Buckeyes haunt Minnesota, cruise to lopsided victory

By: Travis Kozek (TheLantern.com) -

New stadium, same result for the Buckeyes.

Playing at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn., for the first time, Ohio State (8-1, 4-1) continued its dominance of Minnesota Saturday, pummeling the Golden Gophers, 52-10.

In front of a modest crowd with mixed allegiance, OSU extended its supremacy over Minnesota (1-8, 1-4) to eight straight games and wins in 24 of the last 25 meetings between the two squads.

Opening the game with a 46-yard scoring drive capped by a 1-yard Terrelle Pryor touchdown plunge, the Gophers answered right back with a 7-yard scoring run of their own, their only end zone appearance of the game.

OSU exhibited the same lackadaisical road effort Buckeye fans have become accustomed to this year. To start the game, the Silver Bullet defense was gashed for three pass plays of 30 yards or more before finally settling in.

After a 35-yard Minnesota field goal bounced off the left upright to start the second quarter, it was all Buckeyes the rest of the night.

Led by 114 first half rushing yards from junior Dan “Boom” Herron – the first 100-yard performance of his career – OSU put up 325 yards and 31 points in the first half alone.

Despite a Terrelle Pryor interception in the end zone nearly halfway through the second quarter, the Buckeyes mounted an offensive onslaught before the half, scoring twice in the last five minutes to more than double their lead.

Herron found the end zone from 10 yards out for his lone touchdown of the evening before a Minnesota muffed punt set up a 38-yard touchdown from Pryor to DeVier Posey.

The Minnesota special teams woes continued in the second half as safety Zach Domicone extended the Buckeye lead to 38-10 halfway through the third quarter, recovering a Jon Newsome blocked punt in the end zone.

The OSU defense made its presence felt when defensive tackle John Simon took a fumble 30 yards to the end zone for the final score of the game.

The Buckeyes will have next week off before welcoming Penn State to the Horseshoe on Nov. 13.