By: Matt Gottfried (TheLantern.com) —
For the first time this season, Ohio State’s defense lived up to its high expectations as it held Purdue’s offense out of the end zone in Saturday’s 16-3 victory.

Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, the Boilermakers accomplished the very same feat.

Ohio State’s offense struggled mightily to get any sort of momentum going as it tallied just 222 yards. Even more disappointing was the fact Purdue entered the game as the nation’s 108th ranked defense.

“There was a moment where you looked good and there was a moment where you went backwards,” Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. “We’re not consistent at all and it will be interesting to watch the film, but from where I was, we certainly didn’t control the line of scrimmage - that’s where it starts.”

Chris Wells racked up just 94 yards on the ground - the first time he failed to reach 100 yards in his last five games - while freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor threw for 97 more.

The Buckeyes finished with just three plays over 20 yards, two of which came on the ground.

“We get close to the end zone and then we relax too much,” tight end Jake Ballard said. “So we don’t make it … we get frustrated, and it’s downhill from there.”

The poor offensive showing plummeted the Big Ten leaders to a No. 94 offensive ranking.

Jenkins sparks defense

After watching Ohio State’s offense sputter against a less-than-dominant Purdue defense, senior cornerback Malcolm Jenkins decided to take matters into his own hands, literally.

The co-captain busted through the Boilermaker’s defensive line on their fourth-down punt attempt and deflected the ball high into the air immediately after it left the foot of Purdue punter Chris Summers.

As the ball floated back to the turf, it was plucked out of the air by freshman Etienne Sabino, who raced 20-yards for the game’s lone touchdown.

“I felt like the ball was never going to come down,” Sabino said. “It was in the air forever and it finally fell into my hands. After that I just remember running as hard as I could to get into the end zone.”
Jenkins later added to his big game with his second interception in as many games, as he stepped in front of an errant Curtis Painter pass on the first play of the second quarter.

Not only did it serve as Jenkins’ 11th career interception, but it also capped off a game in which he had four tackles, an interception, a pass break up and one blocked kick.

“I think our defensive guys prepared very well,” Tressel said. “You could tell that they diagnosed things and broke on the ball, anticipated, knew the formations and just kept coming.

“Purdue made some plays, but I think our defense never got flustered.”

So while the offense continues to pose new questions, the defense appears to have finally found some answers.

“We’ve always been a relentless defense, we’ve always been physical,” Jenkins said. “I think it’s starting to come together now, guys are making big plays when we really need them.”

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