Ohio State Stays Perfect in 44-point Shutout of Minnesota – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/28/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 28, 2006
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – No. 1 Ohio State won for the 16th straight game as it claimed a 44-0 victory over Minnesota in front of 105,455 fans Saturday at Ohio Stadium. Antonio Pittman ran 21 times for 116 yards and two scores and added two catches for 47 yards while the Buckeye defense had three interceptions and recorded a shutout for the first time since the 2003 season.
Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith finished the game 14-of-21 for 183 yards and one touchdown and added 43 yards on six rushing attempts and his first rushing touchdown of the season. The defense used interceptions by Antonio Smith, Jamario O’Neal and Malcolm Jenkins and turned back the Golden Gophers twice on fourth down, including a stop at the OSU 15-yard line midway through the fourth quarter that kept the shutout bid alive.
The shutout was the first pitched by the Buckeyes since winning 20-0 over Northwestern in Columbus on Sept. 27, 2003. Ohio State scored 44 points for the second straight week after beating Indiana 44-3. Since giving up 17 points at Iowa on Sept. 30, the Buckeyes have given up just 17 points.
Ohio State rolled up 484 yards of total offense, getting 266 yards rushing to go with 218 yards passing. Minnesota had 182 yards of total offense and was limited to just 47 yards on the ground.
Ted Ginn Jr. took the game’s opening kick and returned it 35 yards to the OSU 43-yard line. The Buckeyes needed only eight plays to move 57 yards to the end zone and take a 7-0 lead just 4 minutes, 1 second into the game. Pittman, who carried five times for 37 yards on the drive, provided the score on a 10-yard run over the left end. Aaron Pettrey connected on the point after. The touchdown was Pittman’s ninth this season.
The Buckeye defense forced three-and-out on Minnesota’s first possession and then Pettrey’s foot gave the Buckeyes a 10-point cushion with 5:49 to play with his 42-yard field goal. The score capped a seven-play, 48-yard drive that included a 30-yard pass to Pittman.
Minnesota took two of the three first-half Ohio State fumbles, but was not able to turn them into any points. The Gophers recovered their second fumble at the OSU 38-yard line and went for it on 4th-and-1 at the OSU 29-yard line. The Buckeye defense turned back Amir Pinnix at the line of scrimmage to take over on downs.
From there, Ohio State moved the ball 71 yards to the end zone to take a 17-0 lead on an 18-yard slant pass to Brian Robiskie with 3:49 to play in the first half. Pittman carried five times for 16 yards and Troy Smith added an 11-yard rush, but got an 11-yard reception from Anthony Gonzalez and a 15-yard catch from Ginn. Robiskie’s touchdown was his fourth of the season.
| Jack Nicklaus dooting the I during Script Ohio at halftime of the game. |
Minnesota was able to pick up a first down when it got theball back, but Gopher quarterback Bryan Cupito was picked off byJenkins at the OSU 36-yard line. He returned his fourthinterception of the season 29 yards to the UM 35-yard line, givingthe Buckeyes the ball with 1:32 to play before halftime. Ohio Statewas not able to score before the clock expired.
Ohio State held Minnesota to only 81-first half yards, including 17 yards rushing. The Buckeyes had 256 yards in the first half and Troy Smith 11-of-15 passes for 132 yards. Pittman had 16 carries for 77 of the Buckeyes’ 124 rushing yards.
Minnesota had the ball to open the second half, but there was Antonio Smith, reeling in his second interception in as many weeks, giving the Buckeyes excellent field position after an 8-yard return to the UM 23-yard line. Pittman carried for 2 yards and then dropped a pass before the Troy Smith scored from 21 yards out to give Ohio State a 24-0 lead with 12:41 to play.
The Gophers turned the ball over again on their next possession. This time it was O’Neal with the interception of Cupito at the UM 41-yard line. It was the 18th interception by the Buckeye defense this season. On 3rd-and-13 from the 45, Troy Smith found Brian Hartline for 32 yards. On the next play, Pittman carried the final 13 yards for his second touchdown of the game to give Ohio State a 30-0 lead after Pettrey’s PAT was blocked by Dominique Barber.
The Buckeyes next drive began after a 2-yard punt return by Jenkins to the OSU 26-yard line. Ohio State marched 74 yards and scored on the 10th play of the drive on a 3-yard run by Chris Wells. His fourth score of the season gave the Buckeyes a 37-0 lead after Pettrey’s PAT.
Justin Zwick engineered the Buckeyes’ next drive, moving the Buckeyes 85 yards in 14 plays. He ran the ball in from 1-yard out for his first career rushing touchdown to give Ohio State a 44-0 lead with 2:56 to play in the game.
Hartline led Buckeye receivers with four catches for 69 yards. Eight different Ohio State receivers had a least one catch in the game. Wells finished with 15 carries for 90 yards to go with his TD run. James Laurinaitis led the Buckeyes with 11 tackles, including a 6-yard sack, one of two sacks in the game by Ohio State. Lawrence Wilson had the other. The unit had four stops behind the line of scrimmage.
Cupito was 13-of-25 for 120 yards, but the Buckeyes turned his three interceptions into 13 points. Pinnix was held to 14 carries for 46 yards while Jack Simmons caught five passes for 48 yards. Minnesota slipped to 3-6 overall and 0-5 in league play.
Ohio State (9-0 overall, 5-0 Big Ten) travels to Champaign, Ill., to meet Illinois Saturday at 3:36 p.m. The game will be televised by ESPN2.
