COLUMBUS, Ohio - In front of a crowd of 104,719, the New Mexico State football team fell to No. 17 Ohio State, 45-0, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009 at Ohio Stadium.
With the loss the Aggies fall to 3-6 on the season while the Buckeyes improve to 7-2. NM State is now 0-3 all-time vs. teams from the Big Ten.
The Aggie defense, which held its opponent scoreless in the first quarter for the fourth time this season, was led by defensive back Donte Savage and linebacker Jason Scott. Savage, who finished the game with eight tackles and a forced fumble, also had a big goal-line pass breakup in the opening quarter. Smith finished the game with a game-high 15 tackles.
The Buckeyes, who were hitting on all cylinders offensively and defensively, did miss four field goals on the day. Ohio State was led in the win by sophomore quarterback Terrelle Pryor. Pryor, who played just the first half Saturday, rushed for 89 yards and the game's first touchdown. He was 11-for-23 through the air for 135 yards and another score.
The Ohio State defense held NM State to just two first downs on the day and 62 yards of total offense. The Buckeyes finished with 559 total yards of offense, including 310 on the ground. Running back Jordan Hall led the ground attack, rushing for a game-high 90 yards on 10 carries.
OSU wide receiver DeVier Posey, who caught a team-high five balls for 79 yards in the first half, also threw for a score, connecting with Duane Sanzenbacher on a 39-yard pass off a double-reverse to put the Buckeyes ahead, 21-0. Sanzenbacher finished the day with four catches for 72 yards and two touchdowns.
After being held scoreless in the first half, the Ohio State offense scored on four of its six possessions in the second quarter to take a 28-0 lead into halftime. The Buckeyes out-gained the Aggies 305 yard to 41 in the first half and were 7-for-10 on third-down conversions.
On the first play the second quarter, Pryor capped off a 13-play, 80-yard drive with an 8-yard scramble to the end zone for the game's first points. The Buckeyes converted two third downs in the scoring drive, including a 27-yard dash from Pryor on 3-and-12 from the Ohio State 29-yard line.
On the ensuing kickoff, Ohio State kicker Aaron Pettrey recovered his own onsides kick to put the offense right back on the field. Five plays later, Pryor found Sanzenbacher in the end zone with a 19-yard bullet to put the Buckeyes ahead, 14-0.
After an interception on Aggies' next possession gave the ball back to the Buckeyes, NM State's Savage forced a Brandon Saine fumble that was recovered by the Aggies' Pierre Fils. It was Savage's second forced fumble of the year and Fils' first fumble recover of the season.
Late in the second quarter Ohio State struck again as Posey found Sanzenbacher in the back of the end zone with a 39-yard touchdown pass off a double reverse to put the Buckeyes ahead, 21-0. The drive, which covered 70 yards in five plays, was highlighted by a 27-yard run from Pryor on 3-and-2 to set up the scoring strike.
The Buckeyes extended their lead to 38-0 when Brian Rolle recovered a Trevor Walls' fumble in the end zone. Ohio State scored again when junior running back Dan Herron broke free for a 53-yard touchdown run in the closing seconds of the third quarter.
Coming off a bye week next week, the Aggies return to conference action Nov. 14 when they travel to Hawai'i. Kickoff is set for 8:05 p.m. (MT) and fans can catch all the action with the 'Voice of the Aggies' Jack Nixon and color analyst Mike Mitchell.
Courtesy: New Mexico State University
