8 | 2011 Ohio State Football

TODAY’S GAME

BUCKEYES VS. ROCKETSOHIO STADIUM – Ohio State welcomes its second in-state foe to Columbus in as many weeks when Toledo takes on the Buckeyes today. The Buckeyes and Rockets have squared off just twice with Ohio State winning both matchups, including a 38-0 win over Toledo in 2009 in Cleveland.

Ohio State defeated Akron, 42-0, in the 2011 opener last Saturday at Ohio Stadium. Joe Bauserman and Jake Stoneburner connected on three touchdown passes as the Buckeyes rolled to 517 yards of total offense in the first game of the Luke Fickell era. In his first career start, Bauserman looked sharp and confident, completing 12 of 16 passes for 163 yards, including the three TDs to Stoneburner, who became the first Buckeye tight end to find the end zone three times in a single game.

Toledo started 2011 with a 58-22 win over New Hampshire in its season opener. Senior Adonis Thomas ran for 115 yards and a touchdown while the Rockets used Austin Danton and Terrance Owens in an effective two-quarterback system. The duo combined to complete 25 of 34 passes for 283 yards and five touchdowns. Junior linebacker Robert Bell tallied eight tackles, a sack and forced a pair of fumbles.

GAME NOTESHOME SWEET HOMEWith the win last week over Akron, Ohio State is 53-5 at Ohio Stadium since the start of the 2002 season. The Buckeyes have won 55 consecutive regular-season non-conference home games against teams not ranked in the AP Top 25.

THE ROCKETS AGAINST THE BIG BOYSToledo has the ninth-most BCS wins by a non-BCS school (6) since the 2003 season and has defeated five BCS teams in the past five years:2010: Toledo 31, Purdue 202009: Toledo 54, Colorado 382008: Toledo 13, Michigan 102007: Toledo 36, Iowa State 352006: Toledo 37, Kansas 31 – 2OT

GAME CAPTAINSGame captains for the Toledo game will be senior QB Joe Bauserman, junior DB Nate Ebner and senior LB Andrew Sweat.

CARRYING THE FLAGTo honor Ohio’s fallen heroes, Ohio State’s Nate Ebner will carry an American flag donated by the Ohio Fallen Heroes Memorial Committee on to the field for today’s game. The Buckeyes would like to take the time to recognize those who risk their lives to protect others, fight tirelessly so we can sleep peacefully and live with honor.

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OHIO STATE NEWS & NOTESA NEW FAVORITE TARGET?Jake Stoneburner caught a pair of first-half touchdown passes against Akron, a 28-yarder and an 11-yarder. He had a pair of touchdowns in his career entering the game. Stoneburner then added a two-yard TD catch on the first drive of the second half. His three-touchdown game marked the first time in the modern era an Ohio State tight end caught three touchdown passes and eighth time any player caught three or more touchdown passes in a game.

A NICE STARTWith the 42-0 win over Akron last Saturday, Luke Fickell became the first Ohio State head coach to record a shutout in his head coaching debut since Woody Hayes in 1951. Just over half of Ohio State’s head coaches – 12 of 23 – have started their Ohio State coaching career 2-0, with Earle Bruce the last to do so in 1979. Bruce won his first 11 games as coach. Carroll Widdoes opened his career 12-0, covering the 1944 and 1945 seasons.

MORE FRESH FACESA dozen true freshmen played vs. the Zips. Only two FBS schools – Texas (18) and Auburn (13) – played more true freshmen than Ohio State. In addition, a total of 11 Buckeyes made their first starts last Saturday vs. Akron.

DOMINANT DUOA pair of young running backs burst on to the scene against Akron. Carlos Hyde carried the ball 19 times for 93 yards and Rod Smith ran 18 times for 74 yards and a touchdown, all career highs.