Caden Curry and Kayden McDonald led the way for Ohio State's victory over Washington (Photo by Ohio State Athletics)
Ohio State was led by their defense as they played on the West Coast for the first time since a loss last season to Oregon. The Buckeyes’ defense corralled the Washington rushing attack and their dynamic quarterback, Demond Williams. Meanwhile, the Buckeye offense did more than enough against the Huskies’ defense.
#1 Ohio State 24, Washington 6
The Buckeyes got off to a bit of a slow and sloppy start. A failed fourth and short in the Red Zone and a special teams turnover had the game scoreless through the first quarter. Washington would take a 3-0 lead early in the second quarter. It wasn’t until late in the second quarter that the Buckeyes got on the board and took the lead. Ohio State had continued to struggle, but then decided to keep it simple. In a good call by Ryan Day and Brian Hartline, Jeremiah Smith got separation and got open on a crossing route, and Julan Sayin delivered it under pressure, and Smith did the rest.
The Buckeyes would lead 7-3 at halftime. As the Buckeyes trotted to the locker room, Ryan Day told the sideline reporter that he was determined to have Ohio State ‘own the eight.’ Meaning play very well in the last four minutes of the first half and in the first four minutes of the second half. Smith’s late touchdown checked the box on the first four, and the drive the Buckeyes opened the second half with checked the boxes on the last four.
Ohio State got the ball to start the second half and proceeded to go on a drive of 75 yards on 14 plays that took 7:41 off of the game clock. Three Sayin passes to Smith, two to James Peoples, one to Jelani Thurman, and a couple of CJ Donaldson carries, including a one-yard touchdown, were a show of dominance by the Buckeyes. Washington and Ohio State would trade field goals, making the score 17-6 in the fourth quarter.
The Bucks would put the game away with an eight-play, 44-yard drive that would end with CJ Donaldson catching a touchdown pass and give the game its final score of 24-6. While Sayin, Smith, Donaldson, and the offense did the scoring, the Buckeye defense shut down a powerful Washington offense behind an all-American effort from two Ohio State defensive linemen.
The Law Firm of Caden and Kayden; Quarterback Prosecutors
Caden Curry and Kayden McDonald played their best games as Buckeyes so far in their careers. A sophomore, McDonald looked every bit as good as Tyleik Williams looked last year as a senior who was a first-round draft pick this past spring. Curry, a fourth-year player who sat for three years behind Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau, looked as good as those two did in the Buckeyes’ playoff run last season.
It’s no exaggeration to compare them to Buckeye legends who led the way to a national championship. Curry had 11 tackles, nine of them solo, five tackles for a loss, and three sacks. McDonald had seven tackles, five of them solo, three tackles for a loss, and two sacks. I’m hopeful and believe that this was just a coming-out party for how elite these two can and will play this year. The Buckeyes will need this kind of play to repeat as national champions, and these two look up to the challenge.
JereHeism4n Smith
Smith is having the kind of season to keep him in the Heisman conversation, but more importantly, he is being a key component for Ohio State in every single game. He had eight catches for 81 yards and that huge touchdown in this win. On the season, he has 28 catches for 396 yards and five total touchdowns.
Just Sayin
Smith gets all the attention and rightly so. So do Carnell Tate and the running backs like Bo Jackson and CJ Donaldson. However, Julian Sayin is ahead of schedule. Ohio State went back a bit to the Texas game plan of avoiding putting weight on Sayin’s shoulders. I understand the caution, but don’t think it is warranted. The only criticism of Sayin is that he needs to know when to take off for a first down when a running lane is available, but a passing lane isn’t.
That’s pretty small potatoes for a guy who is 4-0, beat #1 Texas in his first start, just ended a team’s 22-game home winning streak, and is 78 of 99 for 987 yards and 11 touchdown passes. He’s doing just fine.
Coach Ryan Day
Day has shown caution at times with Sayin this season, but this is just Coach Day being himself. It’s easy to forget these players and coaches are mortal and have internal struggles to be their best. Day can tend to be cautious and outthink himself at times, but he’s doing a fantastic job. I was one of the ones who wanted him fired after the regular season ended last year, so now, when he’s excelling, I must be a defender.
Ryan Day’s numbers don’t lie. He’s 74-10, with three of those losses being dubious at best. He’s 63-4 when he has the Buckeyes leading at halftime. When he coaches against unranked teams, he’s 50-1. In his last seven games against teams ranked in the top 10, he is 7-0. He’s a national champion-winning coach who has his team a quarter of the way to repeating. Day, Sayin, Smith, Curry, McDonald, and the Buckeyes return to the Horseshoe to play Minnesota this week and keep marching in that right direction.
