Ohio State Downs San Diego State, 27-6 – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/17/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 17, 2005
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AP Recap Transcript of Ohio State Post Game Press Conference
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 9/9 Ohio State football team defeated San Diego State, 27-6, in front of 104,533 Saturday at Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes rushed for three touchdowns, including two by junior quarterback Troy Smith.
Smith led the Buckeyes in rushing with 87 yards on 14 carries. He also threw for 149 yards, going 14-for-26. Roy Hall and Santonio Holmes each had four catches, going for 44 and 42 yards, respectively. Kicker Josh Huston was 2-for-2 on his field goal tries.
It did not take long, but the Buckeyes found themselves down only 11 seconds into the game. On the first play from scrimmage after a touchback to start the game, SDSU quarterback Kevin O’Connell hit Brett Swain down the right sideline and he raced 80 yards for the quick score to give the Aztecs an early 6-0 lead with 14:49 to play in the game. The PAT by Garrett Palmer was wide right.
Ohio State took the lead with 26 seconds to play in the first quarter when quarterback Smith ran 14 yards and Huston converted the PAT to cap a three-play scoring drive that covered 20 yards. The score was set up on a 35-yard punt return by Holmes to the SDSU 35-yard line before a late hit on the Aztec defense put the ball on the 20-yard line. Smith carried 4 yards and Antonio Pittman carried for 2 yards before Smith scored to put the Buckeyes up 7-6. Smith’s 1-yard keeper gave the Buckeyes a 14-6 lead with 5:15 to play in the first half. The score capped an eight-play, 32-yard drive, with 21 yards going to Smith. The play was set up after the OSU defense forced the Aztecs to punt on fourth-and-7 from the SDSU 10-yard line. Holmes returned Michael Hughes’ 35-yard punt 13 yards to the SDSU 32-yard line.
The eight-point advantage held up until halftime. The Buckeyes outgained the Aztecs 187 to 135 yards and split it 101 yards passing to 86 yards rushing. After San Diego State’s 80-yard pass play to open the game, the Ohio State defense limited the Aztecs to only 55 total yards, 34 by pass. They rushed for only 21 yards in the first half.
The Buckeyes kicked a field goal on their first possession after intermission. Huston connected from 25 yards out to give Ohio State a 17-6 lead with 9:33 to play. OSU marched 62 yards in 13 plays, consuming 5:22 off the clock.
Michael Franklin took a 49-yard boot by OSU punter A.J. Trapasso at the SDSU 13-yard line and did not gain any yardage on the return it as time expired in the third quarter. But, a holding penalty on San Diego State meant the quarter could not end. On the “free” play, O’Connell kept the ball and rounded out to his right, but a fumble on the option pitch was recovered by OSU linebacker Anthony Schlegel just inside the 1-yard line. Tailback Brandon Schnittker took the ball 1 yard for the score to give Ohio State a 24-6 lead with 14:58 to play in the fourth quarter.
San Diego State punted after a three-and-out and Ohio State took over on the SDSU 43-yard line following a 17-yard return by Ted Ginn Jr. Ohio State moved 21 yards on six plays before Huston made the score 27-6 with a 39-yard field goal with 5:55 left on the clock.
Ohio State closes out a four-game homestand to open the season next week against No. 21/22 Iowa. The game will kickoff just after noon and will be televised by ABC Sports.
