Buckeye Rosters

Recap

Columbus, OH — No. 8 Ohio State scored 45 or more points for the second-consecutive game, including two defensive touchdowns, as the Buckeyes cruised to a 51-17 victory over Kent at Ohio Stadium.

Quarterback Craig Krenzel completed 12-of-14 passes for 190 yards and one touchdown after completing his first 11 passes to start the game. Combine those passes with his final completion vs. Texas Tech in the season opener, and he tied an Ohio State school record for consecutive passes (12) completed.

The defense scored two of the Buckeyes’ six touchdowns, both on interceptions. Michael Doss scored on a 45-yard interception return in the first quarter and then freshman A.J. Hawk returned his pick 34 yards for a score in the second quarter.

After Kent State went three-and-out on its first possession, Ohio State’s Donnie Nickey partially blocked a punt and the Buckeyes took over at the 31-yard line. Maurice Clarett gave the Buckeyes the lead five plays later on a 2-yard touchdown run just two minutes, 44 seconds into the first quarter.

Doss then picked off a Josh Cribbs pass at the Kent State 45-yard line and returned it for the Buckeyes’ second score of the game with 9:21 remaining in the first. Maurice Hall ran off the right side for 28 yards and the third OSU score of the game to put the Buckeyes on top, 21-0.

Krenzel capped a 7-play, 66-yard drive with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Clarett to give OSU a 28-0 lead 1:03 into the second quarter. It was Ohio State’s first passing TD of the season against nine rushing scores. Krenzel was 9-for-9 with 104 yards after the score.

Mike Nugent gave the Buckeyes a 31-0 lead with a 40-yard field goal with 9:05 in the second quarter. Hawk scored on the second interception of the game by the Buckeyes, returning it 34 yards for the touchdown. The rookie defender gave the Buckeyes a 38-0 lead with 7:31 remaining in the first half. The last time the Buckeyes had two defensive touchdowns in a game was against Fresno State in 2000, when the Buckeyes recorded a school record four defensive scores.

Kent State got on the board thanks to a 28-yard pass from Cribbs to Daryl Moore with 3:11 to go in the first half. It capped a 13-play, 75-yard drive. The Golden Flashes capitalized on an Ohio State fumble on the Buckeyes’ next possession and added another touchdown, a 13-yard pass from Cribbs to Antonio King, just before the end of the half. Ohio State led 38-14 at intermission.

Nugent kicked his second field goal of the day, this time from 33 yards out, to put the Buckeyes up 41-14. Kent State kicker Travis Mayle missed a 26-yard field goal try wide right. Nugent then kicked a 45-yard field goal, equaling his career long, which he kicked in the season-opening win over Texas Tech, to put Ohio State up 44-14 with 14:56 to play in the game. Mayle added a 33-yard field goal with 8:25 remaining in the game to pull within 44-17.

Ohio State added a late touchdown in the fourth quarter when Scott McMullen hit Ryan Hamby for an 18-yard score with 4:09 to play.