Ohio State looked unstoppable on its first eight plays from scrimmage tonight in Blacksburg. Eight offensive plays into the night, Ohio State was up 14-0 thanks to a nice touchdown pass from starting quarterback Cardale Jones and an 80-yard run by Ezekiel Elliott. Since then the Virginia Tech Hokies have chipped away and taken a surprising lead, 17-10.
Ohio State got on the board on its first offensive possession of thew night, with Urban Meyer sending Jones out to lead the offense. Seven plays later Jones was celebrating his first touchdown pass of the season, this one to Curtis Samuel from just outside the red zone. Ohio State wasted no time getting back on the board on its next possession. Eliott broke free for an 80-yard touchdown up the middle fo the defense, surging Ohio State to a commanding 14-0 lead. Converted wide receiver Braxton Miller even got in the stat sheet with his first catch of the season showing off some good concentration and hands on a 24-yard gain. Ohio State’s offense has hit a bit of a wall though with the next three possessions resulting in a missed field goal, an interception off a tipped pass and a punt.
Virginia Tech was not without its own little wrinkles on offense. Early in the second quarter Michael Brewer completed a wheel route pass to fullback Sam Rogers down the left sideline, and the shifty fullback did the rest of the work. Rogers raced down field and reached the end zone after making an Ohio State defender (Eli Apple) break his ankles. After missing a 50-yard field goal try earlier in the half, Joey Slye cut into the Ohio State lead with a 46-yard field goal. Following the special teams mistake by Elliott of Ohio State, Brewer went deep to Isaiah Ford for 36 yards to the door step of Ohio State’s end zone. Brewer found a wide open Ryan Malleck in the end zone for the go-ahead lead.
Ohio State will get the football to begin the second half.