Ok - I’m Convinced - Buckeyes Win

By Adam Kiefaber

Leading up to this game, I wrote in my preview that I wasn’t convinced that Ohio State was ready to start the Big Ten season.

Now, I’m convinced that Northwestern is terrible.

However, I have to admit that OSU looked impressive in its 58-7 win over Northwestern.

Up until halftime of the Washington game, Todd Boeckman didn’t look like a quarterback that would be able to blowout opponents.

This past Saturday, Boeckman looked as though he has mastered the deep ball. On the third offensive play for Ohio State, Boeckman threw a 42-yard floater to wide receiver Brian Robiskie. Robiskie caught three passes (all for touchdowns) for 89 yards.

Leading 45-0 at halftime, Northwestern’s Stephen Simmons returned his first kickoff ever and it went for 99 yards for the touchdown.

OSU answered that with a Boeckman 48-yard touchdown bomb to WR Ray Small.

Early in the third quarter, running back Chris ‘Beanie’ Wells limped off the field. The moment was scary, but Wells says the injury is nothing to worry about. He finished the game with 100 yards on 12 carries. He also scored on a 36-yard run.

Not only would an injury to Beanie, who is OSU’s best offensive player, be devastating, but it leave the Buckeyes extremely thin at the running back position.

On Friday, true freshman Brandon Saine had arthroscopic knee surgery. If everything goes well in his recovery, Saine will only miss next week’s Minnesota game.

Beanie’s backup is Maurice Wells, who rushed for 44 yards on 15 carries and had two rushing touchdowns. Behind him is freshman walk-on Marcus Williams, who did see some action in the Northwestern game.

If Saine’s recovery hits a bump in the road, expect the Buckeyes to play true freshman Daniel ‘Boom’ Herron. If Herron plays, he will lose his redshirt.

The Buckeyes should have an easy go at it this upcoming weekend when they face off against Minnesota. The Gophers could be even worse than Northwestern, if that is possible.

Fellow Buckeye fans have to be worried about night road games. However, it looks like OSU won’t get its first real test until the weekend after when it plays a night game at Purdue on ABC.

Highlights from the Northwestern game