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Boeckman, Ohio State rout Youngstown State in season opener

Sep 1, 2007 - 9:00 PM COLUMBUS, Ohio (Ticker) -- Todd Boeckman passed for 222 yards and two touchdowns in his first career start as 11th-ranked Ohio State began the post-Troy Smith era Saturday with a 38-6 victory over Youngstown State.

Boeckman is replacing Smith, last season's Heisman Trophy winner who led the Buckeyes to the national championship game against Florida.

A fourth-year junior, Boeckman completed 17-of-23 passes, including his first four tosses, helping Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel defeat his former team in the first meeting between the Ohio schools.

Tressel coached at Youngstown State from 1986-2000, guiding the Penguins to four Division I-AA national championships.

"It's tough when you play against your old folks, and (Youngstown State coach) Jim Heacock is like a brother because he was with us for so long and meant so much to us," Tressel said.

After forcing a punt on the game's first possession, Ohio State came out throwing as Boeckman went 4-of-4 on the Buckeyes' first possession.

He completed passes of 16, 41 and seven yards to Brian Robiskie on Ohio State's first three plays of the season before finding freshman Dane Sanzenbacher for a three-yard score to give the Buckeyes a 7-0 lead 5 1/2 minutes into the contest.

"I thought Todd did a lot of good things," Tressel added. "I know there's going to be some things that we need to get much better at. He seemed to have excellent command. I think his completion percentage was solid and he had his head up when things weren't perfect."

Boeckman also threw a one-yard TD score to Trever Robinson early in the fourth quarter before heading to the bench.

Robiskie was Boeckman's favorite target, grabbing nine receptions for 153 yards.

"We went into this game wanting to work on the pass," Tressel said. "We had new quarterbacks, and in my mind you can't ask your quarterbacks to work on their throwing when it's only 3rd-and-10 or only when you're behind and trying to catch up."

With the contest not in doubt, Tressel substituted liberally, using all three quarterbacks. Rob Schoenhoft was 3-of-6 for eight yards while Antonio Henton threw a 37-yard TD pass to Taurian Washington early in the fourth quarter, his only completion in two attempts.

Ohio State had some trouble moving the ball on the ground as it was held to only 147 yards rushing. Chris Wells lead the Buckeyes on the ground with just 46 yards on 16 carries.

But a 17-yard punt late in the first period gave the Buckeyes possession at Youngstown State's 27 and set up Wells' one-yard TD plunge on the first play of the second quarter.

Midway through the second quarter, Youngstown State put together it's best drive of the game, marching 81 yards on 14 plays. But the Penguins had to settle for Brian Palmer's 21-yard field goal.

Ohio State answered with a 10-play, 75-yard drive that ended Youngstown State's hopes of getting back into the contest.

Brandon Saine, another freshman, dove over right tackle from a yard out to make it 21-3 with 34 seconds left in the half.

A member of the Football Championship Subdivision, Youngstown State mounted little offense against Ohio State's stingy defense, managing 176 yards, including just 85 yards on the ground.

"I am very proud of our guys," Heacock said. "They came into the toughest place we might ever play in and made them battle."

Tom Zetts completed 10-of-18 passes for only 86 yards for the Penguins.

"This was fun," Zetts said. "This is a game I will remember for awhile. I thought our guys were focused and played good ball."

Ohio State improved to 106-8-4 in home openers. The Buckeyes have won 29 straight openers at Ohio Stadium, dating to a loss against Penn State in 1978.