Three takeaways from Ohio State's first half against Illinois.
At halftime in Champaign, Illinois, the Buckeyes have looked relatively sharp. The offense scored on its first two drives, and the defense has held firm. Julian Sayin, Bo Jackson, and Jeremiah Smith have been key contributors on offense, consistently moving the chains and making big plays. On defense, the usual standouts like Caleb Downs, Sonny Styles, and Arvell Reese continue to shine.
After 30 minutes of play, Ohio State leads 20 to 3 over Illinois. Here are three quick takeaways from the first half.
That Ohio State defense
Illinois' opening drive ended in disaster as quarterback Luke Altmyer's pass was tipped and intercepted by OSU linebacker Payton Pierce, who returned it 15 yards to set up the offense deep in Illinois territory. It was Altmyer’s first interception of the season, and the Buckeye defense made an early statement. Later in the second quarter, Illinois running back Ca’Lil Valentine fumbled, and OSU's Kayden McDonald recovered, once again giving the Buckeyes’ offense excellent field position.
With top cornerback Lorenzo Styles Jr. out for this game, true freshman five-star Devin Sanchez made his first career start. Sanchez had some freshman moments, especially in the second quarter. He was targeted more often and nearly gave up a touchdown late in the half, but a holding call wiped out the play and the receiver fell out of bounds. It was a tough penalty for Sanchez that set Illinois up inside the five-yard line. Even so, the Buckeye defense held strong. They stuffed two straight runs, forced a false start, and cornerback Davison Igbinosun broke up a third-down pass. That goal-line stand extended Ohio State’s streak of not allowing a first-half touchdown to six straight games, which is remarkable.
The Ohio State offense looks a little out of sync
Even with a big lead, the Buckeyes could easily be ahead by more. Julian Sayin had a few miscommunications with wideouts Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith, and the frustration showed. One misfire between Sayin and Tate on what could have been a touchdown led to a conversation on the bench, but it remained constructive. They will look to find more rhythm in the second half. To its credit, the Illinois defense has done a decent job of containing the Buckeyes’ ground game, though the potential for explosive plays remains.
It's almost unfair to have Jeremiah Smith
His first-half numbers might not jump off the page with four catches for 40 yards, but Jeremiah Smith continues to be a problem for defenses. He had a long third-down catch erased by a questionable ruling that he did not maintain control of the ball, but he had already beaten two defenders on the play. No matter the coverage, whether double or even triple teams, Smith finds ways to get open and make an impact. Every time he is targeted, something seems to happen. The numbers do not always show it, but his presence changes the game.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State vs. Illinois halftime report: Three quick takeaways
Category: General Sports
