Rapid Reaction: Buckeyes offense hits stride in blowout win over Western Kentucky
COLUMBUS — Ohio State was always aware that growing pains were going to be part of the process to begin the season.
But 23 points against Indiana and 35 against Youngstown State weren’t exactly confidence-inspiring offensive outputs, even in the middle of an ongoing quarterback battle. Ryan Day shut the competition between Kyle McCord and Devin Brown this week, going with the junior McCord with just one game between the Buckeyes and a trip to Notre Dame.
In a 63-10 win over Western Kentucky, Ohio State scored 49 offensive points — including 35 in an eight-minute stretch of the second quarter — to show off that this offense, much like Ryan Day offenses of the past, has that gas pedal it can step on and accelerate.
Ohio State found its scoring groove again.
“We needed to take the next step,” Day said. “We’re about to jump into it here in the middle of the season. We have to go on the road next week. That was a good week of work right there, now. It started Sunday. Tuesday was a really physical day. Wednesday was a great day, and Thursday we kept going at it.
“It was all week because we knew we had to turn this up, and we need to build some momentum going into next week.”
Ohio State scored on six of its first seven possessions. The only time it was shut out of the end zone was on a strip-sack turnover that McCord took full blame for. But that play aside, the Buckeyes offense looked like the one fans, pundits, media and coaches have become so accustomed to seeing every Saturday.
It was powerful in the way that it ran the football, totaling 204 yards and getting the ball to its best players. The Buckeyes were lethal in the passing game, McCord had just four incompletions all night and three touchdown passes. And it was timely, creating space for its best players such as Marvin Harrison Jr., who went over the 100-yard mark again, and Emeka Egbuka.
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In the past, the word ‘clinical’ has come to mind with the Ohio State offense. And it felt that way for the first time this season on Saturday as points just kept piling up.
“I think this was probably our most complete game as an offense,” McCord said. “Just trying to take strides. I felt like we ran the ball really well. I feel like we had success passing the ball. It’s definitely a big confidence boost going into a big test next week.
“So it’s just all about how we can take the step from Week 3 to Week 4 and continue to get better.”
Ohio State certainly took a big step forward Saturday in the blowout win. Now it must carry that into a pivotal week of practice in the preparation for Notre Dame.
These are the growing pains Ohio State cannot avoid. But that doesn’t make them easy to wade through in the opening weeks of the season, especially when they must be cleaned up before Sept. 23, when the Buckeyes go to South Bend to face Notre Dame.
Lettermen Row was in the Horseshoe for the Buckeyes win over Western Kentucky on Saturday afternoon. And after watching Ohio State improve to 3-0 and hearing from the Buckeyes post-game, the Lettermen Row crew is back with a full breakdown of the game. Make sure to catch the video at the top of the page or on the Lettermen Row Youtube channel.
