.png&width=42&height=42&type=webp)
University of Minnesota Athletics
Turnovers Sting Gophers In 38-7 Loss At Ohio State
10/24/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Minnesota was unable to overcome four turnovers this afternoon in a 38-7 loss to Ohio State this afternoon in Columbus, Ohio. The loss drops Minnesota to 4-4 (2-3 Big Ten) entering a Halloween night battle with Michigan State next Saturday. Ohio State improves to 6-2 (4-1 Big Ten).
The Gophers were undone by three second half turnovers that were converted into 21 Buckeye points. Terrelle Pryor threw two touchdowns to DeVier Posey and ran for another to lead the Buckeyes. The Gophers were forced to play without star wide receiver Eric Decker for the final three quarters after he aggravated an ankle injury late in the first quarter. Decker had three catches early in the first quarter.
The Gophers lone score came in the fourth quarter on the first career touchdown pass by freshman quarterback MarQueis Gray on a 16-yard strike to Troy Stoudermire.
On their second drive of the game, the Gophers advanced to the Buckeye 33-yard line after a 25-yard run by MarQueis Gray but were unable to get a yard and the ensuing three plays. A nice punt by Blake Haudan pinned the Buckeyes inside their 10. Ohio State took the ball and marched 18 plays on the next drive. After the Buckeyes converted on a 4th-and-1 from the 15, Minnesota's defense stepped up, forcing a 30-yard field goal attempt which Aaron Pettrey missed wide right.
The Gophers were on the move again toward the end of the first quarter after two receptions by Eric Decker and an Adam Weber 10-yard completion to Brandon Green but the drive stalled at the Buckeye 43 and Haudan dropped another punt inside the OSU 10-yard line. It proved to a very even first quarter with OSU picking up 97 yards while Minnesota accumulated 75.
Ohio State drew first blood when Terrelle Pryor connected with DeVier Posey on a 62-yard touchdown pass with 9:47 left in the second quarter. Posey beat Traye Simmons down the sideline and easily scampered into the end zone to put OSU up 7-0. The Gopher defense held strong at the end of the half as Kyle Theret picked off Pryor in the end zone on a pass intended for Posey and returned it to the 6-yard line with 44 seconds remaining. The interception kept the halftime deficit at seven points. Although the Gophers were outgained 278-142, the Gopher defense rose to the occasion in the key situations. Pryor completed 10-of-21 for 174 yards while Weber was 7-of-15 for 79 yards. Weber was hurt by five drops from his receivers.
Disaster struck for the Gophers on the opening kickoff of the second half when Ohio State kicked short and Troy Stoudermire ran up to catch the ball but fumbled it while diving and the Buckyes took over inside the Gopher 30-yard line. Three plays later, Pryor scored on a run from 15 yards out to make the score 14-0 Buckeyes.
With 7:53 on the clock in the third quarter, Weber was hit while attempting to throw and fumbled the ball. It was recovered by Ohio State on the Minnesota 21. The Buckeyes took advantage for the second time in the quarter when Jordan Hall took it into the end zone on an 11-yard scoring run and Ohio State led 21-0 with 6:00 left in the third.
Ohio State continued to flex its muscles on its next drive as Pryor hooked up with Posey on a 57-yard scoring strike to put OSU up 28-0. After Weber was intercepted by Austin Spitler three minutes into the fourth quarter, Ohio State took advantage of a turnover for the third time in the half as Jermil Martin rambled 39 yards for a score and a 35-0 lead. Aaron Pettrey tacked on a 44-yard field goal in the fourth quarter as well.
Ohio State racked up 508 yards of offense. Pryor was 13-of-25 for 239 yards and two scores and led the Buckeyes with 104 yards on 13 carries. For Minnesota, Gray ran 11 times for 81 yards and completed 5-of-6 passes for 51 yards. Stoudermire was Minnesota's leading receiver with 44 yards on four catches.
Minnesota will face Michigan State on Saturday at 7 p.m. at TCF Bank Stadium.
