Written by Dan Wismar

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Backup quarterback Kenny Guiton threw four touchdown passes, including three in the game’s first six minutes, and Ohio State never trailed in an entertaining 52-34 shootout victory over California in Berkeley. On the second play of his first ever start as a Buckeye, Guiton executed the longest play from scrimmage in Ohio State history, with a 90-yard touchdown pass to Devin Smith, and OSU went on to grab a 21-0 lead before the wine in the home stands could lose its chill.

Jordan Hall had a career day as the primary OSU running back, scoring three touchdowns and racking up 168 yards on 30 carries, as Ohio State had its biggest offensive output of the Urban Meyer era with 608 total yards, 332 of those on the ground. Cal’s freshman quarterback Jared Goff had a big day as well, completing 31 of 53 for 371 yards and three TD passes, but he could get the Bears no closer than 10 points after the early Buckeye onslaught.

The Bears closed the gap to 24-14 after one quarter, and trailed just 31-20 at the half, but Ohio State scored the first two times they had the ball after halftime to go up 45-20, and then fought off Goff and his receivers the rest of the way. Meyer had his defense prepared to play 100 plays against the no-huddle offense of Cal coach Sonny Dykes, and the Bears almost got there, running 90 plays to OSU’s 87. The teams combined for 1,111 total yards in a game that lasted 3 hours and 32 minutes.

Guiton was named the Walter Camp national offensive player of the week for his performance in Berkeley, going 21 of 32, for 276 yards, with 4 touchdowns and no interceptions, while rushing for an additional 92 yards without being sacked. No one is seriously suggesting he replace Braxton Miller as the starter, but neither is there any rush to get Miller back on the field before the September 28 showdown with Wisconsin.

The coaches were successful in getting the ball to freshman athlete Dontre Wilson on the outside in this game, and the results were impressive. Wilson had three receptions for 48 yards (16.0 yd avg) and five rushes for 64 yards (11.4 yd avg.), as he showed the ability to get around the corner in a gear that Cal defenders could not match in pursuit.

 

The Ohio State defense has had better days statistically, and obviously, on the scoreboard as well. They played virtually the entire game in their “dime” defense, with one linebacker and six defensive backs, in order to combat Dykes’ pass-heavy scheme. Goff had success hitting a variety of short to intermediate routes, and they executed an inside bubble screen play on a couple of occasions, including once for a 42-yard touchdown play to receiver Cris Harper.

The Bears rushed for 132 yards, with the majority of that coming late in the game with OSU up by three scores, and the defense thinking pass on every play. But the 371 yards in passing by Goff has to be a concern to the OSU coaching staff, because this OSU offense isn’t going to score their per game average of 44.6 points against their better opponents. Then again, few of their opponents will have the wide open passing scheme they saw Saturday.

Star cornerback Bradley Roby will not use this film for his 2013 highlight reel, as he was beaten more than once by the Bears’ receiving corps, and he failed to push Bears receiver James Grisom out of bounds on what turned out to be a 61-yard TD reception for Cal’s first points of the day. Despite a few negative plays, Roby finished with seven tackles, and two pass breakups.

Buckeye fans got a scare when top linebacker Ryan Shazier left the field with a shoulder injury in the first half, but Shazier returned to the action, and wound up leading all OSU defenders with 12 tackles, plus a sack, and a forced fumble.

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