Ohio State subdues Northwestern 20-0 in Big Ten Opener – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/27/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 27, 2003
Box Score| Quotes| Notes
AP Recap
Transcript of Ohio State Post Game Press Conference
COLUMBUS, Ohio – This time the Buckeyes opponent didn’t get off the mat.
After heart-stopping finishes the previous two Saturday’s, Ohio State got an early lead and held Northwestern’s wide-open passing attack to just 64 yards in posting a convincing 20-0 win over the Wildcats in the Big Ten opener for both teams.
Ohio State improved to 5-0 (1-0 Big Ten), extending the nation’s longest winning streak to 19 games. Northwestern dropped to 2-3, 0-1.
Although Northwestern had the most rushing yards against Ohio State this year (156 yards), the Buckeyes’ defense stifled the Wildcats passing attack all day. Wildcats quarterback Brett Basanez was 10 of 24 passing with the longest connection for just 12 yards.
OSU senior quarterback Scott McMullen, starting his second straight game for the injured Craig Krenzel, was 16 of 25 passing for 166 yards and one touchdown, a third quarter connection to tight end Ryan Hamby. Junior Lydell Ross started at tailback and was the Buckeyes’ leading rusher with 44 yards on nine carries and a touchdown.
A sold-out Ohio Stadium crowd of 104,680 saw the Buckeyes score on its opening possession of the game for the first time this season. After holding the Wildcats to three yards on their opening possession of the game, the ensuing punt gave Ohio State the ball at its own 41.
Despite a penalty and Maurice Hall recovering a fumbled exchange from McMullen, the Buckeyes drove 59 yards in 10 plays, capped by a 12-yard touchdown burst from Ross. The junior tailback bounced outside after getting stuffed at the line, and sprinted to the left corner for the score. Mike Nugent added the extra point and the Buckeyes were ahead to stay with 8:39 to play in the first quarter. McMullen hit on all four of his passes in the scoring drive, including connections of 15 and 10 yards to Michael Jenkins.
Nugent’s first of two field goals came on the Buckeyes’ second possession in the first quarter. Ohio State’s drive started in Northwestern territory at the 46 but after one first down, the drive stalled at the 15 where Nugent booted a 32-yarder and Ohio State led 10-0. The Buckeyes got the ball back after cornerback Dustin Fox forced Ashton Aikens to fumble on a reverse play around the right side. Linebacker Robert Reynolds recovered at the Northwestern 46.
Both teams punted on their next possessions before Northwestern took control of the ball with 19 seconds remaining in the first quarter. They held onto the ball for 8:52 on that drive which saw them march from their own 22-yard line to the OSU goal line before a holding penalty, a sack and a delay of game penalty pushed the offense back to the 28-yard line. After a gain of 11 yards, Slade Larscheid missed a 35-yard field goal attempt that sailed wide left with 6:27 to play in the first half.
The teams exchanged punts another time before a McMullen pass intended for tight end Ben Hartsock tipped off his hands into the arms of safety Bryan Heinz with 1:30 to play. Northwestern was forced to punt and Ohio State took control at its own 12-yard line with 40 seconds to play. After a short rushing play, the Buckeyes downed the ball to run out the clock and take a 10-point lead into the locker room.
The teams combined for just 248 total yards in the first half with Ohio State managing a 136-112 margin. That total included 89 yards passing as McMullen completed 8-of-13 passes for 85 yards. Backup Justin Zwick added a 4-yard completion. Ross had six first half carries for 34 yards as the Buckeyes ran for 47 yards. The Wildcats ran for 65 yards and added another 47 through the air.
The Buckeyes came back in the second half and drove 80 yards on 15 plays to build a 17-0 lead with 8:31 in the third quarter. Three plays after McMullen picked up 16 yards on a quarterback draw to set up first-and-goal from the Northwestern 3-yard line, he found Hamby in the end zone for a one-yard score.
Northwestern drove 50 yards on its next possession before Larscheid missed another field goal attempt, also wide left and short, this time from 47 yards. The Buckeyes took over at their own 30-yard line, crossed midfield to the Northwestern 37-yard line and did not convert on fourth-and-two, giving the ball back to the Wildcats.
Ohio State scored on its second possession of the fourth quarter as Nugent hit his second field goal of the day with 8:34 to play in the game to give the Buckeyes a 20-0 lead. That 42-yard kick capped a five-play 22-yard drive following a Northwestern punt.
Ohio State went deep into their bench on the day. Seven Buckeyes carried the ball and eight receives had a reception. Zwick threw his first career pass and was 3-of-7 on the day for 20 yards. The Buckeyes also utilized their other freshman signal-caller as Troy Smith lined up behind center and ran the ball twice for 12 yards. On the defensive side, Marcus Green and Quinn Pitcock started side-by-side at defensive tackle.
Ohio State has a bye week next Saturday and will not play again until Oct. 11 when it travels to Wisconsin for a 9:08 p.m. (EDT) game televised by ESPN. Northwestern entertains Minnesota next week.
