Sophomore cornerback Jermaine Matthews breaks up a pass intended for freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith during the Ohio State University football spring game at Ohio Stadium on April 13.Credit: Caleb Blake | Photo Editor
What is rust? Jim Knowles' defense picked up where it left off.
Despite a scoring rule that disadvantaged defenses in the spring game, the Buckeye defense put on a show in front of 80,012 fans at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday afternoon, scoring 33 points and winning. .
Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly had high praise for the defense after the game.
“They're very competitive, but they're not combative,” Kelly said.
Based on the spring game scoring rules, the defense must accumulate 33 points between sacks (each worth 2 points), turnovers and three-and-outs (each worth 3 points), and forced punts (each worth 1 point). was completed.
Although he didn't appear on Gray's scoreboard, junior cornerback Davison Igbinosan set the tone for the defense early, competing with several Buckeye receivers and forcing multiple incompletions.
Senior defensive end Jack Sawyer sacked fifth-year quarterback Will Howard on third down, forcing a Scarlet punt and starting the scoring.
On the next possession, the defense shut down the offense, led by sophomore QB Lincoln Kienholtz. The offense had possession of the ball, but a handoff to freshman running back James Peoples on the first play resulted in a fumble. On third down, graduate defensive end Mitchell Melton tapped Kienholtz in the backfield, forcing another Scarlet punt and increasing Gray's lead to 5-0.
Junior quarterback Devin Brown led the next Scarlet possession. Although the offense was able to move the ball down the field, the defense stood firm in the red zone, allowing junior kicker Jayden Fielding to make a successful 32-yard field goal.
Shortly after, freshman quarterback Julian Sain saw his first action. On the fourth play from scrimmage, freshman defensive end Edric Houston met Saine in the backfield and tapped him down, forcing another punt and giving the defense three more points.
Howard returned to the Buckeyes team. Despite running the ball down the field and making a miraculous one-handed hook by senior wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, sophomore cornerbacks Jermaine Matthews Jr., Igbinosan and senior cornerback Jordan Hancock all fell incomplete. A mistake was made and the offense made another field goal for three points. .
Kienholz returned to the game, but sophomore cornerback Calvin Simpson-Hunt made an interception in the middle of the field, pushing Gray's lead to 12-6. Knowles said he likes where Hunt is after 15 spring practice sessions.
“He's one of those guys that just plays every day and doesn't say much,” Knowles said. “He's trying to live up to the standards of the other players and you can see him progressing steadily. You can see him taking it step by step.”
On the next possession, Brown came on and finally got the Buckeye offense going. The Scarlets scored six points with an 11-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Brennen Schramm, their only aerial touchdown of the afternoon.
It didn't take long for the defense to recover.
On the next possession, Sain underthrew sophomore wide receiver Bryson Rodgers and freshman cornerback Jalen McClain stepped forward and picked up the ball, giving Gray a 15-13 lead. Knowles said having a player like McClain is a big plus.
“He's a guy with football intelligence,” Knowles said. “He's noticed. He's one of those freshmen who should still be in high school. I think he's a player you'll be looking at, and you can see right away that he's going to be a player.”
A sack by sophomore defensive lineman Jason Moore and a missed 48-yard field goal led to Gray leading 17-13 at halftime of the spring game.
Thain started at quarterback after the break, but was quickly sent back to the sideline after being intercepted by junior safety Brenten “Inky” Jones.
Sain quickly returned to the field and led a slow, methodical eight-play drive that resulted in Peoples scoring an eight-yard rushing touchdown. After the extra point, the Scarlets clinched the game at 20 points.
Freshman quarterback Air Noland took the field for the first time in the third quarter and led a touchdown drive, capped off by a 22-yard touchdown rush by freshman running back Sam Williams-Dixon.
Kienholtz then took over the reins, but possession lasted only three plays as the Buckeye defense was solid, scoring three points and closing the gap on Gray to 27-26.
Early in the third quarter, junior running back TC Caffey punched the ball in from four yards left, giving the Scarlets a 34-26 lead on the extra point.
On the final possession, junior defensive tackle Herro Kanu and junior defensive end Kayden Curry were sacked on back-to-back plays, giving Gray four points with about four minutes left to play.
Junior cornerback Deante Griffin intercepted Noland and Gray came close to scoring, but it fell short and the Scarlets escaped with a 34-33 lead.
Senior cornerback Denzel Burke said he believes this defense has what it takes to improve on an already great defense.
“We're going to be great [this season]” Burke said.
