Buckeyes Now

Ohio State Dominates Northwestern, 31-3, in First Half

Olave, Dobbins each score twice as unbeaten Buckeyes break away

Bruce Hooley

Ohio State Dominates Northwestern, 31-3, in First Half
Ohio State Dominates Northwestern, 31-3, in First Half /

Well, that first half won't help Wisconsin's players sleep well in their Champaign, Illinois, hotel rooms.

Locked in a 7-3 slap fight with Northwestern after one quarter Friday night in Evanston, OSU lowered the boom with a 24-point barrage in the second period to lead at the half, 31-3.

Kicker Blake Haubiel's 55-yard field goal -- yeah, didn't know he had that in him -- punctuated the Buckeyes' skip to the locker room with their seventh win in as many games well in hand.

J.K. Dobbins and Chris Olave each scored twice in the first half.

Dobbins started the second-quarter fireworks with this catch over the middle for a 14-3 lead.

He added another TD on a two-play, 73-yard drive that started with his 68-yard run.

Olave got the final TD of the half after Northwestern threw up on itself offensively, dropping a certain third-down conversion and then botching a punt snap to give Ohio State possession inside the 20.

Fields found Olave with a nice, soft toss in the right corner of the end zone.

Olave's first TD, and Dobbins' first score, both came on plays with previousl-unseen wrinkles.

Could it be OSU coach Ryan Day, knowing the Badgers would be watching in advance of their noon kickoff on Saturday at Illinois, wanted to give Paul Chryst and his defensive coordinator, Jim Leonhard, a few things to think about?

Fields finished the half 12-of-17 for 137 yards and three touchdowns.

If he doesn't score a rushing TD in the second half, it will mark the first time this year he's failed to score both rushing and passing.

Published
Bruce Hooley
BRUCE HOOLEY

Home/Football