Buckeyes Defense Scores Twice, 'On The Road' To Greatness
The Ohio State Buckeyes' offense was cruising 42-10 late in the third quarter when the defense got into the scoring mix.
A forced fumble by cornerback Denzel Burke popped into the end zone and, following a scrum for the ball, defensive lineman Tyleik Williams came up with the recovery for a touchdown. The first of two defensive scores in Ohio State's 63-10 win over the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers cemented a perception that has been mounting for a few weeks now: the Buckeyes' defense is legitimate.
The Buckeyes forced four turnovers in a game for the fourth time in the last five seasons, and have now held their opponent to 10 points or less for the third-consecutive game to begin the season — something an Ohio State defense hasn't done since 1975.
"We came into this year thinking that we were going to win games on defense, and I think that's what we're starting to do," linebacker Steele Chambers said. "Sooner down the road when something like that happens, I think we'll be prepared for it."
Backed up on their own five-yard line, Hilltoppers quarterback Austin Reed handed off to running back Davion Ervin-Poindexter who broke out of linebacker Tommy Eichenberg's tackle attempt. He tried to spin out of Burke's grasp, but that led to his demise.
Burke's helmet hit the ball, sending it shooting back toward the end zone. Chambers was all but set to recover for the touchdown, but the ball scooted and squirted around and into the arms of defensive lineman Tyleik Williams, who joined the pile late, for the score.
"[Mickey Marotti] said [Williams] looked like a dog looking for a bone in the ground," head coach Ryan Day said. "We do talk about how when you get into those piles that ball can be anywhere, and so you got to get in there and see if you can be the first guy to get it."
However, the Buckeyes' defense wasn't done.
Late in the fourth quarter, freshman cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr. undercut wide receiver Blue Smith's route and housed a 58-yard touchdown return, marking the first time since the Buckeyes' win against TCU in 2018 that the defense put two scores on the board.
While Ohio State's offense getting over the hump carried the headlines of the day, the defense's effort can't be lost in this dominant victory.
If Ohio State's offense can continue the quick-strike abilities they showed today, this defense should be enough to carry them to be a contender within the Big Ten and College Football Playoff landscape.
"I feel like we weren't really tested as a whole back end the first two games, and I feel like we got tested this game," Burke said. "That's just kind of what we needed going into Week 4 against Notre Dame. We're trying to bring BIA back and Silver Bullets back, and I feel like we're on the road to doing that."
