Ohio State Buckeyes Cruise Past Akron in Season Opener
- September 1, 2024 11:03am
- 158
No. 2 Ohio State shook off a slow start to dominate Akron 52-6 in their season opener on Saturday, led by freshman Jeremiah Smith's two touchdown receptions. The Buckeyes' offense, under the direction of new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, struggled in the first half but found its rhythm in the second, scoring 35 unanswered points.
COLUMBUS, Ohio - No. 2 Ohio State overcame a sluggish start to bury Akron 52-6 in the opener for both teams Saturday.
Under new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, the Buckeyes needed nearly all of the first half to start running smoothly against the overmatched Zips.
Smith dropped the first pass thrown to him on the opening drive. The Buckeyes punted, leading to an Akron field goal.
Smith redeemed himself, however, turning around to make a slick catch in the end zone of a 16-yard pass from Kansas State transfer quarterback Will Howard for a touchdown.
Late in the first half, the much-hyped receiver from South Florida caught a 9-yard pass in the end zone with cornerback Devonte Golden-Nelson draped all over him. That put the Buckeyes up 17-3 at the half.
A 45-yard contested catch in the third quarter set up a 2-yard scoring run by Quinshon Judkins, the first as a Buckeye for the Ole Miss transfer.
Howard finished 17 for 28 for 228 yards and three TDs.
The Zips got field goals of 48 and 49 yards by Garrison Smith.
The Buckeyes were seven-touchdown favorites, but didn't look like it for most of the first half. The offensive line, especially, seems to still be a work in progress. They finally started to tune up and roll in the second half.
Akron will travel to Rutgers next Saturday, while Ohio State will host Western Michigan.
In other news, Alabama beat Utah State 55-0, Georgia beat Oregon 49-3, and Michigan beat Colorado State 51-7.
* The Buckeyes' offense struggled in the first half, but found its rhythm in the second.
* Jeremiah Smith had a strong debut with two touchdown receptions.
* The offensive line needs to improve, especially in pass protection.
* The Buckeyes will be a heavy favorite against Western Michigan next week.
Related articles
-
Lee Corso Misses "College GameDay" for First Time in 2023 Season
ESPN's iconic college football pregame show, "College GameDay," was missing a familiar face on Saturday as legendary analyst Lee Corso was absent due...
- 06 Oct 2024
-
Spine-Chilling Moment: NC State Quarterback Grayson McCall Carted Off After Vicious Hit
NC State quarterback Grayson McCall was involved in a terrifying incident during Saturday's game against Wake Forest, sustaining a severe blow to the...
- 06 Oct 2024
-
Greg Landry, Former Lions QB and Bears Coach, Dies at 77
Greg Landry, a longtime NFL quarterback who also coached the Detroit Lions and won a Super Bowl with the Chicago Bears as their offensive...
- 06 Oct 2024
-
Keanu Reeves Makes Professional Racing Debut at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Hollywood star Keanu Reeves, known for his roles in blockbuster films like "The Matrix" and "John Wick," has embarked on a new career path as a...
- 06 Oct 2024
-
The Mets, Like the '98 Yankees, Dominate in the Clutch
The New York Mets pulled off another late-inning comeback to take a 1-0 lead in the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies. The Mets scored five runs...
- 06 Oct 2024
-
Magic Johnson Endorses Kamala Harris, Urges Black Men to Vote for Her
NBA legend Magic Johnson, a lifelong Democrat, joined Vice President Kamala Harris at a rally in Flint, Michigan, on Friday, where he urged Black men...
- 06 Oct 2024
Leave a comment
Your comment is awaiting moderation. We save your draft here
0 Comments
Chưa có bình luận nào