DaytonDailyNews.com

COLUMBUS — Notes and thoughts from Ohio State's rainy spring football game:

• On the game's third play, quarterback Todd Boeckman looked far downfield and tossed an interception to Kurt Coleman, the Northmont High School product who stepped in front of receiver Brian Hartline.

"A heck of a catch," one press box observer said.

Coleman came to Ohio State known more for his hitting than his finesse play, and both have improved. Entering his junior season, the safety has the hands to match his intensity, and both are significant.

The interception also underlined a continuing issue with Boeckman. Last year, his long passes regularly floated for a long hang time and fell short. They didn't turn into interceptions as often as they should have, but opponents now have a year of tape to study.

• Boeckman wears the "Do Not Touch" black jersey during practices. In the first quarter, a defensive lineman ran nearly unobstructed to the quarterback and tapped him for the virtual sack. The lineman started flexing and celebrating before receiving congratulatory bumps from teammates.

We'll forgive Lawrence Wilson for his excitement. The junior missed last season after breaking his leg in the opener against Youngstown State, so he watched last year's Bowl Championship Series title game run from the sidelines.

Technically, nine starters return on defense, but it's actually 10 if you count Wilson. Teammates have said, and Saturday proved, he's back to his old form.

• Hartline's 48-yard, falling-backwards catch near the goal line was just his latest highlight this spring. The junior receiver was impressive in last week's colder, quieter scrimmage inside Ohio Stadium, and while fellow receiver Brian Robiskie is missing time with injury, Hartline is going strong.

• In one stretch, Antonio Henton, fighting with Joe Bauserman for the backup quarterback role (which many feel will go to incoming recruit Terrelle Pryor anyway), made an elusive run down the left sideline for 10 yards. The opposing team called a timeout, but Henton then had to call one of his own because the play clock was running low. That's a bad mental lapse.

• Bauserman, meanwhile, showed good arm strength and poise with a 51-yard touchdown pass to Taurian Washington. He rolled out, slowed, waited, set and leisurely fired the on-the-button pass. Bauserman is a redshirt freshman after playing three years of minor-league baseball, and although he was known for his changeup as a pitcher, there was no off-speed on the scoring toss.

Bauserman had a later, equally impressive touchdown pass to Washington called back because of a holding penalty.

• The ticket scalpers and Buckeye bead-hawkers were in midseason form as I walked from near the Schottenstein Center to Ohio Stadium. Why, you ask, would someone scalp $5 tickets? Because of this game's quick growth, fans are nervous about long lines and big crowds, so they'll try to get tickets early.

The tailgaters, as well, were wishing for fall.

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