Four 2nd-quarter TDs catapult Ohio State to 48-3 victory over Kent State
It all started to fall apart for Kent State when Brian Hartline saw a lot of daylight ahead of him and raced into the record books.
By the time the second-quarter onslaught was over, third-ranked Ohio State already was sprinting to 7-0.
The Buckeyes took apart the Golden Flashes, 48-3, on Saturday at Ohio Stadium. They broke open the game with four second-quarter touchdowns and increased their school-record regular season win streak to 25 in a row.
An easy Ohio State victory was expected. In business-like fashion, Head Coach Jim Tressel's team never gave Kent State a chance.
The offense cashed in on early opportunities, and the defense was dominant again. The back-breakers for the Flashes were long returns for touchdowns by Hartline and Donald Washington.
By halftime, reality had set in.
Hartline caught a touchdown pass for the third straight game on the opening possession. When the Flashes punted 27 seconds into the second quarter, he helped open the floodgates.
The former GlenOak High School standout saw Kent State's Kirk Belgrave converging on him after fielding the punt at his own 10. But Belgrave slipped, and that gave Hartline the first opening he needed.
Hartline made a strong cut and raced downfield. Vernon Gholston then had a key block that allowed Hartline to get in the clear and score on a 90-yard return, an Ohio State record.
"It happened so fast, I was wondering where everybody was at," Hartline said. "Then I saw Vern just destroying somebody on the field, so I'm just following him. It was a fun play."
The Buckeyes had a different look on the return. The defense was playing special teams.
"I thought they did a great job holding up some folks," Tressel said. "B. Hart came around the corner, and he was just gone. The kid can run.
"That was huge. Talk about a 90-yard field position swing. That was great for our side."
The old punt return record of 87 yards was set by Robert Demmel in 1950 against Iowa. Hartline had no idea he surpassed Demmel until the game was almost over.
"Hopefully, it won't be the last record I get," Hartline said. "This is an honor."
Chris Wells tacked on a 7-yard touchdown run to give the Buckeyes a 21-0 lead. Washington then practically finished off the Flashes on Kent State's next possession.
The Flashes were at the Ohio State 35 when Kent State quarterback Julian Edelman threw a short out pass near his own sideline. Washington stepped in front of the intended receiver, picked off Edelman and flew 70-yards for a touchdown that made it 28-0.
It was the first career interception for Washington, a 6-foot-1, 188-pound sophomore.
"Knowing that it was my first one ever, it was extra exciting," Washington said. "They ran the play a couple of times, and that time I jumped on it. I had a good burst and was able to jump the route and take it for 6."
Todd Boeckman's 15-yard touchdown pass to Maurice Wells late in the second quarter gave Ohio State a 35-0 lead. The Buckeyes were then able to empty the bench in the second half.
Backup quarterback Rob Schoenhoft started the third quarter and scored on a 2-yard run. Ryan Pretorius also kicked a pair of field goals for the Buckeyes.
The only scoring for Kent State (3-4) came with 3:34 left in the game when Nate Reed kicked a 34-yard field goal. But Ohio State's defense helped set the tone much earlier in the afternoon.
"No one is going to come in here and score 30 points on Ohio State," Flashes Head Coach Doug Martin said. "This is one of the best defenses I have ever seen."
Reach Canton Repository sports writer Mike Popovich at (330) 580-8341 or e-mail: mike.popovich@cantonrep.com