Ohio State dominates IU, 33-14

When IU coach Bill Lynch said that his team has never faced a player like Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor, he wasn’t kidding.

Pryor finished with 222 yards and four touchdowns in the air and on the ground in leading his team to a 33-14 rout over the Hoosiers on Saturday night.  Buckeye running back Brandon Saine added 113 rushing yards.

IU junior quarterback Ben Chappell was 20-34 for 210 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.  IU freshman running back Darius Willis had only 23 yards on 11 carries.

“That’s as good of a defense as there is in America,” Lynch said.  “I give Ohio State credit, they are a very good football team.  We didn’t play well enough and they certainly did what they needed to do to win.”

The first quarter was completely dominated by Ohio State, which had possession for 11:31 compared to IU’s 3:29.

The Buckeyes rushed for 42 yards on five carries through Ohio State quarterback Pryor, Saine and wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher.  But an incomplete pass and two short rushes by Saine led to a made field goal by kicker Aaron Pettrey.

Ohio State’s next drive was more successful.  Powerful running from Saine and Pryor brought the ball to IU’s five-yard line.  Pryor then connected with wide receiver Duron Carter on a slant for the touchdown.

At the time of the touchdown, 7:29 remaining in the first quarter, Ohio State had already totaled 100 yards on the ground.

But after a missed field goal by Pettrey on the Buckeyes’ next drive, the Hoosiers responded.

IU junior quarterback Ben Chappell began with a 32-yard pass to sophomore wide receiver Tandon Doss.  Chappell then found sophomore wide receiver Damarlo Belcher for 15 yards to the Ohio State 30-yard line.

Doss subsequently ran twice for 16 yards and caught a seven-yard pass before hauling in a seven-yard touchdown to make the score 10-7 Buckeyes.

But Ohio State responded on the very next drive.

With 12:50 remaining in the half, Pryor ran for 14 yards and followed with an 18-yard pass to Sanzenbacher.  The next play he found wide receiver DeVier Posey for a 23-yard touchdown.

Just before halftime, Pryor again found a way to score.  He passed to running back Zach Boren from eight-yards out for the touchdown and a 24-7 lead.

The second half was not much different.

IU’s opening drive ended in a Chappell pass being intercepted by Ohio State cornerback Anderson Russell.

On the Hoosiers’ next possession, they were forced to punt after 3 plays.  But a poor snap resulted in a safety for the Buckeyes and a 26-7 advantage.

Pryor added a one-yard touchdown run with 12:05 remaining to lead 33-7.

On the final play of the game, Chappell found sophomore wide receiver Matt Ernest in the back of the end zone for the score, but it was not enough to overtake Ohio State.

IU senior linebacker Matt Mayberry said containing Pryor’s mobility was a major factor on Saturday.

“We knew what they were going to do coming into it,” Mayberry said.  “We knew Pryor was going to come out and try to run the ball, that’s what he likes to do.  They just executed better than us tonight.

IU senior defensive end Jammie Kirlew said his team the Buckeyes controlled the matchup from the opening kickoff.  

“We just came out flat,” Kirlew said.  “We didn’t play good enough to win today.  They took advantage of every opportunity.”