SB Nation Cleveland - FINAL: Buckeyes Knock Off 16th-Ranked Illinois 17-7https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48841/cleveland-fave.png2011-10-15T17:50:48-05:00http://cleveland.sbnation.com/rss/stream/22565302011-10-15T17:50:48-05:002011-10-15T17:50:48-05:00OSU Vs. Illinois Final: Buckeyes Claim 1st Big Ten Win, Knock Off Illinois 17-7
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<p>The Ohio State Buckeyes were able to do today what they were unable to do last week in Nebraska: take a lead, hold a lead and claim a victory.</p>
<p>Because they were able to get the job done this afternoon in Champagne, Illinois, to the tune of a 17-7 score, the Buckeyes claimed their first conference win of the season — and their first Leaders Division triumph ever in the newly-split Big Ten.</p>
<p>Dan Herron rang up 113 yards on 23 carries and scored one TD to lead an <span class="caps">OSU</span> ground game that totaled 207 yards.</p>
<p>And at quarterback? Well, here is a stat that is startling, and hearkens back to the old days under Woody Hayes, with its "Three yards and a cloud of dust" philosophy — <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/132058/braxton-miller">Braxton Miller</a> completed one pass…that’s right, one pass, in fact the only pass the Buckeyes completed all day. But that one completion was for a 17-yard touchdown to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/37235/jake-stoneburner">Jake Stoneburner</a> in the fourth quarter that extended the lead to 17-0 and basically put the game out of reach, making a late Illinois score on a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/75932/nathan-scheelhaase">Nathan Scheelhaase</a> to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/113713/evan-wilson">Evan Wilson</a> pass academic rather than damaging.</p>
<p>Ohio State got on the board in the first quarter on a 43-yard field goal from <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114084/drew-basil">Drew Basil</a>, and it stayed 3-0 <span class="caps">OSU</span> until halftime.</p>
<p>Less than a minute into the third quarter Herron scored from 12 yards out to extend the lead to double digits, and Miller’s TD two minutes into the final stanza gave the Buckeyes all the breathing room that they needed.</p>
<p>Neither team mustered a ton of offense in total, with Illinois winning the yardage battle 272-224 and the first down edge 19-12. But as noted earlier, Ohio State’s ability to run the ball with Miller having a quiet game as he recuperates from last week’s injury made the difference on this day.</p>
<p>Besides Herron’s 113 yards, Jordan Hall added 55 yards on 12 carries, and Miller did a little damage on the ground with 33 yards on 13 carries.</p>
<p>Scheelhaase ran for 49 yards for the Illini, and went 19-of-34 for 158 yards, but had two interceptions.</p>
<p>The loss was Illinois’ first of the year after six straight wins, including a 2-0 start in the Big Ten.</p>
<p>Ohio State, now 4-3, will be off next week before returning to action on October 29 at home against 4th-ranked Wisconsin, while the Illini will hit the road and play Purdue next Saturday.</p>
https://cleveland.sbnation.com/ohio-st-buckeyes/2011/10/15/2492591/osu-vs-illinois-final-buckeyes-claim-1st-big-ten-win-knock-offAncientMariner2011-10-15T16:38:01-05:002011-10-15T16:38:01-05:00Ohio State Is Pitching A Shutout, Leading Illinois 10-0 In The 3rd
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<p>Can the Ohio State Buckeyes hang on and finish the deal this week, unlike last week against Nebraska?</p>
<p>That remains to be seen, but so far, so good. The Buckeyes lead Illinois 10-0 in the third quarter in Champagne, Illinois, on the strength of a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114084/drew-basil">Drew Basil</a> 43-yard field goal in the first quarter and a 12-yard Dan Herron TD run at the start of the second half.</p>
<p>At this point the numbers look similar. With 1:40 left in the third quarter, <span class="caps">OSU</span> has the edge in first downs 10-9 and in yardage 178-139.</p>
<p>It is all about the ground game for the Buckeyes, and I mean all about the ground game. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/132058/braxton-miller">Braxton Miller</a> is 0-for-3 through the air, and thus all of Ohio State’s yardage is on the ground.</p>
<p>For Illinois, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/75932/nathan-scheelhaase">Nathan Scheelhaase</a> is 10-of-18 for only 91 yards, with an interception.</p>
<p>Look for a recap of today’s game later this evening.</p>
<p>Herron leads all rushers to this point with 106 yards on 19 carries.</p>
https://cleveland.sbnation.com/ohio-st-buckeyes/2011/10/15/2492498/ohio-state-is-pitching-a-shutout-leading-illinois-10-0-in-the-3rdAncientMariner2011-10-14T04:55:53-05:002011-10-14T04:55:53-05:00IN PROGRESS: Buckeyes Hanging Tough, Leading Illini 10-0 In The 3rd Quarter
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<p>Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Illinois Fighting Illini Preview</p> <p>The 2011 season has been nothing short of a severe disappointment for the Ohio State Buckeyes, one that fans would soon like to forget.</p>
<p>For everything that happened off the field, Ohio State has been almost equally as bad on the field, ranking near the bottom of the nation in almost every offensive category. The Buckeyes are only averaging about 24 points and 315 total yards of offense per game, numbers that are going to have to significantly improve if they are going to be able to beat conference foe Illinois on their home turf.</p>
<p>Illinois, conversely, is having a heck of a season right now. They are led by sophomore sensation quarterback <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/75932/nathan-scheelhaase" class="sbn-auto-link">Nathan Scheelhaase</a>, one of the best and most underrated dual-threat quarterbacks in the country. Scheelhaase ignited the Fighting Illini last season and has taken on a leadership role with guys like Mikel LeShoure and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/48948/corey-liuget" class="sbn-auto-link">Corey Liuget</a> moved on to the NFL.</p>
<p>He has also proven that he is more than just a scrambler, and has built some kind of chemistry with senior wide receiver <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/48928/a-j-jenkins" class="sbn-auto-link">A.J. Jenkins</a>, who is an emerging NFL wide receiver prospect. Jenkins and Scheelhaase have hooked up 46 times already this season for 815 yards and a whopping seven touchdowns.</p>
<p>Scheelhaase has 14 total touchdowns this season, and is proving that he can dominate opposing defenses. His team is ranked 16th in the country and undefeated as a result, and even though Ohio State is 3-3 this season, beating the Buckeyes is always a quality notch on your belt.</p>
<p>If Ohio State is going to beat Illinois, they are going to have to overcome the home crowd behind the play of freshman quarterback <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/132058/braxton-miller" class="sbn-auto-link">Braxton Miller</a>, who is back after being injured a week ago.</p>
<p>Miller's play is going to be absolutely key, because unless he is in the lineup, the Buckeyes' offense is extremely limited.</p>
<p>He's going to have to have a big game because the Illinois defense is playing lights out right now, only allowing 17.8 points per game with a 21 game streak of forcing a turnover, the longest in the country.</p>
<p>Head coach Luke Fickell talked about the team's debacle against Nebraska and what they had to do to avoid another incident like that:</p>
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<p>"We've got to get a few stops on defense," coach Luke Fickell said. "That's what it comes down to. We've just got to do a better job. I'm sure there are lessons out there. We've got to figure out what they are and grow from them. That's part of football, part of life."</p>
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<p>One piece of good news? The Buckeyes are getting back running back Daniel "Boom" Herron this week, and according to ESPN Stats, Ohio State is 18-1 when Herron runs for more than 55 yards.</p>
<p>Herron rushed for 1,555 yards and 17 touchdowns last year, production that has been sorely missed even with the solid performance of <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114089/carlos-hyde" class="sbn-auto-link">Carlos Hyde</a>, who has 400 yards and five touchdowns so far this year.</p>
<p>This will be a tough game for the Buckeyes, but with Herron back and Braxton Miller healthy enough to play, they might be a dark-horse upset candidate on the road against a solid Illinois team.</p>
https://cleveland.sbnation.com/ohio-st-buckeyes/2011/10/14/2488787/ohio-state-buckeyes-illinois-fighting-illini-previewSayre Bedinger