Buckeye Rosters

Recap

Columbus, OH — The Cincinnati Bearcats stepped on the Ohio Stadium field with the reputation as a proven giant killer after an upset win over Wisconsin, a week earlier. UC immediately set out to prove its win was not a fluke and jumped to an early 17-3 lead in the second quarter. But No. 12 Ohio State weathered the storm and scored 31 unanswered points to earn a hard-fought 34-20 win.

The Buckeyes opened the game on the right foot of kicker Dan Stultz. OSU’s opening drive resulted into a 38-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.

The Bearcats immediately answered. Jon Ruffin tied the game with a 46-yard field goal with 4:58 remaining in the first quarter. With 2:27 left in the quarter, LaDarris Vann caught a ball past the outstretched arms of OSU free safety Gary Berry for a 75-yard touchdown reception. UC increased its lead to 17-3 on Deontey Kenner’s 35-yard touchdown run on a quarterback draw.

The momentum of the game changed with 8:57 remaining in the half. With the opportunity to add three points to their lead, Ruffin missed a 33-yard field goal attempt.

On OSU’s next possession, quarterback Steve Bellisari connected with flanker Ken-Yon Rambo for a 59-yard touchdown strike to cut the UC lead, 17-10.

Later in the quarter, Bellisari and Rambo connected for a 55-yard reception, setting up Michael Wiley’s 3-yard touchdown run. The two teams went into halftime tied at 17.

Early in the second half, OSU linebacker Jason Ott recorded his first career interception to set up the next Buckeye scoring drive. Ott finished the game with a career-high 11 tackles, which also tied him for the team high. Two plays later, tailback Derek Combs exploded for a 39-yard rush. On the following play, Combs rushed for a 5-yard touchdown to give OSU a 24-17 lead.

Later in the third quarter, Rambo found himself on the receiving end of another long bomb, this time from Wiley. On a tailback option, Wiley found Rambo for a 50-yard connection, putting the ball on the OSU 6-yard line. Rambo, who injured his ankle on the play, finished the game with three catches for 164 yards. Two plays later, Bellisari found the end zone for his first career rushing touchdown to extend the OSU lead, 31-17.

Early in the fourth quarter, Berry intercepted a Kenner pass and returned it to the Cincinnati 44-yard line. Stultz fired a 41-yard field goal for OSU’s final points of the afternoon.

OSU cornerback Nate Clements tied with Ott to lead the Buckeyes with 11 tackles. Linebacker Na’il Diggs chipped in with 10, including three tackles-for-loss.

Head coach John Cooper notched his 100th career win at Ohio State (100-34-4). Only the legendary Woody Hayes has topped the mark, with 205 wins during his 28-year coaching tenure.