COLUMBUS — Playing a Division I-AA school like Youngstown State in the opening game of the season provides some obvious benefits for Ohio State, a national-title contender. It allows the Buckeyes to work out the kinks on both sides of the ball, try some new schemes or plays and it gives the freshmen on the roster a chance to showcase their abilities.
During Saturday’s 43-0 win, Ohio State freshmen again played a big role. Freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor made his much-anticipated debut, while lesser-known players such as running back Dan “Boom” Herron and receiver DeVier Posey exceeded the coaches’ opening-game expectations.
“You got to see some flashes of some of the young guys,” Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. “DeVier Posey made a couple of nice plays out there. Terrelle is obviously a guy that can do some great things.”
Herron, who saw increased time in the second half after starter Beanie Wells was knocked out of the game with a foot injury, rushed five times for 17 yards, and Posey led the team with four receptions for 47 yards and a touchdown.
“I tried to find my mom right afterwards, but I never did,” said Posey, who had to beat a pair of defenders at the goal line. “I never thought in my wildest dreams I would score today. I just closed my eyes and dove in.”

Pioneer of a Penguin

Youngstown State redshirt freshman Brad Miller waited patiently before finally taking the field at historic Ohio Stadium.
“It was a really good experience,” said Miller, a
two-time All-Ohio honorable mention from Elyria High.
Miller was part of the defensive unit that shut down Pryor and Ohio State during the Buckeyes’ final possession. Miller, a 6-foot-2,
280-pound defensive tackle, even had a cheering section rooting for him.
“(Pioneers) Coach (Steve) Hamilton came down and watched the game,” Miller said. “It was good to see him and his fan group.”

Extra points

Ohio State senior cornerback Shaun Lane is the older brother of Youngstown State fullback Ben Lane. Shaun had four solo tackles and a pass breakup Saturday, while Ben didn’t register a statistic. The boys’ father, Garcia Lane, was a letterman for the Buckeyes from 1981-83 and is the only Ohio State player to ever return two punts for touchdowns in the same game.
• Ohio State, which has won its last 30 season openers at Ohio Stadium, improved to 175-48-15 against opponents from Ohio. The Buckeyes, who are now 2-0 against Youngstown State, have not lost to an Ohio rival since a 7-6 defeat to Oberlin in 1921.
• Youngstown State junior Ben Nowicki had a career-high eight punts, while Ohio State senior A.J. Trapasso didn’t punt at all — the first game the Buckeyes didn’t punt in since last season against Penn State.
• Saturday’s attendance was 105,011 — the 25th-largest crowd in Ohio Stadium history.
• Honorary captain for Saturday’s game was
All-America linebacker Andy Katzenmoyer, who played for the Buckeyes from 1996-98.
Contact Shaun Bennett at 329-7137 or sbennett@chroniclet.com. 

THUMBS UP

Ryan Pretorius, Ohio State kicker

The senior kicker connected on a career-high 4-of-4 field goals, including a 51-yarder (just a yard short of his career high) during the second quarter. It was just the eighth time a Buckeye had four field goals in a game and the first since Josh Huston made five against Texas in 2005.
“I think Ryan Pretorius really hit the ball well,” Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel said.

THUMBS DOWN

Jarvis Richards, YSU cornerback

While the entire Penguins secondary missed assignments and did a poor job helping on run defense, Richards was burned for several long plays, including TD passes to Brian Robiskie and freshman DeVier Posey.
“You have to take your hat off to (Robiskie),” Richards said of the TD catch. “He made a good move to get around me and (Todd Boeckman) made a good throw.”

PLAY OF THE GAME

Junior running back Chris Wells chipped at the Youngstown State defense during the first drive of the game with runs of 6, 4 and 2 yards before exploding through the middle of the line and sprinting 43 yards into the end zone to set the tone for the game. Wells also provided the biggest gut-wrenching play of the game when he fell to his back in pain after injuring his foot during a goal-line run early in the third quarter.
“Beanie kind of planted on that foot and lost his balance,” Tressel said. “It was just as he was receiving the ball and that made him fumble. Obviously, that’s disappointing.”

THE PRYOR WATCH

Taking a quick glance at freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor’s season at Ohio State …
SATURDAY’S OUTING: Pryor saw his first action in a Buckeyes uniform during Ohio State’s third possession of the game, then led the offense during two more possessions in the second half. Pryor completed his first four passes before throwing a pair of incompletions to backup receivers in the final drive of the game. Pryor threw for 35 yards — his longest a 14-yard pass over the middle to tight end Rory Nicol in the first quarter — and was sacked once, but he thrilled the crowd with his feet, rushing for 52 yards and a touchdown.
SEASON PASSING: 4-for-6 (66.7 percent), 35 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs, 1 sack.
SEASON RUSHING: Nine attempts, 52 yards, 1 TD, 0 fumbles.
TERRELLE’S TAKE: “I’d give myself a 4 (out of 10). I still think there are a lot of things with my game I have to work on. I have to work on my dropback, looking for the receivers … just about everything.”
TEAMMATE’S TAKE: “(Pryor) was relaxed, poised and confident — it’s hard to see that in freshmen. He made some great plays and ran the ball really well.” — Senior quarterback Todd Boeckman

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