and threw one interception although he did not play the fourth quarter.
Indiana’s Matt LoVecchio was 11-for-20 for 89 yards with one interception before being replaced late.
