EAST LANSING, Mich. (WCMH) — Will Howard accounted for three total touchdowns while Jeremiah Smith found the end zone twice as Ohio State defeated Michigan State, 38-7, in the Buckeyes’ first Big Ten game of the season.
The freshman wide receiver took a handoff from Howard for 19 yards in a rare rushing play on fourth down to give Ohio State a 17-7 lead in the second quarter. The Buckeyes eventually went a perfect 3-for-3 converting fourth downs against the Spartans. Smith then grabbed a 17-yard pass from backup quarterback Devin Brown to put the Buckeyes in front 24-7 heading into the locker room.
Tight end Gee Scott, Jr. scored his first touchdown of the season while Emeka Egbuka added to the Buckeyes total in the second half as Ohio State improves to 4-0 this season.
Jaron Glover scored the lone MSU touchdown in the first half following a Howard interception. The Spartans drop to 3-2 following back-to-back losses.
The third-ranked Buckeyes return home next weekend to host Iowa. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. at Ohio Stadium.
Final
The Buckeyes improve to 4-0.
Sayin in at QB
Freshman Julian Sayin has entered the game at quarterback for the Buckeyes, replacing Devin Brown, who had briefly come into the game.
End of the 3rd quarter
The Buckeyes have a commanding lead going into the fourth quarter.
Howard runs it in
After Denzel Burke’s interception put the Buckeyes in the red zone, quarterback Will Howard found the end zone on a 6-yard touchdown run. Ohio State leads 38-7 late in the third quarter. The student section has largely cleared out and what remains are Buckeye fans on the east side of the stadium.
Egbuka scores for the Buckeyes
Emeka Egbuka scored his first touchdown of the night by way of a 33-yard touchdown pass from Will Howard, who has 20 completions for 242 yards and two touchdowns. The Buckeyes converted two fourth downs on the drive, making them 3-for-3 on the night. They lead 31-7.
End of the half
Ohio State leads at the end of the 2nd quarter.
No Howard? No problem.
Devin Brown steps up and in his first play from scrimmage, he finds the freshman phenom. Jeremiah Smith scores his second touchdown of the night and the Buckeyes lead 24-7.
Howard slow to get up
The Buckeyes’ quarterback Will Howard took a big hit with 34 seconds to go in the first half. Backup Devin Brown is coming into the game.
Disaster averted for the Buckeyes
Another lucky break for Ohio State. TreVeyon Henderson’s forearm was done on what originally appeared to be a fumble. The Buckeyes keep the ball.
Controversy on a missed call
Fans here unhappy that the refs missed an apparent face mask penalty against Ohio State. Buckeyes will start from the 16.
Another turnover by the Spartans
Jack Sawyer recovered Aiden Chiles’ fumble to give the Buckeyes their second turnover of the night.
Howard the magician
Quite the trick move there by quarterback Will Howard. The Buckeyes looked like they were going one way, but he snuck it to Jeremiah Smith who took it to the house for a 19-yard rushing touchdown. OSU leads 17-7.
Michigan State capitalizes off the turnover
On the very next play, the Spartans get on the board with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Aidan Chiles to Jaron Glover. They chip the Buckeyes lead down to 10-7 with 9:41 left in the half.
MSU gets it right back
Ohio State gives the ball right back off of an interception by Will Howard. That was his second of the season.
Big turnover
Tough luck for the Spartans. Twice tonight, they thought they had the ball only for the officials to rule it an incomplete pass. Now, they fumble and the Ohio State defense leaves the field, keeping MSU scoreless. Felt like the Spartans had a lot of momentum on that drive.
Gee Scott scores for the Buckeyes
On an offense full of stars, an unlikely character emerged to score the first touchdown of the night. The tight end from Seattle gives Ohio State a 10-0 lead with 14:04 to go in the half.
At the doorstep
The Buckeyes are nine yards away from the end zone entering the second quarter, looking to score the first touchdown of the evening. Offense has been cleaner so far in this second drive.
End of 1st quarter
Ohio State leads at the end of the first quarter.
Big stop for the Buckeyes
The Buckeyes defense was able to kill the momentum that the Spartans had in their opening drive. They got as close as the 20 yard line, but MSU fails to convert the fourth down attempt.
OSU puts up first points
An opening drive that saw a lot of different weapons used ends up with only a field goal after a costly penalty in the red zone. Can’t help feeling the Buckeyes left some points off the board there. Ohio State leads 3-0.
Coin toss
Michigan State has won the toss and chooses to defer to the second half. Ohio State will get the ball first.
Ohio State fans show up on the road
Seems like a good number of Buckeye fans have made the trip up for Ohio State’s first Big Ten game of the year. Most of them in the Northeast corner of the stadium.
Good evening from East Lansing
Hello from East Lansing — where the Buckeyes look to win their tenth straight at Spartan Stadium. It’s the Big Ten opener for Ohio State, who look to go 4-0 with a win tonight over Michigan State.
We’re expecting cloudy skies but dry conditions tonight as several big names make their Big Ten debuts, including Caleb Downs, Quinshon Judkins and Will Howard.
