Live Blog: Kent State Football at Ohio State

FOURTH QUARTER

12:38 ... Curtis Samuel has scored for the second time this quarter, adding a 1-yard touchdown run after a 3-yard dive for the end zone in the third quarter. That made the score 66-0.

Since then, Kent State has forced a third turnover with Marques Moore stripping the ball from Bri'onte Dunn and Jordan Italiano recovering.

I'm going to be heading down to the field in a bit, so for the final story and stats, check out www.kentstatesports.com within an hour of the game going final.

THIRD QUARTER

7:03 ... Melchiori saved a touchdown by getting just enough of Ohio State punt returner Jalin Marshall at the end of a 51-yard return.

Buckeyes are driving to add to their lead with sophomore Cardale Jones now in at quarterback.

9:20 ... Ohio State's lead has swelled to 52-0 after a 3-yard touchdown pass from Barrett to Michael Thomas. 

Kent State has punted twice in the quarter, although the Flashes got one of them right back when Kent Stae's Matt Sommers forced a fumble as the Buckeyes tried to run back a block of Anthony Melchiori's punt. 

SECOND QUARTER

HALFTIME: Ohio State 45, Kent State 0

Not much to look at in terms of stats.

The Flashes have been out gained 392-109. The Buckeyes also have a 22-7 advantage in first downs.

Nick Holley has done some nice things on offense for Kent State with 33 yards on five carries and 37 yards on six receptions.

The defensive highlight for the Flashes was the Matt Dellinger interception.

Nate Holley leads the Flashes defense with six tackles, all solo. Darius Redmund has five.

1:38 ... It took Ohio State just eight seconds to score following the Perry interception. On the very next play following the pick, Devin Smith caught a 50-yard touchdown pass from Barrett to make the score Ohio State 45, Kent State 0.

4:34 ... Ohio State's lead is now 38-0 after a 2-yard touchdown pass from Barrett to tight end Marcus Baugh. The play was set up by a pass interference call against KSU star Elcee Refuge in the end zone.

The Flashes offense has managed to string together a few nice plays since the score. Throws to Holley and Pierce have moved the chains twice and put KSU out near midfield again with inside two minutes remaining ...

... until a tipped-ball interception by Ohio State's Josh Perry with 1:46 to play at midfield.

12:54 ... The good news for Kent State: Najee Murray has returned to the game. The cornerback had been injured on the game's opening play.

The bad news for Kent State: Ohio State's lead is now 31-0 after a 64-yard Barrett-to-Michael Thomas touchdown pass. A short throw over the middle with some poor angles turned into a big catch-and-run score.

Reardon is now back in at quarterback for the Flashes.

And the KSU offense is moving the ball a bit ... passing midfield for the first time with 12:06 to go after a 20-yard run by Nick Holley.

14:16 ... Kent State's defense stood tall after Ohio State picked up a first-and-goal on its fourth drive of the day, forcing the Buckeyes to settle for a 41-yard Sean Nuerenberger field goal. 

Terence Waugh picked up what probably should have been called a sack of Barrett, but the play was officially ruled a run by the Buckeyes freshman. 

For Kent State, Nate Strock is now in at quarterback for his first college action.

FIRST QUARTER

0:46 ... The Buckeyes extended their lead to 21-0 on a 1-yard touchdown run by Smith with 1:49 to play in the quarter... and they already have the ball back inside the red zone after a quick three-and-out, a partially blocked punt and an illegal hands to the face on the Buckeyes first play from scrimmage.

6:49 ... The Golden Flashes have kept the Buckeyes out of the end zone on drive No. 3 as Matt Dellinger picked off a tipped pass by Barrett that was knocked into the air on a hit by Demetrius Monday. 

And this interception was legit, unlike a questionable call that gave the Buckeyes the football in the first place on an interception of Colin Reardon near the Ohio State bench. Tyvis Powell looked like he was clearly out of bounds on his tipped-ball pick. In fact, just about everybody in the Ohio State press box seemed to think the same thing ... as did most of the Ohio State fans, who groaned when they saw the replay. The play stood on replay, but officials did not say it was not confirmed. 

Monday is having a nice day. He made a nice play on a deep ball earlier in Ohio State's third drive. Monday is playing more because of the injury to Murray, who has not returned from his injury on the game's first play.

The Buckeyes took a 14-0 lead earlier in the quarter when Barrett found Rod Smith for an 8-yard touchdown.

13:16 ... Ohio State is up early on a 14-yard touchdown pass from J.T. Barrett to Michael Thomas. There were a few positives on the drive, however, as Nate Terhune made a nice play on a tackle for a loss.

It was sad to see Najee Murray go down with an injury on the very first play from scrimmage. Murray is, of course, a former Ohio State player returning to the Horseshoe.

I spent the first series watching the game from the Kent State bench. Just being around the guys prior to the game, I got a bit of an understanding of why freshman Jon Cunningham is making such an early impact. I've never seen a player whip himself into such a frenzy before a game. His pre-game fury wasn't just about getting ready to play in front of 100,000 plus at Ohio Stadium. I talked to a few of his teammates after the season opener, and they were a little shocked by how Cunningham pumps himself up before a game.

"I'm glad he is on our side," one of those teammates said.

PREGAME

10:14 a.m. ... The team has arrived at the Horseshoe, courtesy of another great police escort. For those of you who have never traveled via police escort, it's the only way to make your way down a highway... a motorcycle-police ballet, jumping ahead then lagging behind to block traffic at the onramps.

This is obviously the first road trip of 2014, and the team was in good spirits this morning at the hotel. I was in defensive clap session where coordinator Brian George led his charges through one last run though the defensive game plan and formations. That's one of my favorite parts of the job .... sitting in on strategy sessions, having an idea of what a team wants to do, then seeing how it all works out on the field or the court.

Haynes points to the spot
where the baton was dropped

I was also with head coach Paul Haynes when he walked to his traditional spots at Ohio Stadium – the 16-yard line in the south end, the spot from where he scored a touchdown in the 1985 high school state championship game for St. Francis DeSales, and then the spot in front of the south end zone where his relay team dropped the baton while chasing a track and field state championship.

10:30 a.m. ... If you are looking for a matchup to watch today, it would make sense to pay particular attention to Kent State's defensive line against Ohio State's offensive line.

Haynes at the 16 yard line

The defensive line is the strength of the Golden Flashes right now. Richard Gray made a big jump from week one to week two, which makes sense after missing all of last season. It takes a while to get back into game mode after time off like that. Freshmen Jon Cunningham and Jontey Byrd are becoming a nice young one-two punch at nose tackle. Add Nate Terhune and Nate Vance as starters along with backups Clay Miller, Marcus Wright, Terence Waugh and now Zach Singer strengthening his position in a nine-man rotation up front, and the Flashes have depth and talent.

In Ohio State's early struggles, offensive line has been a question mark. Youth with sophomore Pat Elflein at left guard and freshman Billy Pierce at right guard, is one reason the Buckeyes have simplified their offense. They may simplify even more, doing the things they know they can do well, after last week's loss to Virginia Tech. Freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett is another reason the Buckeyes have taken some pages out of their playbook. Look for the Flashes to try to pressure Barrett early and often.