Ohio State rolls past Maryland, bigger games on horizon

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Ohio State rolled past Maryland on Saturday afternoon 45-16, thanks to an incredible defensive performance. The Buckeye defense held the Terrapins to only 146 total yards and 10 points against the Maryland offense.

The game opened with both teams trading punts, but an explosive 31-yard punt return from Buckeye's Phillip Bell set Ohio State up in great field position. The Buckeyes capitalized when Jeremiah Smith found the end zone for the first score of the game.

Maryland scored their first points of the game after recovering a strip-sack fumble, setting the Terps up in Ohio State territory. The Buckeye defense held strong, forcing a Maryland field goal, making the score 7-3.

Ohio State took no time to respond as it drove 71 yards in two plays, highlighted by a Nate Roberts 68-yard touchdown reception.

Maryland then put together their best offensive drive of the game, driving 75 yards in eleven plays and consuming more than six and a half minutes of the clock. It capped off the drive with a designed QB scramble for a 5-yard touchdown from Malik Washington, pulling them within four with a little over 11 minutes remaining in the second quarter.

The Buckeyes responded yet again with a big-play touchdown as Jeremiah Smith scored for the second time. This 40-yard touchdown reception marks the ninth of Smith's season.

Ohio State continued to pile on to the lead in the second quarter as it added a field goal and another touchdown before the end of the half. Julian Sayin tossed his fourth touchdown pass of the game to tight end Mason Williams to put the Buckeyes up by 21 heading into the break.

The third quarter saw both defenses step up as the first three drives ended in punts. Then Maryland's defense made a big play as it picked off Julian Sayin and returned the interception 52 yards for a touchdown. A failed two-point conversion left the score at 31-16.

The Buckeye offense then bounced back, thanks to the legs of Bo Jackson, who broke off a 25-yard touchdown run to extend the Ohio State lead.

The Terrapins were unable to score the rest of the game, and Ohio State found the end zone one final time in the fourth quarter. Once again, it was Bo Jackson finding the paydirt on a two-yard rush.

Ohio State totaled 449 yards of offense, including 242 through the air and 207 on the ground. Eight different Buckeyes recorded a catch, with Jeremiah Smith leading the way with four receptions and 93 yards. Bo Jackson accounted for 107 of the rush yards, while Ja'Kobi Jackson recorded 76.

Julian Sayin completed only 13-of-21 passes, but big plays led to him still recording 242 yards and four touchdowns.

Ohio State now gears up for a gauntlet of a remaining schedule. It kicks off next week with their matchup at the reigning Big Ten and defending College Football Playoff national champions, Indiana. That game kicks off at noon on Saturday on Fox. USC and Oregon then follow in the coming weeks as Ohio State continues to make its way through the Big Ten.

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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State rolls past Maryland, bigger games on horizon

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