Ohio State freshman quarterback Luke Fahey finished the game 21-of-32 for 201 yards and three touchdowns. His performance came during a 28-19 victory over Northwestern on Saturday. The win ended a two-game losing streak for the Buckeyes. Fahey showed more composure than before, even as the team made costly errors.
The game was not a smooth ride for the home team. Ohio State trailed early after a Northwestern field goal. The Buckeyes took the lead and held it, but mental mistakes kept the score close. A fumble by Isaiah West while trying to run out the clock gave the Wildcats life. Northwestern scored a touchdown on the final play of the game. The final score of 28-19 made the contest look tighter than the flow of play suggested.
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A Freshman Stepping Up
Fahey is still a work in progress, but he played better than in previous starts. He did miss several throws and reads, yet he finished with three scoring passes. The young quarterback looked for star receiver Jeremiah Smith more often. He also avoided taking too many check-downs. Per Buckeyes Wire, these changes showed he is gaining confidence at a key position. The team needs him to play even better in Lincoln next week against Nebraska.
Smith made more history, becoming the Big Ten’s all-time leader in career receiving yards with 3,875. The offense found a way to move the ball despite the pressure. Fahey’s ability to connect with Smith on big plays helped keep drives alive. This was a step in the right direction for a squad that had struggled recently.
Defense Finally Makes a Play
This game saw a major upgrade in the Buckeyes’ pass rush. Against the Wildcats, the Silver Bullets recorded five sacks. Will Smith Jr. ended a five-game stretch without a sack by an Ohio State defensive lineman. Kenyatta Jackson Jr. led the Buckeyes with two sacks, marking his first multi-sack game of the season. Will Smith Jr. and Qua Russaw each added a sack.
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Despite the sacks, the defense still allowed big plays on third down. Northwestern converted six of 11 third downs through the first three quarters. The average third-down distance to go was 8.5 yards. Four of the seven big plays allowed by Ohio State came on third or fourth down. On third-and-long situations, the Buckeyes surrendered 20+ yard passes twice. The nation’s highest-paid defensive coordinator has hardly justified his salary this season.
Northwestern Fights But Falls Short
Nicco Marchiol did a more-than-passable job for the visiting team. He was not the reason Northwestern lost, but he kept them in it midway through the fourth quarter. Marchiol completed a third-and-8 with a 12-yard throw to tight end Alex Honig. He also threw a 20-yard sling to Joseph Himon II. Subsequently, he threw deep to Luke Dehnicke for 17 yards on third-and-9. With five receptions totaling 88 yards and a touchdown, Dehnicke was the top receiver.
Marchiol had ample choices as seven Wildcat receivers made catches that day. Offensive penalties and untimely sacks nagged the ‘Cats all game long. Such errors stopped them from matching the high-octane Buckeyes. The loss marks the third straight defeat for Northwestern. The season is spiraling out of control for the Wildcats. Ohio State will look to build on this win as they head to Lincoln next week.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
