Columbus, Ohio- College football is back! And with it comes the hype and hopes of a young season. The Buckeyes marched into this game with a new offensive coordinator, upgrades at quarterback, and the scariest defensive roster this side of the Mason Dixon line. Across the field, the Akron Zips came into Columbus, hoping to stay competitive.
The Zips did just that, at least throughout the game's early stages. The MAC school scored first, casting a shadow of doubt amongst the home crowd. This field goal came after a very quick three-and-out from the Buckeyes’ “new-look” offense. Quarterback Will Howard looked out of sync, while freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith dropped the first target of his college career. The only impressive note of that first drive was running back TreVeyon Henderson’s nine-yard burst.
In the first half, Akron relied heavily on the RPO, some gadget plays, as well as a two-quarterback system, at least for a while. On defense, the Zips challenged the Bucks’ running game effectively. Unfortunately, starting quarterback Ben Finley went down after several run-ins with the Bucks’ front seven. After that, the game was in backup, Tahj Bullock’s hands. While Bullock led the Zips with speed, the defense was too much to overcome.
By the second half, the differences between a Power 4 school and a MAC opponent became evident. The Scarlet and Gray bench is too deep, and that roster is too loaded for a smaller school to compete for 60 minutes. By the end of the game, Ohio State had scored 52 points and only allowed two field goals. Yes, Ohio State started slow, but they didn’t fail to impress.
Takeaways:
Ohio State
Will Howard already looks in command of the Buckeye offense. That is probably due to the fact that he has started nearly 30 games in his college career. There are many differences between Howard and former quarterback Kyle McCord, especially Will’s willingness to run and extend the play. Probably the greatest is the ability to lead the offense with poise and command. He went 17 of 28 for over 200 yards with three touchdowns through the air.
Akron
The Zips’ woes continue, and the Mid-America Conference will be unforgiving if they can’t right the ship quickly. Bullock should take over at quarterback in order to add a dynamic punch to their playcalling. Head Coach Joe Moorhead, with all the experience in the world, may not be at the helm much longer as the Zips continue to show no progress, much less a win.
“That’s a Buckeye” (Players of the Game):
Week 1 saw many Buckeyes having a solid game, but there’s something special about a freshman wideout’s debut in the Shoe. Conversely, a senior standout returning to the Silver Bullets to solidify the defensive backfield’s claim as BIA (Best In America) was just as impressive.
Offense- Wide receiver No. 4 Freshman Jeremiah Smith
Defense- Safety No. 8 Senior Lathan Ransom
Up Next:
(2) Ohio State (1-0) will welcome another MAC opponent, Western Michigan (0-1), as the Broncos continue their Big 10 tour on Saturday, September 7th at 7:30 EST.
Akron (0-1) will head to the birthplace of college football as it prepares to play another Big 10 school, Rutgers (1-0), on Saturday, September 7th, at Noon EST.
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