Post Game Notes From Ohio State vs. Texas Tech – Ohio State Buckeyes
8/24/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 24, 2002
Recap| Box Score| Quotes| Photo Gallery
OHIO STATE POSTAGAME NOTES
Attendance: 100,037
True freshman Maurice Clarett, redshirt freshman Ryan Hamby, sophomore Chris Gamble, juniors Robert Reynolds and Will Allen and senior Mike Stafford all made their first start as a Buckeye today. Quarterback Craig Krenzel made his first start in Ohio Stadium.
Seven of the 10 true freshmen listed on the two-deep played in the game today. Maurice Clarett, A.J. Hawk, Mike D’Andrea, Bobby Carpenter, E.J. Underwood, Nate Salley and Joel Penton all saw action against the Red Raiders. Carpenter was on the kick-off team to open the game and pinned the Red Raiders’ deep in their own territory with a tackle of Ivory McCann on the TTU 8-yard line. Clarett carried the ball in the Buckeyes’ first play from scrimmage.
Freshman Maurice Clarett reached the 100-yard mark on his 12th carry of the day, a 2-yard run in the second quarter. He ended the game with 175 yards rushing (on 21 attempts) and also had 30 yards receiving (on four catches). Clarett’s rushing total is the most ever by a Buckeye freshman in his first game.
Clarett ended the game with 175 yards. The last Buckeye freshman to rush for over 100 yards in a game was Lydell Ross against Indiana last season (124 yards). The last Buckeye to rush for over 100 yards in a game was Jonathan Wells against Michigan in 2001 (129 yards).
Clarett had three touchdowns in the game. The last Buckeye to rush for three TDs was Jonathan Wells against Michigan last year.
The Buckeyes’ young trio of underclassmen tailbacks – freshman Maurice Clarett (175 yards) and sophomores Lydell Ross (40) and Maurice Hall (74) combined for 289 yards in the game today. The Buckeyes’ total rushing attack went for 317 yards.
With the win, Ohio State extends its winning streak in home openers to 24. The Buckeyes are 97-12-4 all-time in season openers. Against teams in the Big 12 in season openers, OSU is undefeated, 14-0-1.
OSU head coach Jim Tressel is 11-5-1 all-time in openers, 2-0-0 at Ohio State. Tressel’s record at OSU moves to 8-5. In his career, he is 143-62-2.
The Buckeyes are 2-0 all-time vs. Texas Tech. Against the Big 12, OSU is 25-3-1 all-time.
Ohio State is 2-0 in the Pigskin Classic. In 1994, OSU defeated Fresno State, 34-10, at Anaheim Stadium in Anaheim, Calif. The Big Ten moves to 5-1 in the Pigskin Classic and the Big 12 drops to 2-3.
This is the third game in sophomore Lydell Ross’ career with two touchdowns. Last year he scored twice against both Indiana and San Diego State.
Mike Nugent’s 45-yard field goal in the third quarter was his career best. His previous high was a 44-yarder against Northwestern in 2001.
In the third quarter, sophomore Dustin Fox recorded the second interception of his Buckeye career. His first came on the final play of the game against Michigan last season.
The attendance of 100,037 today breaks a streak of 31 consecutive sellouts in Ohio Stadium. The last game to not be sold out was OSU vs. Wyoming in 1997.
Quarterback Craig Krenzel tied his career high with 11 completions in the game. He ended the game with 118 yards on 11-of-14 passing.
Today (Aug. 24), is the earliest opening date in Ohio State history. OSU is 4-2 in August all-time.
TEXAS TECH POSTGAME NOTES
KICKING OFF
Ohio State won the toss and deferred to Texas Tech. The Red Raiders elected to receive and will defend the south endzone.
GETTING STARTED
Offense – LT Daniel Loper, LG Cody Campbell, C Toby Cecil, RG Rex Richards, RT Casey Keck, QB Kliff Kingsbury, FB Foy Munlin, SH Wes Welker, TE Mickey Peters, WR Anton Paige, WR Carlos Francis. Defense – LE Rodney McKinney, LT Lamont Anderson, RT Clayton Harmon, RE Aaron Hunt, LLB Mike Smith, MLB Lawrence Flugence, RLB Marquis Turner, LCB Ricky Sailor, SS Ryan Aycock, FS Byron Johnson, RCB Joselio Hanson.
EARLY START
Today’s game is the earliest scheduled kickoff for a Red Raider team in school history. The previous earliest start was Aug. 26, 2000, in the Hispanic College Fund Football Classic against New Mexico in Lubbock.
TECH VS. THE BIG TEN
Today’s game is the second-straight for the Red Raiders against a Big Ten opponent and the fifth all-time. Texas Tech faced Iowa in the Alamo Bowl at the conclusion of the 2001 season. It’s also the third time Tech has opened the season against a Big Ten oppnent. The Red Raiders have faced Ohio State twice, Iowa twice (both in the Alamo Bowl) and Penn State.
FIRST STARTS
The following Red Raiders started in their first collegiate football game – LG Cody Campbell, FS Byron Johnson and LB Marquis Turner. Also, true freshman Thomas Bachman, redshirt freshman John Saldi and junior college transfer Raymond Pierce all made appearances.
HUNT SETS SACK RECORD
DE Aaron Hunt recorded his 26th career sack in the second quarter and becomes the all-time leader at Texas Tech, topping the old mark of 25.5 by Montae Reagor (1995-98). He also is four away from setting the Big 12 mark.
CAREER FIRSTS
FB Clay McGuire – 17-yard grab in first quarter is first career reception.
FRANCIS MOVING UP CHARTS
WR Carlos Francis moved into the Tech top 10 in career receptions with his 92nd career catch in the first quarter. He now has 96 career receptions and ranks 10th. He also moved within one touchdown reception of the Texas Tech career top 10 with his sixth.
WELKER ALSO ONE AWAY
Wes Welker caught his sixth and seventh career touchdown passes in the fourth quarter and now ranks 10th on the school’s top 10 list.
OPENING LOSS LEACH’S FIRST
Today’s loss was the first loss in a season opener for third-year head coach Mike Leach. The Red Raiders defeated New Mexico in the opening game each of the last two seasons.
SECOND LARGEST CROWD
Today’s attendance of 100,037 is the second-largest for a Texas Tech game in school history. The Red Raiders played in front of 106,285 at Tennessee Aug. 30, 1997. It also is the fourth-largest crowd to watch a Big 12 team.
