Skip navigation
Site powered by
Latest news:
msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines: Grammys open with prayer for Whitney Houston

No. 2 Ohio State rolls, but all is not Wells

RB hurts foot in Buckeyes' rout of Youngstown State; Pryor sharp in debut

Image: Ohio State running back Chris Wells reacts as trainers check on his injuryAP
Ohio State running back Chris Wells reacts as trainers check on his foot injury during the No. 2 Buckeyes' 43-0 victory over Youngstown State on Saturday.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - It was as if a stadium full of more than 105,000 people was suddenly empty.

An eerie silence descended on Ohio Stadium when Ohio State’s Heisman Trophy prospect Chris “Beanie” Wells went down with a foot injury in the third quarter of the second-ranked Buckeyes’ 43-0 victory over Youngstown State on Saturday.

All of a sudden, what seemed like a nice tuneup for the mammoth showdown in two weeks against No. 3 Southern California seemed secondary.

“First and foremost, you really can’t replace Beanie,” wide receiver Brian Robiskie said.

The star tailback was hurt in the third quarter after taking a handoff from Todd Boeckman on first and goal at the Youngstown State 2. His feet slipped underneath him as he planted to make a cut, with the ball rolling free as he hit the turf.

Wells was helped off the field, and later returned to the bench in the fourth quarter wearing a boot on his right foot.

“I may have rolled it or planted wrong a play or two before,” Wells said through Ohio State spokeswoman Shelly Poe. “Something just didn’t feel right. Then I think I felt a pop. But the X-rays are OK, so we’ll see how it feels in a day or two.”

Before the injury, Wells ran for 111 yards, including a 43-yard touchdown run. Boeckman tossed two touchdown passes and freshman quarterback phenom Terrelle Pryor looked solid in his college debut.

Wells is on most Heisman short lists, behind 2007 winner Tim Tebow of Florida. Wells rushed for 1,609 yards and 15 touchdowns a year ago as a sophomore despite several nagging injuries and said earlier this week that this is the healthiest he has been going into a season in years.

If Wells is out, it would be a a huge blow for the Buckeyes, who host Ohio next week and play at No. 3 Southern California the following week.

Tressel declined to speculate if Wells would be available for either of those games.

Boeckman completed 14-of-19 passes for 187 yards and touchdown passes of 31 yards to Brian Robiskie and 25 yards to DeVier Posey.

He seemed shaken by Wells injury, just like all those scarlet-and-gray clad fans holding their breath.

“When you see one of the best backs in the country laying there in pain, it’s definitely something that you don’t want to see,” he said. “Beanie’s a tough guy. I know we’re all pulling for him. He’s gone to the doctors and he’ll do whatever he can to help this team out.”

Pryor, listed third on the depth chart but entering the game before backup Joe Bauserman, received a loud cheer from the crowd before he took his first snap. He later ran 18 yards for a touchdown.

“I dreamed about what today would be,” said the freshman from Jeannette, Pa., who was considered the nation’s top quarterback prospect. “I was a little nervous, but you should be. My teammates helped me.”

Ryan Pretorius, the 29-year-old senior from South Africa, kicked four field goals and Aaron Pettrey later kicked a 54-yard field goal, the fourth longest at 86-year-old Ohio Stadium.

The outcome was never in doubt between one of the nation’s perennial powers and a Championship Subdivision team collecting $650,000 to be a punching bag.

The Buckeyes, with 18 starters back from last year’s team that went 11-2 and lost in the national title game, scored on all six first-half possessions. In between Wells’ 43-yard scoring sprint through a gaping hole on fourth-and-1 to open the scoring, and Boeckman’s TD pass to Robiskie to make it 26-0 at the half, Pretorius kicked field goals of 28, 31, 27 and 51 yards.

“We got humbled pretty good today,” coach Jon Heacock said.

The Penguins, who averaged 27.4 points during a 7-4 season in 2007, rushed 21 times for minus-11 yards. Youngstown State has never scored a touchdown in four games against teams from Bowl Championship Series conferences.

“It’s embarrassing to lose 43-0 in front of friends and family,” YSU cornerback Jarvis Richards said. “There’s nothing else to say.”

Just like all those suddenly quiet Buckeyes fans.

© 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

advertisement
More news
Image: Boston College v Miami
Getty Images
'I'm taking that program down'

Miami coach Al Golden says the worst is behind him, but his headaches figure to continue now that former booster Nevin Shapiro, now in jail, says his involvement with the Hurricanes program will result in stiff penalties.

Image: LSU quarterback Jefferson is stripped of the ball by Alabama's Hightower during the second half of the NCAA BCS National Championship college football game in New Orleans
Reuters
CFT: Jefferson says 'Alabama was more prepared'

CFT: Jordan Jefferson makes it clear he wasn't happy with LSU's game plan in the Tigers' BCS Championship Game loss to Alabama.

Special feature
Knowshon Moreno
And here we go...
NBCSports.com looks back at the action from the weekend

NBCSports.com

Video: Football from NBC Sports
Memphis fulfills BCS dream
Tigers officials thrilled to announce that school has been accepted to join the Big East Conference in 2013.

Slideshow
Image: Joe Paterno
  Joe Paterno (1926-2012)
A look at the career of legendary Penn State coach Joe Paterno

NBCSports.com

Slideshow
Image:
  BCS title game
Check out photos of Crimson Tide's victory over Tigers.

more photos

Slideshow
Image: Kansas State running back Pease is tackled by Arkansas defensive tackle Jones during the Cotton Bowl Classic football game in Arlington, Texas
  Bowled over
Check out the action from the postseason games.

NBCSports.com

Slideshow
Kansas vs Oklahoma State
  All-American team
Check out which players were best of the best at each position.

NBCSports.com

Slideshow
Image: Rose Bowl Game presented by Vizio - Wisconsin v Oregon
  College cheer
Check out some of the college football cheerleaders from across the country.

NBCSports.com

Slideshow
Image: Snee, 8, son of New York Giants player Chris Snee and head coach Coughlin's grandson plays in the confetti after the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots in the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game in Indianapolis
  The Week in Sports Pictures
The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more.

more photos

Special feature
Heisman Hopefuls
Who will win top individual prize this season?

NBCSports.com