Zwick Leads Ohio State to an Easy 33-7 Victory

Even with its second-string quarterback in charge, Ohio State had an easy time of it in the Alamo Bowl.

Justin Zwick, replacing the suspended Troy Smith, threw for 189 yards and a touchdown, and Ted Ginn Jr. and Lydell Ross each scored, leading No. 24 Ohio State to a 33-7 win over Oklahoma State on Wednesday night.

“Justin did an excellent job and did what was asked of him,” Ohio State Coach Jim Tressel said.

“I told someone that Justin was playing as good as he has ever played.”

Ginn, a freshman with dazzling speed, caught six passes for 78 yards and rushed for 51 yards and a touchdown.

Zwick, who lost the starting job to Smith after hurting his shoulder in the sixth game, completed 17 of 27 passes despite a mild hamstring pull.

Ross rushed for 99 yards in 12 carries, and Mike Nugent kicked four field goals for the Buckeyes (8-4) to become the school’s career scoring leader.

Smith, who led Ohio State to victories in four of its last five regular-season games, was suspended by the team last week. University officials said he accepted an unspecified gift from a team booster in violation of NCAA rules.

The Buckeyes took advantage of two early turnovers and never let the Cowboys (7-5) get anything going offensively.

Oklahoma State quarterback Donovan Woods completed 15 of 34 passes for 137 yards and rushed for 80 yards. Vernand Morency, one of the nation’s top rushers this season, was limited to 24 yards in eight carries.

On the first series, Woods underthrew receiver Chijuan Mack and the pass was picked off by Ohio State linebacker Bobby Carpenter. Three plays later, Zwick connected with a diving Anthony Gonzalez on a 23-yard touchdown pass.

After a 37-yard field goal by Nugent, the Cowboys were driving when Woods lost his grip on the ball near midfield while trying to run up the middle.

Defensive lineman Joel Penton recovered, and Nugent capped the drive with a 35-yard field goal to give Ohio State a 13-0 lead with nearly six minutes remaining in the first quarter.

“We were slugging along -- it wasn’t like we were moving the ball,” Cowboy Coach Les Miles said of his team’s disappointing performance in the early going.

“And when you give away the ball on a short field, it becomes 13-0.”