DaytonDailyNews.com

COLUMBUS — Kent State coach Doug Martin talked during the week of rotating his first and second strings against Ohio State to reduce the wear and tear on his players.

But Martin could have inserted both units at once and the Golden Flashes probably still would have been left in tatters.

Todd Boeckman threw two touchdown passes, Brian Hartline set a school record with a 90-yard punt return and the Buckeyes racked up a 35-0 halftime lead on the way to a 48-3 victory before 105,051 satisfied customers Saturday.

Running back Chris Wells also scored on a seven-yard run, although he was limited to just four carries because of a touchy ankle. And cornerback Donald Washington had a 70-yard interception return.

The Buckeyes (7-0) hadn't tallied TDs on defense and in the kicking game in the same outing since 2004.

"When you get returns ... it's hard to have anyone beat you," OSU coach Jim Tressel said.

Hartline, who also had a 14-yard TD catch, posted the longest punt return in OSU history in the second quarter. The sophomore juked a defender with an inside move, then raced to the outside and left other would-be tacklers grabbing fistfuls of air.

The only player with a shot at stopping Hartline was punter Jake Kilroy, but he was doing pirouettes while being forcibly ushered into the end zone by mammoth blocker Vernon Gholston.

"It happened so fast," Hartline said. "I was wondering where everybody was. Then I saw Vern destroying somebody down field, and I just followed him. It was a fun play."

But the Buckeyes' celebration was somewhat muted because of Wells' ongoing ankle issue and the loss of starting safety Anderson Russell, who injured his right ankle in the first half and was wearing a protective boot afterward.

Tressel didn't have a prognosis on Russell but said he "rolled the same ankle he's been nursing."

As for Wells, Tressel said: "He's having to deal with some pain. But he's really passionate about helping this football team, and Beanie's the kind of guy who's going to work through some pain."

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By the numbers

63-0 Scoring advantage for the Buckeyes in the first quarter of their last four games.

25 Consecutive regular-season wins for the Buckeyes, who extended their school record against Kent State.

31 Consecutive wins for OSU against Ohio opponents, including a sweep this year of Youngstown State, Akron and Kent State.