Ohio State quarterback and leading Heisman Trophy candidate Troy Smith threw four touchdowns, Ted Ginn Jr. threw another and Chris Wells ran for a score as the top-ranked Buckeyes easily got past Indiana for a 44-3 victory Saturday at Ohio Stadium. By winning for the 15th straight game, Ohio State improved to 8-0 overall and 4-0 in the Big Ten.
In the first half, Smith threw four touchdown passes to Rory Nicol, Ginn, Anthony Gonzalez and Jake Ballard and was 11-for-18 for 170 yards. He finished the game 15-of-23 for 220 yards before handing responsibility over to backups Justin Zwick and Todd Boeckman in the fourth quarter. Smith's four first-half touchdowns were the most by a Buckeye in a half since Bobby Hoying threw four TD passes in the first half in a 48-14 Ohio State victory vs. Purdue in 1994. Smith has topped 200 yards passing five times this season.
Ginn threw a 38-yard TD pass to Nicol on a flea-flicker to give the Buckeyes a 35-3 lead with 1:03 to play in the third quarter. Aaron Pettrey then kicked a career-long 51-yard field goal before Chris Wells ran for a 12-yard score. Pettrey missed on the PAT.
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Ohio State finished with a season-high 540 total yards, getting 270 rushing and 270 passing. Antonio Pittman carried the ball 16 times for 105 yards, his fifth 100-yard game of the season. Wells ran for 65 yards on 10 carries while Maurice Wells added 62 yards on nine carries. Smith had 38 yards rushing on four carries. Eight different receivers had a catch for the Buckeyes led by Ginn's five catches for 72 yards and a touchdown. Gonzalez had four catches for 69 yards and a score, while Nicol finished with 61 yards on his two touchdown grabs.
The defense limited Indiana to 165 total yards and allowed only seven yards rushing. It also recovered one fumble and intercepted two second-half passes. Antonio Smith was the top tackler, recording 12 stops, one sack and a forced fumble. Joining Smith with sacks were Vernon Gholston and, Jay Richardson who had two. Malcolm Jenkins and Andre Amos had the interceptions.
The Buckeyes easily covered the –31-point spread with the 41-point victory. Ohio State backers have cashed on seven of the eight football games the Buckeyes have played in 2006.
