Ohio State Football: Posey, Buckeyes Win in Battle of Brothers

9 - 18 - 10     vs. Ohio     W, 43 - 7     3 - 0

     Sibling rivalry was an integral part of Ohio State's victory over Ohio University.  The Bobcats have always been the Buckeyes' inferior in - state brother, while the Posey brothers, OSU's Devier and OU's Julian, were matched up all over the field.  The Bucks and Devier both got the better of their clashes as Ohio State easily rolled the Cats.
    
     The aforementioned face off between Julian and Devier Posey was the most intriguing storyline heading into the game, and it lived up to the billing.  Devier hauled in 5 passes for 62 yards as his older brother attempted to cover him.  Meanwhile, Julian's biggest play, a 99 yard kickoff return, was negated due to a holding penalty.  Overall, the two played like they had growing up in the backyard, and Devier left with bragging rights.
     The man throwing to Devier, Terrelle Pryor, had another effective outing, although this one was a bit more inconsistent.  Pryor was able to set a school record by completing 16 straight passes, but he also tossed a couple of interceptions.  However, T.P. still accounted for 270 yards and 3 touchdowns in leading Ohio State to yet another victory.
     A Buckeye defense that forced 7 turnovers in the season's first 2 contests, garnered 5 more against the Bobcats.  With 3 games in the books, OSU now has a turnover margin of +10.
     The special teams, though, continues to be Ohio State's Achilles' heel.  The Buckeyes were a blocking infraction away from allowing another return TD, and they also had one of their punts blocked.

     OSU wasted little time in making life miserable for the OU offense.  Phil Bates's first pass was deflected high in the air by Devon Torrence, allowing Tyler Moeller to make a leaping interception.
     Taking over deep in Ohio territory, the Buckeyes should have been able to put 6 points up on the scoreboard.  But after stalling in the red zone, Ohio State was forced to call on Devin Barclay, and the senior kicker knocked home a short field goal.
     On the ensuing kickoff, Julian Posey raced to the end zone, only to have the touchdown wiped out because of a penalty.
     The Bobcats never recovered.
     A three - and- out came on the heels of that penalty, and the OSU attack began to click.  Pryor capped off the drive when he avoided a blitz and found Brandon Saine all alone in the end zone.
     Following another poor Ohio series, the Buckeyes reached pay dirt once more.  A 35 yard strike from Pryor to Posey set up a T.P. 13 yard TD scamper that featured Pryor's blazing speed, and his field awareness.
     With the game clearly in hand, Jim Tressel inserted the second team offense led by Joe Bauserman.  The move paid off initially, but the march bogged down, and Devin Barclay bailed out Tressel by making a field goal.
     The turnover bug bit Bates and the Bobcats on their next drive.  Bates was separated from the football courtesy of Ross Homan's hit, and Nathan Williams pounced on it.
     Pryor, who was now in an other - worldly rhythm, engineered a short touchdown drive to pad OSU's lead to 27 - 0.  The scoring play came on a 5 yard toss from Pryor to Jake Stoneburner.
     Cameron Heyward's fumble recovery of a botched option a few moments later set the Bucks up deep in OU territory.  Ohio State cashed in with 6 points when Dan "Boom" Herron crossed the goal line on a 2 yard run.
     Pryor almost got the Buckeyes another touchdown before the half, but he was intercepted in the end zone, ending his consecutive completions streak.
     The contest began to get sloppy in the 2nd half, which was not surprising considering the 34 - 0 score.  In the 3rd quarter, Ohio gave the ball up twice, while Pryor threw another pick.  The 2 Bobcat turnovers were the result of a Torrence recovered fumble and a Homan interception. 
     Pryor's interception actually aided Ohio State because on the very next play, Heyward corralled Vince Davidson for a safety.
     OSU surpassed the 40 point mark late in the 3rd stanza thanks to Herron and his 1 yard scoring plunge on a 4th - and - goal situation.
     In the game's closing minutes, the Bucks lost their shutout bid.  Boo Jackson, OU's second string QB, threw an 11 yard TD pass against the Buckeyes' reserves.  However, that score was way too little and way too late.

     Oftentimes, an in - state opponent presents a potential trap for Ohio State.  That, though, was not the case this time as the Buckeyes beat the Bobcats into submission.

Player of the Game
Terrelle Pryor: 22 - 29 (completions - attempts), 235 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 8 carries, 35 yards, 1 touchdown
Yeah, Pryor did fling his first 2 interceptions of the season, but he also went 16 straight pass attempts at one point without misfiring even once.  If you still don't think Pryor had an impressive performance, check out this stat.  When Terrelle wasn't on the field, OSU only scored 3 points on 4 offensive series.

Play of the Game
Terrelle Pryor 9 yard TD pass to Brandon Saine in the 1st quarter
Everyone in Ohio Stadium knew that as soon as the Buckeyes took a double digit lead, the Bobcats would be finished.  And OU definitely appeared to be beaten after OSU went up by 10 on this quick toss to the end zone.  On the play, Ohio tried to get to Pryor with a heavy rush, but T.P. scrambled to buy time for his running back turned receiver.  Once Saine popped open, the play was over, and, for all intents and purposes, so was the game.