Fields puts OSU in front at half against Cincinnati

Buckeyes' dual-threat QB doing it with his legs and arm at UC's expense

The dilemma Justin Fields presents put Ohio State in front early at Ohio Stadium on Saturday. 

Defenses have to honors Fields' arm, but they also must respect his legs. That gives Ryan Day options in the Red Zone that Dwayne Haskins didn't offer the Buckeyes last season.

On OSU's second possession, Fields converted a third-and-8 with an effective scramble that sustained the drive and then ended it with his 7-yard run.

Cincinnati, though, figured it out on Ohio State's next possession.

That was about the only bright spot for the Bearcats in the first two quarters.

Fields had his way running and throwing, compiling 186 yards passing on 14-of-16 success and gaining 29 yards on 7 rushes.

Fields showed off his passing touch after a Cincinnati missed field goal, completing all four of his attempts for 59 yards on Ohio State's 77-yard drive to a 14-0 lead.

Fields 11 for 13 for 129 yards. Looks very comfortable, in a rhythm. Not forcing that ball into double coverage and instead dumping down to Olave and letting him make a play exactly the kind of decision making Day wants to see.

— Bill Landis (@BillLandis25) September 7, 2019

Then it was J.K. Dobbins' turn, getting the first of his two touchdowns on a 4-yard run and the second on a 60-yard sprint.

Then, before the Buckeyes scored again....there was a really cool feature on the father of former OSU linebacker and current UC assistant coach, Marcus Freeman.

That's about all the feel-good there would be for the Bearcats early, with OSU increasing its lead to 28-0 by the break on Fields' first touchdown pass of the day to freshman Garrett Wilson.