DaytonDailyNews.com

COLUMBUS — Ohio State receiver Brian Hartline sought out Cris Carter during the team's spring football game Saturday, April 19, but not to pick his brain.

Carter, one of the all-time great wideouts at OSU, was the honorary coach for the Gray. And Hartline, who was toiling for the Scarlet, wouldn't think of asking for help from the opposing sideline during the heat of battle.

"He was the opposite coach, and I was giving him flak for trying to come up with a way to stop the offense," Hartline said with a smile.

Carter and his coaching mates didn't come up with many answers. Scarlet quarterbacks went 17-for-25 passing for 207 yards, making possible a 20-7 victory on a drizzly day before an announced crowd of 76,346.

Todd Boeckman went 12-for-18 through the air for 145 yards with two interceptions while playing just two quarters. He connected with Hartline six times for 82 yards, including a 48-yard bomb to set up a 1-yard touchdown on a quarterback sneak, leaving with a 10-7 lead.

Boeckman was picked off by safety Kurt Coleman and linebacker Ross Homan but didn't allow himself to get rattled.

"I just feel like the leader of this offense," he said. "My confidence level is so much higher than it was last year."

Coleman made a sensational play in picking off a rainbow throw to Hartline on the third snap of the game, leaping to stab what seemed like a sure reception.

"I knew (Hartline) was wide open one-on-one," Boeckman said, "and maybe because of the rain, I just held on to it a little too long and didn't get enough under it."

Coleman didn't notch an interception in his first year as a starter last season, but he was a ball-hawk in high school and was thrilled to see he still has the touch.

"(Boeckman) said the ball kind of slipped, but I'm not going to let him use that as an excuse," the Northmont High School grad said.

OSU coach Jim Tressel believes his team had a productive spring.

"I think we took a needed step," he said. "These next three months are crucial, as the guys are out on their own deciding how good they want to be."

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2125

or dharris@DaytonDailyNews.com.

BY THE NUMBERS

76,346 — The announced attendance, although it appeared there were fewer than that in the seats

8 — Tackles by safety Andre Amos, who led all defenders

6/82 — Catches and yards by receiver Brian Hartline, all in the first half

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