Michael Smith
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Ohio State crushes Notre Dame to win Fiesta Bowl
Michael Smith via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Hello everyone and welcome as I will review the Fiesta Bowl that saw our Ohio State Buckeyes defeat the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 44-28.
This game couldn’t have started off better for Ohio State. After a three-and-out on Notre Dame’s first drive, the Buckeyes drove down the field and scored to go up 7-0. After yet another quick punt by Notre Dame, Ohio State again drove down the field for another easy touchdown to go up 14-0.
Then the entire game changed.
With Ohio State up 14-0 and dominating on both sides of the ball, Notre Dame QB DeShone Kizer threw an interception to Ohio State safety Tyvis Powell. Ohio State had the ball with great field position already up 14-0 with just a little over 5 minutes to go in the 1st quarter. Then the call that changed the game and should change the NCAA rule on targeting.
Joey Bosa, Ohio State’s best defensive player, who was dominating the game at the time, was flagged for targeting Kizer. Replays showed that Bosa lowered his head and hit Kizer in the chest. After replay the flag was upheld and Bosa was ejected from his last game as a Buckeye in the 1st quarter.
Now people can argue if the call was right or not. By the letter of the rule, it was. I don’t like it, but it was. Now the big problem I have is with the ejection. You just threw a kid out of his last ever game in his college football career for a hit that would’ve been legal just a couple years ago. Travesty doesn’t even begin to cover it.
I’ve said a few times on here that I don’t like the targeting call. Its too subjective and I hate, hate kicking a kid out of a game for doing something most football players have been taught to do since they were playing pee-wee ball. The intent of the rule I agree with. I feel that the ejection part needs to go, and needs to go now.
Back to the game.
Bosa’s ejection helped out Notre Dame big time. Ohio State was already thin on the defensive line with Bosa. Notre Dame suddenly was gaining yards and scoring points.
The problem for Notre Dame is that their defense had no answer for Zeke Elliott and the Ohio State offense. The Buckeyes racked up 28 1st half points, their highest output in the 1st half this year. Ohio State’s previous high for the 1st half was 21, which they did 3 times.
Unfortunately, Notre Dame’s defense also lost their best player as well. Linebacker Jaylon Smith suffered a major knee injury early in the game and didn’t return. It always sad to see a player with Smith’s talent get hurt like that.
Ohio State took a 28-14 halftime lead, then in the 3rd qtr Ohio State came out and was poised to score again, but a tipped J.T. Barrett pass was intercepted and Notre Dame drove down to score a touchdown which cut the Ohio State lead to 28-21. Notre Dame, however, would get no closer.
Zeke Elliott, also in his last game as a Buckeye, was brilliant. After Notre Dame cut the Buckeyes lead to 7, Elliott took over. He raced 47 yards untouched to the end zone to score his 4th touchdown on the day, which tied the Fiesta Bowl record for touchdowns scored by one player. Ohio State went up 35-21 and never looked back. Elliott finished with 27 carries for 149 yards and the 4 TDs. It was another amazing performance by Zeke.
Sean Nuernberger kicked 3 FGs in the 4th quarter to ice the game for the Buckeyes. It was nice to see as Ohio State did struggle this year with kicking FGs.
J.T. Barrett also had a very solid game for Ohio State. He threw for 211 yards and rushed for another 96 yards. In the end, Ohio State had 286 yards rushing and 211 yards passing in a very balanced offensive attack that Notre Dame had very little answer for.
Ohio State finishes this year 12-1 and the Fiesta Bowl champions. Most schools would gladly trade places with the Buckeyes, but we all know a lot of us will be left thinking what this team really could’ve done.
With the season being over, Ohio State now turns to the recruiting season. Ohio State did have the #1 recruiting class in the country, but has recently been taken over by LSU. Ohio State has lost a few big recruits during the season, but we all know how awesome coach Meyer is at recruiting.
As we welcome in another talented group of Buckeyes we have to say goodbye to one of the most talented groups in Ohio State history. The Fiesta Bowl win marked the 50th win for this senior class, tying the all time record for wins by a Senior class. Also leaving are Juniors Zeke Elliott, Joey Bosa, Tyvis Powell, and Cardale Jones with more probably to come. Ohio State could have to replace up to 16 starters next season.
We all know though, Ohio State doesn’t rebuild, we reload!
Till the next chapter, chill!
The post Ohio State crushes Notre Dame to win Fiesta Bowl appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
Continue reading...
Michael Smith via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Hello everyone and welcome as I will review the Fiesta Bowl that saw our Ohio State Buckeyes defeat the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 44-28.
This game couldn’t have started off better for Ohio State. After a three-and-out on Notre Dame’s first drive, the Buckeyes drove down the field and scored to go up 7-0. After yet another quick punt by Notre Dame, Ohio State again drove down the field for another easy touchdown to go up 14-0.
Then the entire game changed.
With Ohio State up 14-0 and dominating on both sides of the ball, Notre Dame QB DeShone Kizer threw an interception to Ohio State safety Tyvis Powell. Ohio State had the ball with great field position already up 14-0 with just a little over 5 minutes to go in the 1st quarter. Then the call that changed the game and should change the NCAA rule on targeting.
Joey Bosa, Ohio State’s best defensive player, who was dominating the game at the time, was flagged for targeting Kizer. Replays showed that Bosa lowered his head and hit Kizer in the chest. After replay the flag was upheld and Bosa was ejected from his last game as a Buckeye in the 1st quarter.
Now people can argue if the call was right or not. By the letter of the rule, it was. I don’t like it, but it was. Now the big problem I have is with the ejection. You just threw a kid out of his last ever game in his college football career for a hit that would’ve been legal just a couple years ago. Travesty doesn’t even begin to cover it.
I’ve said a few times on here that I don’t like the targeting call. Its too subjective and I hate, hate kicking a kid out of a game for doing something most football players have been taught to do since they were playing pee-wee ball. The intent of the rule I agree with. I feel that the ejection part needs to go, and needs to go now.
Back to the game.
Bosa’s ejection helped out Notre Dame big time. Ohio State was already thin on the defensive line with Bosa. Notre Dame suddenly was gaining yards and scoring points.
The problem for Notre Dame is that their defense had no answer for Zeke Elliott and the Ohio State offense. The Buckeyes racked up 28 1st half points, their highest output in the 1st half this year. Ohio State’s previous high for the 1st half was 21, which they did 3 times.
Unfortunately, Notre Dame’s defense also lost their best player as well. Linebacker Jaylon Smith suffered a major knee injury early in the game and didn’t return. It always sad to see a player with Smith’s talent get hurt like that.
Ohio State took a 28-14 halftime lead, then in the 3rd qtr Ohio State came out and was poised to score again, but a tipped J.T. Barrett pass was intercepted and Notre Dame drove down to score a touchdown which cut the Ohio State lead to 28-21. Notre Dame, however, would get no closer.
Zeke Elliott, also in his last game as a Buckeye, was brilliant. After Notre Dame cut the Buckeyes lead to 7, Elliott took over. He raced 47 yards untouched to the end zone to score his 4th touchdown on the day, which tied the Fiesta Bowl record for touchdowns scored by one player. Ohio State went up 35-21 and never looked back. Elliott finished with 27 carries for 149 yards and the 4 TDs. It was another amazing performance by Zeke.
Sean Nuernberger kicked 3 FGs in the 4th quarter to ice the game for the Buckeyes. It was nice to see as Ohio State did struggle this year with kicking FGs.
J.T. Barrett also had a very solid game for Ohio State. He threw for 211 yards and rushed for another 96 yards. In the end, Ohio State had 286 yards rushing and 211 yards passing in a very balanced offensive attack that Notre Dame had very little answer for.
Ohio State finishes this year 12-1 and the Fiesta Bowl champions. Most schools would gladly trade places with the Buckeyes, but we all know a lot of us will be left thinking what this team really could’ve done.
With the season being over, Ohio State now turns to the recruiting season. Ohio State did have the #1 recruiting class in the country, but has recently been taken over by LSU. Ohio State has lost a few big recruits during the season, but we all know how awesome coach Meyer is at recruiting.
As we welcome in another talented group of Buckeyes we have to say goodbye to one of the most talented groups in Ohio State history. The Fiesta Bowl win marked the 50th win for this senior class, tying the all time record for wins by a Senior class. Also leaving are Juniors Zeke Elliott, Joey Bosa, Tyvis Powell, and Cardale Jones with more probably to come. Ohio State could have to replace up to 16 starters next season.
We all know though, Ohio State doesn’t rebuild, we reload!
Till the next chapter, chill!
The post Ohio State crushes Notre Dame to win Fiesta Bowl appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
Continue reading...