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Sep. 22—COLUMBUS — Ohio State wrapped up the nonconference portion of its 2024 schedule with a 35-point win over Marshall on Saturday at Ohio Stadium.
The 49-14 win was not quite as dominant as the first two of the season, but the third-ranked Buckeyes were all smiles afterward because they looked explosive on offense and shut out the Thundering Herd (1-2) in the second half.
“Bigger challenges ahead,” Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said. “We’re heading into conference play, but the identity’s starting to build. That running game is starting build an identity and some confidence up front, which was needed.”
With a Big Ten battle at Michigan State on the horizon, here are five things to know about the win over Marshall:
1. There were some early struggles.
Ohio State piled up 307 yards on only 21 plays in the first half while Marshall had 203 yards on 46 plays and gained 14 first downs.
The visitors had four drives that lasted eight plays or more and possessed the ball for 21:47 in the first half.
That figure was partially inflated by Ohio State having scoring drives of one and two plays plus a four-play drive short-circuited by a Marshall interception.
Marshall opened the game with a 13-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to take a 7-0 lead and got on the board again late in the second quarter with another sustained drive that was aided by a personal foul for roughing the passer.
2. The Ohio State offense ripped off big play after big play.
Ohio State averaged 9.98 yards per play, the fifth most in a single game for the Buckeyes.
That is going to happen when a team not only makes 11 explosive plays but four of 40 yards or more.
Emeka Egbuka scored on a 68-yard catch and run, Jeremiah Smith had a 53-yard sprint after catching a slant, Quinshon Judkins went 86 yards for a touchdown, and TreVeyon Henderson had a 40-yard scoring…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/analysis-5-things-know-ohio-140800907.html
Author : Dayton Daily News, Ohio
Publish date : 2024-09-22 14:08:00
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