Ohio State uses defense, special teams to beat Iowa

COLUMBUS - At a university where the block O has become a scarlet symbol for zero offense, the Ohio State Buckeyes did whatever it took to embark on a new winning streak.

What it took was exceptional special teams trumping extraordinary defense as the eighth-ranked Buckeyes rode touchdowns scored via a punt return and blocked punt to Saturday's 19-10 victory over No. 9 Iowa before a homecoming crowd of 105,044 in Ohio Stadium.

One week after having their 19-game winning streak snapped at Wisconsin, it might be time to again trot out the word "charmed" when describing the Buckeyes. They improved to 6-1 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten, winning for the second time this season without benefit of an offensive touchdown.

"Well, it's better than losing two games without scoring an offensive touchdown," coach Jim Tressel said. "But, no, it's not OK that we're not where we'd like to be offensively, but I think we got a little bit better against a very, very good defense ... not enough to be touted as anything out of this world, but enough to be touted as 6-1."

Unless you generously attribute Mike Nugent's personal-best 53-yard field goal to the offense, OSU's special teams were responsible for 17 of the Buckeyes' 19 points. The exception was a critical fourth-quarter safety when backup center Eric Rothwell capped his nightmarish afternoon by snapping the ball out of the end zone from shotgun formation on second down with 3:03 left.

Quarterback Nathan Chandler also fumbled two exchanges with Rothwell that killed drives at the OSU 31 and Iowa 48 in the third quarter. Rothwell, who usually starts at guard, moved over to center because of an injury.

Before the safety, the Hawkeyes (5-2, 1-2) had closed within 17-10 earlier in the fourth period when Nate Kaeding lined up for a 23-yard field goal. Holder/punter David Bradley, victimized by a blocked punt into the end zone in the third quarter, pitched the snap to Kaeding and he scored untouched over the right side.

"I think all of the touchdowns today came off special teams, right?," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. "It was two pretty good teams slugging it out. You have to give Ohio State credit. I think all of our guys played hard. Our effort and courage and toughness were certainly not the problem."

The problem was OSU overcame a miserable 185 yards total offense to out-shine Iowa on special teams - an area where the Hawkeyes seemed to have a clear advantage coming into the game.

Iowa had the reigning Lou Groza Award winner in Kaeding, who is perfect on his nine field goal attempts this year. But Nugent stole his thunder with that 53-yarder -- the second-longest by a Buckeye in Ohio Stadium history.

Iowa had one of the nation's leading punt returners in Ramon Ochoa. But Michael Jenkins stole his thunder, moments after Nugent's field goal, by shaking off a defender at his heels as he received the first-quarter punt and broke two more tackles en route to a 54-yard touchdown return.

It was the first time the Buckeyes have used Jenkins on returns this season and, according to him, the first time he has ever done so in his career, although the media guide credits him with one 11-yard return last season.

It was also the first punt return for a touchdown by OSU since Nate Clements went 83 yards against Purdue three years ago.

"I tell you the key guy on that play was (usual return man) Chris Gamble," Tressel said. "He was what we call our `anti-sniper.' Their guy (defensive back Bob Sanders) had been making plays all year long, but Chris kept him off, everyone else held up and Mike went north and south."

Using Jenkins on special teams wasn't the only wrinkle Ohio State used to try and break out of its scoring lethargy. The Buckeyes employed Chris Gamble at wide receiver, used some full-house backfield and even attempted a flea-flicker.

The fullhouse backfield backfired when quarterback Craig Krenzel fumbled at the goal-line in the second quarter. The flea-ficker resulted in a 43-yard completion to Drew Carter, but the pass was called back when Carter was flagged for a questionable push-off.

Still the Buckeyes managed to pad their 10-3 halftime lead when two freshmen collaborated on a third-quarter touchdown. Borrowing a page from the Hawkeyes, who had blocked three punts this season, Roy Hall barged untouched up the middle to block Bradley's punt and Donte Whitner recovered in the end zone as the Buckeyes upped their lead to 17-3.

Given the way Ohio State plays defense, especially at home, that was insurmountable.

"I'm surprised I came free," Hall said. "I lined up over guard. I don't know what happened to the center, but he didn't help out. When no one came my way, it was time to go to work."

Originally published Sunday, October 19, 2003