Ad Disclosure
Rapid reaction: Buckeyes, led by Stroud-Harrison connection, light up scoreboard in easy win over Arkansas State
By Joe Cox
Published:
Ohio State figured to battle both injury attrition (particularly the loss of standout receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and fellow wideout Julian Fleming) and emotional hangover a week after a 21-10 victory over No. 5 Notre Dame.
But in Saturday’s easy 45-12 victory over Arkansas State, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka took up the receiving slack, and a balanced Buckeyes attack had the right emotional pitch for a solid win.
Buckeyes QB CJ Stroud did nothing to hamper his solid Heisman odds, passing for 351 yards and a 4 touchdowns in the rout. Sophomore receiver Harrison had a big game, after snagging just 5 receptions from 11 targets in Week 1. His 7-catch, 184-yard effort against Arkansas State included a pair of 42-yard scoring receptions from Stroud as well as a 30-yard scoring connection in the third quarter. The other passing touchdown for Stroud went to Egbuka, who also topped 100 receiving yards and is emerging as perhaps the most consistent option for OSU in the passing game.
On the ground, TreVeyon Henderson had another workmanlike game, picking up 87 yards and a pair of touchdowns on just 10 carries.
OSU was in control throughout Saturday’s game. After forcing a 3-and-out from Arkansas State on the game’s opening possession, the Buckeyes rolled 96 yards in 8 plays to gain a quick lead they would not relinquish. Stroud connected with Harrison on a 42-yard scoring strike with 10:04 left in the opening quarter.
After an Arkansas State field goal, Henderson stretched the Buckeyes’ advantage to 14-3 with an 8-yard scoring run with 4:23 left in the first quarter. While holding Ohio State to a 24-yard Noah Ruggles field goal, Arkansas State tacked on a pair of its own field goals to draw within 17-9 with 5:22 to go in the second quarter.
It took Ohio State just 58 seconds to answer, with Stroud and Harrison connecting for their second 42-yard score. After holding a 24-9 edge at intermission, Ohio State extended the lead with a 3-play, 75-yard drive to open the second half, capped by a 23-yard scoring run for Henderson. The next Buckeyes drive took just 2 plays, with a Stroud to Egbuka 51-yard touchdown extending the edge to 38-9 Buckeyes with 10:30 left in the third quarter.
After another Arkansas State field goal, OSU struck again with a 7-play, 75-yard drive that finished with just 4 seconds left in the third quarter on a 30-yard connection between Stroud and Harrison. OSU then took a 45-12 advantage to the fourth quarter.
Ohio State’s defense was solid, bending on a few occasions against former Florida State quarterback James Blackman but allowing only field goals. Steele Chambers and Mike Hall sacked Blackman, and OSU cornerback Denzel Burke broke up a pair of passes.
Ohio State’s next test is next Saturday at home against Toledo, which opened its season with a 37-0 win over Long Island and will host UMass later tonight.
Veteran college writer Joe Cox covers Ohio State and college basketball for Saturday Tradition.