Rapid Reaction: Fields nearly flawless again as Ohio State tops Rutgers

The Ohio State Buckeyes talked last week about how they could not afford to take Rutgers lightly, though the Scarlet Knights had lost each of the previous six series meetings by at least 35 points.

Whether that was just coachspeak or whether the Buckeyes really were wary of their foe on Saturday at Ohio Stadium, third-ranked OSU went about its business in the first half like a team taking its task very seriously. But in the second half, Rutgers showed why it deserved OSU’s respect.

Justin Fields was nearly perfect again, six different players wearing scarlet and gray scored, and the Buckeyes defense bottled up the Scarlet Knights in the first half as OSU won 49-27.

The Buckeyes led 35-3 at halftime but Rutgers showed some imagination and grit to put 24 points on the board in the second half. Still, OSU responded and was never in danger of losing.

How effective has Fields been? The junior quarterback was 24-for-28 for 314 yards and 5 touchdowns passing against the Scarlet Knights. He has 11 incompletions all season so he has accounted for more touchdowns (13, including two rushing) than incompletions in 2020. Fields looked every bit the Heisman Trophy candidate against tougher-than-expected Big Ten competition.

OSU (3-0) got plays from all over the roster, so it was not just Fields who stood out.

For instance, OSU pulled off a perfect fake punt in the second quarter. Steele Chambers lined up at upback and took the snap, running up the middle for 37 yards on a 4th-and-8 play to set the Buckeyes up at the Rutgers 26-yard line. Later in the drive backup running back Trey Sermon, giving starter Master Teague a breather, got warmed up quickly with a 13-yard run for a first down. That set up Fields’ 5-yard touchdown pass to Chris Olave for a 21-3 lead.

Justin Hilliard forced and recovered a fumble in the second quarter, hitting Aron Cruickshank after a reception. OSU then drove 32 yards in 6 plays, scoring when Fields hit Garrett Wilson for an 8-yard TD and a 28-3 lead. Demario McCall, not used often in the OSU offense, got his chance late in the second quarter with a 12-yard run and a 27-yard catch-and-run on consecutive plays. Teague’s 9-yard TD run put the Buckeyes ahead 35-3.

The Scarlet Knights put up four touchdowns in the second half and OSU had some iffy moments. Noah Vedral hit tight end Jovani Haskins for a 6-yard touchdown to bring Rutgers within 42-15 on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Scarlet Knights coach and former OSU assistant Greg Schiano then saw his team use the element of surprise to great success on Bo Melton’s 58-yard punt return for a score in the fourth quarter. Avery Young fielded the punt and threw the ball across the field backward to Melton, who took it on the right then cut back all the way to the left on his way to the end zone.

Rutgers also put together a little razzle dazzle to engineer a touchdown drive in the third quarter. First, running back Isaiah Pacheco took a direct snap over the right side of the line, then dashed left for a 66-yard run. On the next play, quarterback Noah Vedral hit tackle Raiqwon O’Neal with a pass on a tackle eligible play for a 4-yard touchdown — the pass went backward so it actually was scored as a 4-yard run. Another trick play failed on the 2-point attempt as OSU maintained a 35-9 lead.

To start the game, Teague and the offensive line set the tone with a 25-yard run on OSU’s first offensive play from scrimmage. Fields later hit a wide-open Jameson Williams for a 38-yard touchdown.

Rutgers (1-2) reached the OSU 1-yard line on the ensuing drive but a holding penalty wiped out a touchdown and the Scarlet Knights settled for Guy Fava’s 30-yard field goal.

Still, the second half showed that Rutgers has made some major progress as a program. The Scarlet Knights averaged just 8 points per game against the Buckeyes in six previous tries before Saturday.