Ohio State Lines Dominate Late, Dobbins Makes Name

Ohio State 49  Indiana 21

photo by: Rick McIntyre, Excel High School Sports/McIntyre Imaging

(Bloomington) by Steven Stremming

Okay, okay I will say it first, the Hoosier football team surprised everyone by answering a Buckeye Sean Nuernberger 27 yard field goal with  senior Ian Thomas touchdown reception giving the Hoosiers a 7-3 first quarter lead. Thomas is a senior from Baltimore, Maryland.

Thomas ended up catching five passes for 53 yards from senior Richard Lagow who threw for a total of 410 passing yards on 65 throwing attempts (setting a new Indiana record) breaking the previous mark of 64 by former Bloomington South quarterback, Ben Chappell. Lagow completed 40 of those attempts with two interceptions. Lagow passed Blake Powers in single game completions with his 40. Powers had completed 37 against Iowa in 2005 trailing only Chappell’s 46.

Photo by: Rick McIntyre/Excel High School Sports/McIntyre Imaging

What stunned the sell out crowd even more was another Indiana touchdown (a Lagow strike to senior, junior eligible Simmie Cobbs, Jr.) that placed the Tom Allen (Head Football Coach) led team to a 21-20 lead in the third quarter lead.

Then well, for the loud and large Ohio State crowd inside Memorial Stadium the Buckeyes righted their ship and found a gap in the Indiana defense (the middle of the field) a area that Indiana never found a answer for the remainder of the game.

Wichita Falls, Texas senior quarterback J T Barrett stepped up to the challenge and literally, figuratively found senior/junior eligible wide receiver Parris Campbell wide open on slant routes over the open middle for long gains.

 

photo by: Rick McIntyre/Excel High School Sports/McIntyre Imaging

Campbell would end up with six receptions for 136 yards while Johnnie Dixon, West Palm Beach, Florida senior grabbed two Barrett throws for 65 yards, Indianapolis Cathedral graduate Terry McLaurin (Goal Post Football Cover) two receptions for 21 yards and Marcus Baugh two receptions for 16 yards.

Photo by: Rick McIntyre/Excel High School Sports/McIntyre Imaging

The outbreak player of the game though was true freshman, LaGrange, Texas’, J K Dobbins who eclipsed former Buckeye Maurice Clarrett’s 175 yards rushing for a true freshman with his 29 rushes for 181 net yards. Both Dobbins and Barrett combined for 251 total yards of rushing in the game.

The game was won by the Ohio State defensive line consisting of senior Tyquan Lewis, senior Tracy Sprinkle, sophomore Dre’Mont Jones and junior Sam Hubbard along with Robert Landers, sophomore and Jalyn Holmes, senior along with sophomore Nick Bosa who those in the press corps described as, “ba asses.”

Not to be outdone was the brilliant Buckeye right side of the offensive line, senior center Billy Price, junior tackle Isaiah Prince and sophomore Branden Bowen and senior tight end Marcus Baugh.

Indiana receiving corps was highlighted by Cobbs eleven receptions for 149 yards and impressive Southlake Texas/Oklahoma State senior/junior eligible Luke Timian who grabbed ten Lagow throws for 72 yards and Largo, Florida junior Donavan Hale five catches for 67 yards and Thomas’ five for 53 yards.

For the Hoosiers though, in this setback to the preseason number two ranked Buckeyes there was a sense of hope and more than a glimmer at the end of this year’s season.

Next Saturday Tom Allen’s Hoosiers travel to Virginia for a 3:30 game.

Ohio State meanwhile welcomes in Oklahoma to Columbus.