Weapons come in all shapes and sizes, whether literal objects that inflict pain or the kind football announcers and coaches talk about. Carlos Hyde was built nothing like Dontre Wilson but both are considered dangerous weapons on the gridiron.
Some weapons are 6-foot, 195-pound redheads who aren't even on the offensive unit—Aussie punter Cameron Johnston, to name one completely random example.
Johnston’s efforts on Saturday against Indiana helped change the game. Ohio State punted five times against the Hoosiers and Johnston did his job. He averaged 49.8 yards per kick with a long of 58 yards, and still managed to kill three of them inside the Indiana 20.
His first boot came midway through the second quarter, when Johnston bombed a 56-yarder from Ohio State’s 31. Despite a nine-yard return by Shane Wynn, Indiana started at its own 22. By flipping the field, the Hoosiers did not score on the ensuing drive, despite picking up a couple of first downs. Indiana reached the OSU 41, so a shorter kick could well have set up a field goal.
The Buckeyes went three-and-out on their next drive, starting at their 20 and moving only four yards. Indiana figured to have good field position after the stop.
Nope.
Johnston boomed a 48-yarder that was downed at the Hoosier 28. Again, Indiana moved the chains a couple of times, reaching the Ohio State 43. But the drive yet again stalled with the Hoosiers too far away to score points.
Ohio State’s first drive of the second half reached the Indiana 47 before it bogged down. Johnston trotted on and calmly popped up a 37-yard kick with sufficient height to force a fair catch from Wynn at his own 10. Unfortunately, Tevin Coleman busted off a 90-yard run on the next play, but that doesn't negate the fact that Johnston did his job, and did it well.
The Buckeyes trailed midway through the third quarter, 20-14, and quickly drove from their 25 to the OSU 49. But, once again, the drive died. Johnston then did this:
First of all, I'm not even sure that line drive kick didn't break at least two laws of physics. Secondly, that’s a 50-yard kick to the 1-yard line with no return, and it completely changed the complexion of the game.
Buoyed by the crowd, the defense made a stand and forced Indiana to punt out of its own end zone. Jalin Marshall then took Erich Toth’s kick back 54 yards to the house, igniting the Ohio Stadium crowd and his OSU teammates. The Buckeyes were back on top, 21-20, and from that point on outscored the Hoosiers 21-7.
Johnston only kicked once after that, but it was a monster. The Geelong, Australia native crushed a 58-yarder from the OSU 25 that forced a fair catch at the Indiana 17. A nervous Zander Diamont threw an interception to Tyvis Powell on the next play. J.T. Barrett then tossed a 15-yard touchdown to Marshall, effectively ending Indiana’s upset bid.
Aside from the defense allowing the explosion play to Coleman from the 10, each of Johnston’s punts had the desired effect. They kept Indiana pinned deep, creating two big plays for Ohio State and keeping Indiana from being able to drive far enough down field for a score on two other occasions.
Change of possession differential can provide a lot of hidden yardage. Indiana’s Toth didn’t fare too poorly. He kicked 10 times for a 44.9-yard average and downed three inside the OSU 20. But he also booted one for a touchback and allowed Marshall’s big return with a nervous kick from the back of his own end zone.
Johnston has punted 31 times this season, blasting nine of them for 50 or more yards and dropping 19 inside the opponent’s 20. The sophomore had 11 punts of 50 or longer all of last season. His long on the year is 69 yards, just two yards shy of his career best 71, set last season. Johnston is averaging 43.6 yards in 2014, 0.4 yards below his freshman-year average, but has often been called upon for short punts due to Ohio State’s success on offense. He has three touchbacks on the year.
At his current trajectory, the former Australian Rules Football player may be considered one of the greatest punters ever to wear the Scarlet & Gray by the time his collegiate career is over. Because even ginger punters from down under can be weapons.
