COLUMBUS — It was good enough for a victory over a lightly regarded Mid-American Conference representative — barely — but it won’t be against the No. 1 team in the country next weekend.
No. 3 Ohio State got by Ohio University, 26-14, Saturday in front of 105,002 fans at the Horseshoe, but the lethargic effort the Buckeyes brought in their second game of the season likely won’t cut it in their monumental matchup with USC in Southern California.
It almost didn’t cut it against an OU team that had never beaten a ranked opponent and was coming off a one-point setback to unheralded Wyoming in its season opener.
Without Heisman Trophy candidate Beanie Wells in the backfield and with the Buckeyes apparently looking ahead to the showdown with the Trojans, Ohio U. nearly shocked the college football world, grabbing a second-quarter lead and holding it until one minute had elapsed in the final quarter.
“It kind of looked like everyone predicted you would look in between your opener and your big game on the national stage,” said OSU coach Jim Tressel. “It was disappointing. We’ve got a lot of work to do.
“The good news is we’re 2-0, but we’ll have to play better (against USC). That’s for sure.”
An early second-half touchdown put the Bobcats up 14-6 and appeared to awake the slumbering Buckeyes, who answered the OU score on their next possession, then took advantage of a Bobcat mistake to assume control of the game.
Trailing 14-12, Ohio State punted and got the break it was looking for when OU return man Mark Parson muffed the ball and Shaun Lane recovered just inside the Buckeye sideline at the Bobcats’ 25.
Ohio State scored six plays later on a 2-yard run from Brandon Saine to take its first lead since a Ryan Pretorius field goal for the game’s first points in the opening quarter. The Buckeyes extended their 19-14 advantage when Ray Small returned a punt 69 yards for a TD with 5:57 remaining.
It was a small semblance of offense from a unit that struggled for yards all day. Ohio State outgained OU by just 18 yards in total offense (272-254), winning the rushing battle without Beanie Wells, 162 yards to 145.
“Offensively, we’ve got to get a lot better,” said quarterback Todd Boeckman, who completed 16 of 26 passes for only 110 yards.
Boeckman was also sacked three times, losing the ball in the end zone on one sack, resulting in an OU touchdown.
“Hopefully, next week we’ll pick it up,” he said.
The last time the teams met in 1999, an inspired Bobcats team went to the locker room tied 10-10 with the mighty Buckeyes at the half before losing 40-16.
OU bettered that first-half performance this time around, leading the game 7-6 after the first 30 minutes.
Ohio State scored first with help from its defense, taking a 3-0 advantage on a 27-yard field goal by Pretorius that was set up by an interception and return of 24 yards from defensive end Lawrence Wilson.
But despite having their starting quarterback Theo Scott knocked out of the game on their third possession, the Bobcats responded behind backup Boo Jackson to march 72 yards for the game’s first touchdown — a 15-yard run from Dante Harden.
Ohio State’s defense, which appeared impenetrable in pitching a shutout against Youngstown State, looked a bit vulnerable against the Bobcats, allowing OU to move the ball sufficiently at times and permitting Jackson to break containment for big plays on a number of occasions.
Still, the Buckeye defense surrendered just one TD and forced five turnovers (four interceptions) to balance the effort.
“We had too many missed tackles,” said linebacker James Laurinaitis, who led OSU with nine tackles and added a fourth-quarter interception. “Look at the rushing yards. You never like to see a team move down the field on you like that.”
Ohio State got its wake-up call before heading west for its biggest game of the year. But will it be enough to prepare the Buckeyes for what expects to be a challenge the size of Florida and LSU in the impressive top-ranked Men of Troy?
“I would hope so,” said OSU linebacker Marcus Freeman. “We never want to play like this, but it was an eye-opener.”
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.

No. 3 OSU 26, OU 14

Ohio    0    7    7    0    —    14
Ohio St.    3    3    6    14    —    26
First Quarter
OSU—FG Pretorius 27, 3:00.
Second Quarter
Ohio—Harden 15 run (Way kick), 6:56.
OSU—FG Pretorius 38, 5:02.
Third Quarter
Ohio—C.Meyers recovered fumble in end zone (Way kick), 9:00.
OSU—Herron 1 run (kick failed), 2:51.
Fourth Quarter
OSU—Saine 2 run (Pretorius kick), 14:00.
OSU—Small 69 punt return (Pretorius kick), 5:57.
A—105,002.
    Ohio    OSU
First downs    15    17
Rushes-yards    31-145    40-162
Passing    109    110
Comp-Att-Int    12-34-4    16-28-0
Return Yards    8    111
Punts-Avg.    6-38.3    5-40.0
Fumbles-Lost    2-1    1-1
Penalties-Yards    2-9    1-5
Time of Possession    24:08    35:52
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Ohio, Harden 11-63, B.Jackson 7-55, Garrett 7-22, Th.Scott 3-10, Brazill 1-(minus 1), Team
2-(minus 4). Ohio St., Herron 12-50, M.Wells 9-48, Pryor 5-37, Boeckman 8-26, Saine 5-15, Team 1-(minus 14).
PASSING—Ohio, B.Jackson 9-25-3-86, Th.Scott 3-9-1-23. Ohio St., Boeckman 16-26-0-110, Pryor 0-2-0-0.
RECEIVING—Ohio, Garrett 3-2, Price
2-34, Mooney 2-21, Brazill 2-17, Goulet 1-14, Dunlop 1-13, Harden 1-8. Ohio St., Small 5-27, Sanzenbacher 4-32, Robiskie 3-8, Hartline 2-14, Ballard 1-25, M.Wells 1-4.
 

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