Buckeye Rosters

Recap

Columbus, OH — The No. 21 Ohio State Buckeyes used a season-high 534 yards in total offense and a solid defensive effort to defeat the Iowa Hawkeyes in convincing fashion, 41-11.

Iowa quarterback Scott Mullen led his team on a six-play, 57-yard march that resulted in an 18-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Kasper. UI fullback Rob Thein followed with a rush for the two-point conversion to give the Hawkeyes an 8-0 lead.

The Buckeyes answered immediately. On OSU’s first possession, tailback Jonathan Wells capped an 11-play, 71-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run. Dan Stultz kicked the extra point to cut the lead to 8-7.

Steve Bellisari made it 14-8 on a nifty 18-yard quarterback draw. Later, his three-yard pass to tight end Kevin Houser made it 21-8 and took the wind out of the upset-minded Hawkeyes.

OSU kept the pressure on after the intermission. Wells’ second touchdown, this one a three-yard run, gave the Buckeyes a 28-3 cushion.

After a 28-yard field goal by Tim Douglas, the OSU defense put a strangle hold on the Hawkeyes. An onside-kick gave Iowa the ball on the OSU 47-yard line. But two plays later, OSU cornerback Ahmed Plummer intercepted his team-high fourth pass of the year.

The Hawkeyes next possession finished with the same results, this time with defensive end Kenny Peterson recording his first career interception. On a first-and-ten at the OSU 29-yard line, Mullen scrambled and was hit by linebacker Joe Cooper as he released the ball. An alert Peterson snared the ball and returned it 31 yards to the OSU 38-yard line. Three plays later, Bellisari connected with Ken-Yon Rambo for a 40-yard touchdown, giving the Buckeyes a 35-11 lead.

Na’il Diggs led the OSU defense with 11 tackles. Ahmed Plummer chipped in with eight, one interception and a pass breakup. Joe Cooper also recorded his first career interception in the fourth quarter.