Written By Adrian Beecher
PASADENA, California – Ohio State avenged their one-point loss to Oregon earlier this season in commanding fashion, jumping out to a 34-0 lead in the first half and cruising to a 41-21 victory in the 111th Rose Bowl on Wednesday night. Here’s how it all unfolded in The Granddaddy of Them All.
Oregon won the toss and deferred to the second half, giving Ohio State the ball first. The Buckeyes wasted no time, needing just three plays to find the end zone. Quarterback Will Howard connected with Jeremiah Smith for a 45-yard touchdown after Smith broke two tackles on his way to the score. Just a minute into the game, it was 7-0 Ohio State.
The Ducks’ opening possession was lackluster, ending in a quick three-and-out. On the Buckeyes’ next drive, they moved into Oregon territory but stalled at the 36-yard line. A touchback on the ensuing punt gave the Ducks possession at their 20-yard line.
Oregon’s quarterback Dillon Gabriel struggled to generate momentum, going three-and-out on the Ducks’ second possession as well. Taking over at their own 47, the Buckeyes struck again, this time on another three-play drive. Howard delivered a perfectly placed pass to Emeka Egbuka for a touchdown, extending the lead to 14-0 with 7:36 left in the first quarter.
The Ducks finally earned their first first down on their third possession, but their drive fizzled, resulting in another punt. From there, the rout was on.
Ohio State opened the second quarter with a 46-yard field goal to make it 17-0. On Oregon’s next possession, a failed fourth-down conversion handed the ball back to the Buckeyes. Two plays later, Howard connected with Smith again, this time for a 43-yard touchdown, pushing the lead to 24-0.
Another three-and-out by the Ducks was followed by a 66-yard touchdown run from Treyvon Henderson, making it 31-0 with 8:47 left in the half. Ohio State added a late field goal to extend the lead to 34-0.
Just before halftime, Gabriel orchestrated a 10-play, 75-yard scoring drive, capped by a touchdown pass to Traeshon Holden as time expired. A successful two-point conversion cut the deficit to 34-8 heading into halftime.
Oregon opened the second half with an 11-play, 75-yard scoring drive, capped by Noah Whittington’s two-yard touchdown run. However, the drive consumed 6:05 of the clock, leaving Oregon with limited time to mount a comeback.
The Ducks’ defense forced a quick three-and-out, giving their offense another opportunity. However, two costly sacks on Gabriel ended the drive quickly.
Ohio State responded with a 56-yard drive, punctuated by Henderson’s second rushing touchdown of the game, making it 41-15 with 2:19 left in the third quarter.
Oregon managed one final touchdown early in the fourth quarter, a 27-yard strike from Gabriel to Holden, trimming the deficit to 41-21. However, it was too little, too late.
The Buckeyes dominated the game statistically, outgaining the Ducks 500 yards to 276, with a staggering -23 rushing yards for Oregon compared to 181 for Ohio State.
With the win, Ohio State advances to face Texas in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl on Friday, January 10th. Kickoff is set for 6:30 PM CST at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
For Oregon, the loss marks the end of their season. For the Buckeyes, the quest for a national title rolls on.
Image Credit: Adrian Beecher
