2024 MAC Football Week 1 Game Recap: Ohio State Buckeyes 52, Akron Zips 6

The Akron Zips, 48.5 level underdogs by most prognosticators, weren’t anticipated to attain first of their contest vs. the Ohio State Buckeyes. Many individuals definitely didn’t count on the Zips to have the ability to push the envelope on the finish of the primary half to try to reduce right into a 17-3 OSU lead.

Actually, no person might fairly have anticipated Akron head coach Joe Moorhead to make the most of use a two-quarterback formation for a number of first-down pickups.

However by the top of Saturday afternoon’s contest, the anticipated consequence got here by way of, because the Ohio State Buckeyes (1-0) endured the punches and surprising adversity to cruise to a 52-6 victory over the Akron Zips (0-1) at historic Ohio Stadium.

Akron threw the primary punches, with the protection forcing a three-and-out on OSU’s first drive of the sport after which the offense driving right down to the Buckeyes 23-yard line to threaten for a rating.

Tahj Bullock, who began the sport on the bench, needed to engineer a drive after beginning QB Ben Finley left the sphere with a shoulder harm, and went 2-of-2 for 18 yards whereas selecting up 15 yards earlier than an errant snap on second down and a sack on third down doomed the drive to finish in a discipline purpose from Garrison Smith Jr. to present the Zips the preliminary 3-0 lead.

Ohio State responded with a protracted, environment friendly drive of their very own, with five-star receiving prospect Jeremiah Smith hauling in his first landing as a Buckeye from 16 yards out to cap off a 10-play, 76-yard drive lasting over six minutes to place the margin at 7-3.

Akron’s first alternative to instill worry within the Ohio State fanbase got here on fourth-and-five on the Zips 25-yard line early within the second quarter, when new addition Aman Greenwood broke up a Will Howard cross supposed for Emeka Egbuka to pressure a turnover-on-downs.

Hopes can be dashed pretty shortly, nonetheless, as Ben Finley would give the ball proper again to Ohio State through interception after making an attempt to throw out of a sack two performs later. The Buckeyes would money in Denzel Burke’s choose for a discipline purpose, extending their result in 10-3 with 11:23 to go within the first half.

After an Akron three-and-out on the subsequent possession, Ohio State would as soon as once more add to their lead on a second Howard-to-Smith connection, this time from 9 yards out on a snazzy one-handed catch by way of protection to push the result in 17-3.

Akron would drive into OSU territory on their ultimate full possession of the primary half, carrying the ball to the Buckeye 35-yard line on a 12-play, 45-yard drive, however it ended ignominiously with a scramble drill sack on a hobbled Finley.

The Zips protection valiantly compelled a three-and-out to stop the Buckeyes offense from making the most of the turnover-on-downs thanks partially to forcing a fumble, however between Finley’s accidents and the sport clock scenario, the offense was unable to nab any ultimate factors.

It was all downhill from there, as Ben Finley left the sport after struggling shoulder and rib accidents, and Tahj Bullock might now not discover room to function, ultimately giving Ohio State the ball again on a 52-yard punt on the primary drive of the third quarter.

The Buckeyes would rating two performs afterward a two-yard landing run by Quinshon Judkins after which nab their first defensive landing of the night time on a Bullock fumble recovered by Lathan Ransom to balloon the scoreboard to 31-3 inside 30 seconds of sport clock.

Garrison Smith Jr. stopped the bleeding with a 49-yard discipline purpose to place the margin at 31-6, however Ohio State would rack up 21 unanswered factors in reply, scoring a dashing landing, a passing landing, and a pick-six to successfully finish the night.

Will Howard completed with first rate stats after a rocky begin in his debut as a Buckeye, compiling 228 yards and three touchdowns on 17-of-28 passing.

Debutante receiver Jeremiah Smith completed with six receptions for 92 yards and two touchdowns, changing into the primary OSU freshman receiver to attain twice in a debut since 1996. Carnell Tate (4 receptions, 58 yards, one landing) and Emeke Egbuka (4 receptions, 51 yards) additionally contributed within the air.

TreyVeon Henderson led the Buckeyes with 65 dashing yards on eight carries, whereas former Ole Miss again Quinshon Judkins held workforce leads in carries (13) and tied for the workforce lead in touchdowns (one) on 55 yards. James Peoples (six carries, 30 yards) contributed with a dashing rating within the second half.

Defensively, Ransom Lathan was the hero of the day, shutting the door on a possible comeback with a fumble restoration landing whereas additionally main the workforce with 9 complete tackles and two tackles-for-loss. Tyliek Williams and J.T. Tuimoloau every had 1.5 TFLs to steer the Buckeyes, whereas Gabe Powers returned an interception for a landing late within the contest to get on the field rating.

Tahj Bullock completed 9-of-13 passing for 68 yards passing and 42 yards on 14 carries dashing (each workforce leads), whereas Ben Finley was 8-of-14 for 53 yards and an interception. True freshman Brayden Roggow is credited with 1-of-3 passing for 9 yards and an interception on a deflection.

Charles Kellom, Jordon Simmons and Marquese Williams mixed for 19 yards on 13 carries.

Tight finish Jake Newell led the Zips in receiving yards (41) on two catches, whereas Simmons led in receptions (4) and had 22 yards. Receiver Bobby Golden contributed three catches for 32 yards, whereas Tahj Bullock had 4 yards on two catches in particular packages.

A pair of transfers have been very important to the defensive effort for Akron, with former Oregon Duck Daymon David main Akron with six tackles, whereas former Syracuse Orange Aman Greenwood registered two cross break-ups— together with the fourth-down cease on Egbuka— and two tackles. Antavious Fish and CJ Nunnally IV held joint-second with 5 stops every. Bryan McCoy, who was out and in with accidents suffered in the course of the sport, completed with three tackles and a PBU.

Avery E-book was a star performer at punter, with a 48.2 yard web common and 4 punts of over 50 yards on six makes an attempt— even with a shank early on within the contest.

Akron will look to their second-straight journey to a Huge Ten faculty subsequent week, as they’re scheduled to tackle the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Saturday, Sept. seventh for a midday kickoff sport.

Ohio State, in the meantime, will host one other MAC program at Ohio Stadium subsequent week, this time taking over the Western Michigan Broncos— contemporary off an upset try towards Wisconsin. The sport is scheduled to kick off on Saturday, Sept. seventh at 7:30 p.m. Jap time.