Ohio State Looks Sharp for Three Quarters against Minnesota

Running for big first half yardage, the Ohio State Buckeyes behind 106 total yards from tailback Chris ‘Beanie’ Wells and 97 total rushing yards from true-freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor moved past the Minnesota Golden Gophers 34-21 in search of a fourth consecutive Big Ten title on Saturday.

By Steve Patterson

Chris Wells Returns

Returning from a right foot injury, Chris ‘Beanie’ Wells looked very good on Saturday as he reached the 100 yard mark one more time in a career that has been highlighted by a 1600+ yard sophomore season. If Wells can finish the season with similar numbers as 2007, he still could be in the race for the Heisman. Only one time during the game on Saturday did Wells have to sit out a series as his enhanced running shoe was slightly adjusted.

After the game Head Coach Jim Tressel discussed with the media how Wells might have been a little rusty at the beginning of the game. “It's tough when you don't practice full speed for three weeks or so but he was anxious to get back in there, anxious to get the rust off and I thought his last 10 carries were a little bit more like what we need him to be and hopefully he'll be even better next week.”

Pryor and Wells is Unstoppable

Pryor was the other fist of a one-two knock-out running attack that totaled 279 yards compared to only 81 yard by Minnesota. The first drive of the game got exciting for Ohio State fans when Wells ran up the middle of the Gopher defense for 28 yards followed by Pryor rushing to the right on an option play for 33 yards for an early score.

“Well, he does have that speed, obviously, and he loves to compete and that's a plus. That adds something to the package.” Coach Tressel said about Pryor and what he brings to the offense.

Robiskie is Back

In addition to the great running of Pryor and Wells, wide receiver Brian Robiskie had a breakout game for the year with 8 catches for 90 yards and 2 touchdowns. Pryor found Robiskie in the end zone before half-time on an 8 yard fade pattern. With Boeckman inserted into the game during the third quarter, Ohio State went to the pass more often and Boeckman found Robiskie in the middle of the end-zone on a 31 yard touchdown reception in the beginning moments of the fourth quarter.

Pressured for 3 Quarters

The defensive performed well during the first three quarters of the game with the defensive ends and linebackers pressuring Gopher quarterback Adam Weber often. Some timely turnovers by the Gophers made the match-up more difficult than their previous four games which they had all won and had also won the turnover battle. In the fourth quarter, Minnesota was able to move the ball through the air as Ohio State began to rotate in their second string defensive line and the pressure on Weber was not as consistent.