Columbus, OH—-Third-ranked Ohio State (3-0) versus Toledo Rockets (2-1), Saturday night at Ohio Stadium, the Buckeyes put on a clinic, and OSU walked away with a 77-21 victory.
Big Ten play starts next week for the Buckeyes, they are looking forward to next week’s Big Ten opener against Wisconsin and they have solid momentum with victories over Notre Dame, Arkansas State, and Toledo.
The Buckeyes never lost a meeting against Ohio teams in The Shoe, with a combined record of 46-0-1 last night’s win moves the record to 47-0-1. Toledo and Ohio State last time played in 2011.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is back from a leg injury that he suffered early during the season-opening win over Notre Dame, Proctor and Tanner, did not play. Henderson went to the locker room following a touchdown with an unknown injury but returned to the sideline later in the half.
“Next week we have a conference opponent, so everything is going to be even harder,” Day said. “So usually we wait until Sunday to move on. We’ll do that as we leave the stadium tonight.”
Ohio State scored first, on a seven-yard run by TreVeyon Henderson with 11:11 remaining before he was led into the locker room. Henderson’s touchdown was set up by a throw from Stroud to Cade Stover which covered 38 yards. The Buckeyes went 82 yards in eight plays during that drive.
Toledo responded with a 50-yard scoring pass from Toledo Dequan Finn to Thomas Zsiros, the strike covered 75 yards in just four plays and it took just less than a minute of the clock. Defensive Coordinator Jim Knowles aggressive defense allow for big plays, the defense was in man coverage and there was no help over the top deep— the defender was beat deep on a post-corner route.
Miyan Williams, C.J. Stroud, and Marvin Harrison Jr had a excellent day for the Buckeyes, Harrison Jr finished off as he did last week. He made remarkable catches against Toledo cornerbacks who had good coverage on him throughout the game. OSU went another 75 yards, it took six plays which upped the score to 14-7 with 7:52 left in the quarter.
Stroud was 8-of-8 with 132 yards and one touchdown.
OSU lead to 21-7 early in the first from a Egbuka swept around outside three yards out, that drive went for three-plays 59-yards out. Stroud had his first incomplete pass of the night after nine completions after overthrowing his receiver.
The Buckeyes seen the end zone in four red zone appearances, Stroud found Julian Fleming from five yards out for his first catch of the season. Fleming finally got his first touchdown on the season as well.
Toledo Finn looked amazing as he faced pressure throughout the night, he evaded pressure and he scrambled for a 23 yard touchdown, which made the score 28-14 with 10:41 until halftime. Finn has four rushing touchdown on the season. Toledo went 75 yards in only 11 plays, the drive took up four and a half minutes off the clock.
HALFTIME STATS:
TOLEDO PASSING: Finn 7-12, 96 yards, 1 TD
OHIO STATE PASSING: Stroud 18-20, 297 yards, 4 TD
TOLEDO RUSHING: Finn 6-72, TD
OHIO STATE RUSHING: M Williams 10-77; Henderson 4-19, TD
TOLEDO RECEIVING: Zsiros 1-50, TD; Blankumsee 2-19; Maddox 2-15
OHIO STATE RECEIVING: Harrison Jr 6-102, 2 TDs; Stover 3-83; Egbuka 3-46; Fleming 3-23, 2 TDs
TOTAL OFFENSE: TOLEDO 27 plays, 174 yards, 6.4 Yards Per Play; OHIO STATE 42 plays, 441 yards, 10.5 Yards Per Play
Ronnie Hickman had the Buckeyes first turnover of the season, he intercepted Finn as Finn attempt to throw into double coverage.
Freshman Dallan Hayden, the third Buckeye back who came in for Williams and Fullback Mitch Rossi scored from one yard out and put the Buckeyes ahead 49-14. That drive took less than two minutes into the third quarter. The Buckeyes went 48 yards in just four plays, for there seventh touchdown in seven possessions.
Hayden rushed for a 100-yards, he is the first Buckeye running-back to rush for 100-yards this season, and it’s his first career touchdown as a Buckeye, it was a one-yard run right over center butt. OSU went 68 yards in just 11 plays, Hayden carried the ball six times on that drive. Hayden had 108 yards on 17 carries for day.
Jayden Ballard scored his first career touchdown on a 72 yard catch from quarterback Kyle McCord. It took the Buckeyes only 74 yards in just two plays and 43 seconds. The 70 point performance score by OSU is the most since playing Maryland in 2019, which they scored the same amount of points.
“There are a few things here we’ve got to clean up for sure going into conference play, but suddenly you look at the scoreboard, and we’re proud of what we did,” Day said.
UP NEXT:
Toledo: At San Diego State next Saturday.
Ohio State: Hosts Wisconsin next Saturday in Big Ten opener.
