COLUMBUS — An Ohio State onslaught from all sides saw the Buckeyes put a 73-14 score on a Maryland (3-7, 1-6) team that looked like they never really knew what hit them, but probably had a pretty good idea.
Eight different players scored touchdowns for OSU, led by running backs JK Dobbins and Demario McCall both with two. Quarterback Justin Fields accounted for four touchdowns, with three through the air and one on the ground. He completed 16-of-25 passes for 200 yards, playing just two quarters of action.
Ohio State (9-0, 6-0) had six offensive possessions in the first half and scored touchdowns on each possession.
Maryland had the ball first, but they didn’t keep it long, thanks in part to a Davon Hamilton sack on second down. The Buckeyes quickly took possession of the ball, then marched down the field in six plays, covering 47 yards, and ending in a Justin Fields pass over the middle of the field to Binjimen Victor, who then turned it upfield for the easy touchdown.
The Terps went three-and-out on their next possession as well. OSU took over following a punt and drove the ball again. Fields completed passes of 23 yards to tight end Jeremy Ruckert and 33 yards to KJ Hill. Fields then put the period on the drive with a 4-yard touchdown run on a nearly broken play with JK Dobbins.
Dobbins rushed for 90 yards on 12 attempts.
Buckeye head coach Ryan Day then surprised everyone in the stadium by calling for the onside kick, and kicker Blake Haubeil dropped a dime down the sideline on a pooch to Chris Olave, who ran under it as if it had been a timing route from the arm of Justin Fields himself.
Fields completed a 27-yard pass to Garrett Wilson to get the ball inside the 4-yard. Fields then found KJ Hill on the next play for a touchdown to make it 21-0 Ohio State.
Faced with a third-and-10 on the ensuing possession, Maryland quarterback Josh Jackson was sacked by middle linebacker Tuf Borland to end the drive. Following the punt, the Buckeyes went right back on attack. Master Teague ripped off a 30-yard run that took the ball from midfield to the red zone. This drive was capped by running the exact same play as the touchdown pass to KJ Hill on the drive before, except it was all a decoy as Fields found Chris Olave on the opposite side of the field in the back of the end zone to make it 28-0.
After stifling the Terrapin offense yet again, the Buckeye offense was back at it, gaining chunks of yards like 11 gluttons all working in unison. In the end, JK Dobbins scored from seven yards out to make it 35-0 with 4:58 still to play.
Even though Chase Young was out this week, the Ohio State pass rush was still felt, and no drive was that more true than when the Terp offense took the field down by five touchdowns. Tyreke Smith, Davon Hamilton, and Malik Harrison all had sacks for the Buckeyes, with the third coming on fourth down at the Ohio State 46-yard line.
On the third play of the drive, JK Dobbins weaved untouched through prospective tackles for a 20-yard touchdown jaunt, giving the Buckeyes a 42-0 lead late in the second quarter.
Ryan Day then used all three of the Buckeyes’ timeouts on Maryland’s final possession of the first half, which began with just 52 seconds on the clock. Day was trying to get a punt block, but the Buckeyes narrowly missed and ended the half by simply taking a knee.
Ohio State emptied the bench to start the third quarter.
Following a fantastic interception by sophomore linebacker K’Vaughan Pope, quarterback Chris Chugunov threw a perfect pass to Garrett Wilson in the corner of the end zone to make it 49-0.
The Terps finally got on the board on a 4-play, 64-yard drive that was helped by 45 yards in penalties from the Buckeyes. Quarterback Josh Jackson found receiver Dontay Demus for a 26-yard touchdown to make it 52-7.
Freshman running back Marcus Crowley added his first career rushing touchdown early in the fourth quarter, making it 59-7. Maryland running back Javon Leake returned the ensuing kickoff 70 yards, which the Terps then turned into a quick 27-yard touchdown drive.
McCall added two scores while the Buckeyes tried to run out the clock.
The Ohio State defensive line totaled five sacks without Chase Young, including three by the starting due of Tyreke Smith (2) and Zach Harrison (1).
On md. final 1st half poss., osu called two t.o., then md. passed on 3rd down, so osu had 1 t.o. left for the drive, if needed.
Not to be nitpicky, but I prefer to see you folks use proper grammar. You said Dobbins and McCall led the way with touchdowns, both with two. No, they BOTH had four. They EACH had two. Great game. Go Buckeyes.
Does anyone know the status of Joshua Alabi? He has missed the last 2or 3 games
Alabi dressed and was cleared to play, but was held out for precautionary reasons.
Does anyone know the status of Joshua Alabi? He has missed the last 2-3 games.
Seems to me that you may have missed Tuf Borlands sack.
I guess you included it, but didn’t mention it with the other 3. My bad.