Braxton Miller rushed for 140 yards, passed for 168 and accounted for all four touchdowns to lead Ohio State to a 31-16 victory over Central Florida today in Ohio Stadium.
The Buckeyes intercepted three passes, including a pick by Orhian Johnson inside the OSU 10-yard line early in the fourth quarter to thwart the Knights’ best chance to get back into the game after falling behind 31-10 midway through the third quarter.
Miller completed 19 of 25 passes, including a 12-yard touchdown pass to Jake Stoneburner to give Ohio State a 24-10 lead early in the third quarter. His scoring runs were from 37 yards in the first quarter, 6 yards just before halftime and 8 yards to give OSU a 31-10 lead in the third quarter.
First-quarter score: Ohio State 7, Central Florida 3
Analysis: What might have been
Ohio State fans could take solace in the fact that Week 2 in the Horseshoe did not present another slow start for the Buckeyes. But neither did it provide a clear idea of how this game would go down.
The Buckeyes had only two full possessions in the quarter and looked highly proficient on the first, driving 71 yards in seven plays, capped by Braxton Miller’s 37-yard sprint through the middle of the field on a quarterback draw.
Ohio State then forced a second straight Central Florida punt and began its second possession at its 12-yard line. Seven plays, six on the ground, moved the ball to near midfield. But on fourth-and-one from the OSU 47, Miller was spun around for no gain by the Knights’ Jonathan Davis, giving Central Florida possession in OSU territory. The Knights drove to a first-and-goal thanks to a pass-interference penalty on Travis Howard, but the drive bogged down and Central Florida had to settle for a Shawn Moffitt field goal.
Halftime score: Ohio State 17, Central Florida 10
Analysis: All they could handle
More differences from Week 1 to Week 2 became apparent in the second quarter. For one thing, Central Florida’s patient offense was not going to allow the Buckeyes to roll up 86 plays, as they did the week before against Miami University. For another, the Knights’ step up in talent was not going to let Ohio State run away with the game the way it did against the RedHawks.
Ohio State had a decent half (240 total yards) and cashed in three of its five possessions with points, but Central Florida kept pace behind its stingy defense and some guile from its offense.
OSU led 10-3 early in the second quarter after Drew Basil capped a 13-play drive with a 24-yard field goal, but the Knights needed only five plays to tie the score. Storm Johnson put UCF in position with a 20-yard reception, and a 48-yard run and quarterback Blake Bortles delivered the touchdown pass with a 1-yard flip to tight end Justin Tukes on third-and-goal from the 1.
The Knights then forced a Zach Boren fumble to take possession at its 43-yard line with 4:18 left in the quarter, but Howard intercepted Bortles two plays later to give the Buckeyes the ball again at the 3:18 mark.
Playing without running back Carlos Hyde, who was carted off with an apparent knee injury, OSU drove 48 yards in eight plays behind the running of Miller, who converted on third-and-one from the 25 and again on third-and-16 from the 30. On the next play, Miller rolled left as if to throw, then cut upfield and inside the pylon for the go-ahead score.
Third-quarter score: Ohio State 31, Central Florida 16
Analysis: Looking good, then not
Ohio State found its muscle to start the second half but was not able to assert itself to the point that television viewers outside of Ohio went looking for a more entertaining game. In other words, the Buckeyes took command if not control.
OSU accepted the opening kickoff of the half and embarked on an impressive 12-play, 76-yard drive behind Miller, who accounted for 64 yards by completing 4 of 5 passes for 45 yards and adding four rushes for 19 yards. Miller hit four different receivers on the drive, including Jake Stoneburner for the touchdown.
The Buckeyes got the ball back three plays later when Etienne Sabino intercepted a Bortles pass and returned the ball to the UCF 32. Miller ran for 9 yards, passed to Devin Smith for 15 and then followed Boren into the end zone for the final 8 for a 31-10 lead that looked secure.
Not quite. Central Florida answered with a 14-play, 84-yard drive, three times converting on third down, including a 21-yard pass from Bortles to J.J. Worton to give the Knights a first down at the OSU 9. On fourth down from the 2, Bortles flipped a quick pass in the right flat to Billy Giovanetti, who fell into the end zone.
OSU blocked the extra-point attempt to keep the score 31-16 but soon enough gave the ball back to the Knights when Miller was intercepted by A.J. Bouye. As the quarter ended, Central Florida had driven to a first down at the OSU 14-yard line, and the Ohio Stadium fans were restless.
Final score: Ohio State 31, Central Florida 16
Analysis: Secondary steps up
Central Florida had the Buckeyes on their heels, at least, to start the final quarter with the ball deep inside OSU territory and momentum on its side. But on third-and-four from the Ohio State 8, Orhian Johnson stepped in front of Bortles’ pass for Quincy McDuffie and intercepted, giving the Buckeyes possession again.
OSU’s offense at that point was pretty much done for the day; penalties and sacks handcuffed the Buckeyes’ efforts throughout the fourth quarter and they punted on their next two possessions while picking up a mere three first downs.
The OSU defense, meanwhile, kept the Knights at bay. Central Florida had three more possessions in the quarter but fourth-down pass breakups by Bradley Roby and Doran Grant ended UCF drives near midfield. The Knights drove inside the OSU 10-yard line in the final 40 seconds, after a Rod Smith fumble, but the Buckeyes held again.
Photo Credit: Brooke LaValley, Columbus Dispatch
