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PISCATAWAY, N.J. – With a little help from a goalpost, Ohio State shut out Rutgers for a second straight year.
After holding the Scarlet Knights scoreless for more than 59 minutes, the Buckeyes appeared to be on the verge of losing their shutout as Rutgers kicker Andrew Harte came on to attempt an 32-yard field goal with just 43 seconds remaining in the game. But Harte’s attempt went off the right upright of the frame, preserving the Buckeyes’ shutout and allowing them to run out the clock for a 56-0 road win at Rutgers’ High Point Solutions Stadium.
Ohio State defeated Rutgers by a 58-0 score last year in Ohio Stadium.
The Buckeye defense held the Rutgers offense to just 209 yards on 68 plays for the game, including just 77 yards on 32 first-half plays, even though Ohio State only played most of its defensive starters for the first two series of the second half.
"Defense was very good," said Ohio State coach Urban Meyer after the game. "When you shut out an opponent, especially a Big Ten opponent, they played great."
The shutout was Ohio State’s first shutout since it played Rutgers last year and extended the Buckeyes’ streak of recording at least one shutout to five straight seasons.
Ohio State’s defenders said it was a big deal for them to keep a zero on the scoreboard.
"We're all competitors and want to compete to the highest level and we've been looking for a shutout, we finally got it," said Ohio State safety Damon Webb.
They didn’t mind that it took a little good luck at the end of the game, as the Buckeyes defenders on the sideline erupted into celebration after the missed kick.
"It was just kind of funny," Webb said of the missed field goal.
Rutgers had a couple opportunities to end the shutout against the backups. Before the missed kick, the Scarlet Knights had an earlier opportunity in the third quarter, when a 36-yard catch-and-run by Robert Martin put the Scarlet Knights at the Buckeyes’ 25-yard line. After an unsuccessful set of downs, however, Rutgers attempted to convert 4th-and-5 instead of attempting a 37-yard field goal, and Ohio State linebacker Malik Harrison chased down Rutgers quarterback Kyle Bolin short of the line-to-make to preserve the shutout.
“We’re all competitors and want to compete to the highest level and we’ve been looking for a shutout, we finally got it.”– Damon Webb
In total, Rutgers reached the Buckeyes’ red zone three times – a first-quarter drive reached the 15-yard line before ending with an interception by Ohio State linebacker Dante Booker – but did not cross midfield on any of its other 11 possessions.
Ohio State forced nine punts, including six three-and-outs, and ended two drives with interceptions, one by Booker and by Webb.
Ohio State held Rutgers to only 92 passing yards, marking the third straight game the Buckeyes held their opponent under 100 passing yards after they allowed a total of 806 passing yards in their first two games. Rutgers’ wide receivers did not have a single catch in Saturday’s game.
The Buckeyes did allow Rutgers to run for 117 yards, marking the fourth straight game Ohio State has allowed its opponent to rush for more than 100 yards, but they held the Scarlet Knights to only 2.9 yards per carry.
Saturday night’s performance does have to be qualified by the competition it came against. Rutgers ranked 111th in the Football Bowl Subdivision in total offense entering Saturday’s game, and has not scored more than 17 points against an FBS opponent all year. Making matters worse, the Scarlet Knights were without their most dynamic player, wide receiver and return specialist Janarion Grant, who did not dress for the game due to injury.
Nonetheless, Ohio State felt its defensive performance Saturday was another step in the right direction.
"We’re definitely on a roll," Webb said. "I feel like this was a huge game for us, our first shutout, and like I said last week, we’re getting better and better each week so next week, we’re back to the drawing board and getting ready for Maryland."
Despite the fact that the final score of Saturday’s game was just two points away from mirroring last year’s, Meyer said he truly believes Rutgers is a better team this year.
"I think they’re getting better, I really do," Meyer said. "We played well tonight. I think that’s a good defense. I think offensively, they got a ways to go a little bit."
Defensive coordinator Greg Schiano said the Buckeyes still have to get better defensively, but he is pleased with the improvement they have made over the last few weeks.
"We are making progress," Schiano said. "We have a chance to be good, but we have to really clean up a lot of stuff. But I will tell you what, our kids are working so hard, that it's going to happen."
