Buckeyes Do It the Germaine Way

Joe Germaine threw three touchdown passes, two to Dee Miller, in No. 9 Ohio State’s 49-6 Big Ten Conference victory over Northwestern on Saturday.

Pepe Pearson also had two touchdowns for the Buckeyes, who put the game away by dominating the third quarter.

Ohio State scored on each of its three possessions in the quarter, covering a combined 176 yards in 23 plays. Northwestern had the ball for nine plays in the quarter, gaining five yards.

The victory kept Ohio State, 7-1 overall and 3-1 in the Big Ten, in the running for the conference title and Rose Bowl bid. The defeat eliminated Northwestern (3-6, 1-4) from postseason contention after two consecutive years in bowls.

Ohio State held Northwestern to six yards on the first series of the third quarter, then built its lead to 21-6 on a six-yard touchdown run by Pearson, completing a 55-yard, seven-play drive.

The Buckeyes increased the lead to 28-6 on a 10-yard pass from Jackson to Miller, capping a drive that covered 59 yards in 13 plays.

Northwestern punted again and the Buckeyes went 62 yards in three plays. Germaine threw 23 yards to Miller, Joe Montgomery gained four yards and David Boston scored on a pass from Germaine covering 35 yards.

Germaine connected with Tommy Hoying for a 29-yard touchdown pass play and Ken-Yon Rambo scored on a 38-yard play after catching a pass from third-string quarterback Mark Garcia in the fourth quarter.

Germaine completed eight of 12 passes for 177 yards and starter Stanley Jackson was eight of 15 for 89 yards and one touchdown.

Michael Wiley led the Buckeyes with 73 yards in 15 carries. Northwestern’s leading rusher, Adrian Autry, was limited to 34 yards in 15 carries. Wildcat quarterback Tim Hughes was seven of 15 for 63 yards and was sacked four times.

Pearson finished a 92-yard drive early in the second quarter by shaking off two tacklers to get into the end zone from 13 yards to give Ohio State a 7-3 lead.

Miller caught a touchdown pass from Germaine with 27 seconds left in the half to complete a two-play scoring drive. Germaine hit David Boston with a 16-yard pass on the previous play.

Brian Gowins kicked field goals of 27 yards in the first quarter and 36 in the second quarter for Northwestern’s only points.