Boeckman throws for 2 TD's as Buckeyes roll past Youngstown State
By Rusty Miller
Posted: Saturday, September 01, 2007 3:27:00 PM EST
Published: Saturday, September 01, 2007 6:05:34 PM EST
 |
| I just completed calling the Ohio State-Youngstown State match- up, the first-ever meeting between the two ball clubs and the first-ever start for quarterback Todd Boeckman of Ohio State, the junior. He was 17 of 23 for 225 yards, two TDs and and his long pass of the day was 41 yards. Personally, I thought they did a tremendous job managing the game. I'm sure he was very nervous at the start a game after waiting almost three and half years to get an opportunity. But once he settles in he got a pretty good rhythm and he settled in rather quickly with his first three plays the passes going down the field. His primary target today was Brian Robiskie who had nine catches for 153 yards. But I think when you look around the country Ohio state has a new quarterback at least for this year in Boeckman. So some final thoughts here from opening day in Big Ten football. I think Ohio State will be a formidable candidate for Big Ten champion. I think they are going to try to repeat for the third year and I think they have every opportunity in front of them. But they are going to need Boeckman and their running game to do their part. |
Todd Boeckman played well in his first start replacing Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Troy Smith and the Buckeyes made just about all the big plays in beating Youngstown State 38-6 on Saturday.
The Buckeyes welcomed the game as a way to put some distance between themselves and the painful memories of a humiliating 41-14 defeat to Florida in the BCS national championship game Jan. 8.
It was the first time the schools met, with Youngstown State now playing in the new Football Championship Subdivision, formerly I-AA.
Ohio State's Jim Tressel was the coach at Youngstown State for 15 years and led the Penguins to four I-AA championships before taking over the Buckeyes in 2001.
Boeckman, a tall, rangy junior, directed the first four touchdown drives as the Buckeyes steadily pulled away. He completed 17-of-23 passes for 225 yards and two 1-yard TDs.
Dane Sanzenbacher and Taurian Washington, a pair of prized freshmen wide-outs, each scored on their first career receptions, Sanzenbacher's coming on a 3-yard toss from Boeckman and Washington's covering 37 yards from Antonio Henton.
Another freshman, Brandon Saine, the reigning Mr. Football in Ohio, also was part of the coming-out party with 42 yards rushing on 10 carries including a 1-yard touchdown plunge. He jitterbugged in and out of traffic on a 16-yard TD run late in the third quarter that was called back by a holding call.
Trever Robinson, a seldom used fullback, waited five years to see much playing time on offense. But he caught his first career pass and it also went for a TD in the fourth quarter.
Youngstown State, coming off a final-four appearance in the I-AA playoffs last season, didn't wilt before a crowd of 105,038 at Ohio Stadium - the largest ever to see the Penguins play.
Tom Zetts hit 10-of-18 passes for 86 yards for the Penguins. Louis Irizarry, a former Ohio State player who ended up at Youngstown State after getting into legal trouble, had four catches for 19 yards.
The Penguins were trailing 14-3 late in the first half and appeared to have stopped a third-and-long pass play by Boeckman, but strong safety Bob Perez was called for pass interference. Back in business, the Buckeyes ran three more plays with Saine burrowing in from a yard out for a 21-3 lead.
Not everything was rosy for the Buckeyes.
Starting end Lawrence Wilson, expected to be a cornerstone on defense, broke his right leg midway through the second quarter.
Chris "Beanie" Wells, the heir apparent to Antonio Pittman at tailback, never got untracked. Listed as a Heisman contender by the Columbus newspaper, Wells gained 2 yards on eight carries inside the 6-yard line in the opening half. He finished with 16 attempts for 46 yards, but 20 of those came on one carry.
The Penguins' points came on field goals of 41 yards by Stephen Blose and 21 yards by Brian Palmer.
