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          Ohio State relies on defense to tackle Bearcats

          Sep 4, 2004

            COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Jim Tressel got little joy out of beating
            a good friend.

            "What I'm excited about is that the game's over," the Ohio
            State coach said after the ninth-ranked Buckeyes dismantled
            Cincinnati 27-6 Saturday in the debut of Bearcats coach Mike
            Dantonio, Tressel's former defensive coordinator.

            "It's like playing against family, you know."

            Dantonio, who worked for Tressel the last three years, got to
            see many of his former players at their best.

            "Their defense played very well," Dantonio said. "I respect
            Ohio State. They have great players. They play football the way its
            supposed to be played.

            The Bearcats managed just 238 total yards, converted only five
            of 18 chances on third down and never put together an extended
            drive.

            Ohio State's offense wasn't hitting on all cylinders but still
            had more than enough firepower to remain unbeaten against in-state
            opponents since 1921.

            Lydell Ross rushed for 141 yards and a touchdown as the Buckeyes
            used numerous combinations while trying to replace 13 starters from
            last year's team that finished 11-2. The inexperience showed at
            times.

            Justin Zwick, seeing his first substantial playing time at
            quarterback, threw two interceptions and had four fumbles in a
            rough outing. He completed 14 of 26 passes for 213 yards and a
            touchdown. Backup Troy Smith played far less but produced as much,
            leading the Buckeyes to scores in two of his three drives while
            throwing a touchdown pass.

            "The quarterbacks made some good plays," Tressel said, trying
            to be optimistic. "They also made some bad errors, especially from
            a turnover standpoint, which we won't be able to survive in the
            future."

            Gino Guidugli -- who almost engineered an upset of Ohio State
            during its national championship run two years ago -- was harassed
            all day by the Buckeyes' revamped defense. Ohio State played as if
            it barely missed three starting linemen, two linebackers and two
            defensive backs.

            Guidugli completed 17 of 36 passes for 162 yards. He wasn't
            sacked but was fed a steady diet of blitzes that resulted in
            hurried throws. Cincinnati's running game mustered just 76 yards.

            "We definitely needed to convert off those (Ohio State)
            turnovers," Guidugli said. "At the same time, we had
            opportunities to make a play for a first down or make a play and
            score a touchdown. But Ohio State always rose to the occasion."

            Ross carried 17 times and scored on a 1-yard run. He gained just
            14 yards on his first eight carries before a 68-yard sprint that
            set up one of Mike Nugent's two field goals.

            After a scoreless first quarter in which Ohio State rushed for
            minus-1 yard, the Bearcats took a 3-0 lead after Zwick was stripped
            of the ball by Jamar Enzor, who also fell on it at the Buckeyes'
            32. Kevin Lovell eventually connected on a 27-yard field goal on
            the second play of the second quarter.

            Moments later, Ross burst through a hole at his own 20 and found
            no one near him, bolting 68 yards.

            "We started slower than we wanted -- and I started just as
            slow," Ross said. "But in the second half we got into a niche and
            started doing what we wanted to do."

            Zwick completed passes for 14, 28 and 15 yards before finding a
            wide-open Ryan Hamby for a 17-yard score late in the second quarter
            to put the Buckeyes ahead 10-3.

            Things could have been even worse for Zwick, one of Ohio State's
            most highly touted quarterback recruits ever. He fumbled the ball
            another time and it bounced directly to teammate Bam Childress. On
            the touchdown drive, he threw a pass over the middle that went
            through the hands of two Cincinnati defenders before Childress
            grabbed it for 28 yards.

            "You can't dwell on mistakes," Zwick said. "The two
            interceptions weren't bad reads. They were just bad balls. You
            can't worry about that and let them get into your head."

            Zwick threw interceptions on Ohio State's first two possessions
            of the second half.

            After Lovell's second field goal for the Bearcats, the Buckeyes
            marched 57 yards capped by Ross' 1-yard run for a 17-6 lead. Zwick
            hit Childress on an 18-yard pass play that again went between two
            waiting defenders, then Ross rambled for 18 more yards to set up
            the score.

            Smith led the Buckeyes to all their scoring in the fourth
            quarter, including a 23-yard fade pass to Santonio Holmes.

            "Comfort is a big thing, but being a clear-cut starter is what
            we both want," Smith said of the quarterback battle.

            Big Ten officials used video replay at the game to review
            possession plays, ball position and ball placement, but the new
            system wasn't needed to correct any calls nor did it cause any
            noticeable delays.