“That standing ovation they gave him, that gave me some juice in my body,” quarterback Kenny Guiton said. “I told him, ‘Let’s go, man. You’ve got to get this first down.’ “
The Buckeyes have plenty of playmakers on the perimeter, but they’ve needed a power back. Hyde, who rushed for 970 yards and 16 TDs in 10 games last season, has shown he’s capable of breaking tackles.
Coach Urban Meyer said Hyde, Jordan Hall and Rod Smith have set themselves apart in the crowded backfield. But freshman Ezekiel Elliott, getting extensive playing time because of the rout, led all rushers with 162 yards on 14 carries.
Offensive onslaught: The Buckeyes were stopped on their first possession (technically speaking) and then scored touchdowns on their next 10.
On the one failure, FAMU cornerback Patrick Aiken intercepted a short third-down pass in the end zone and decided to run it out. He was tackled by running back Jordan Hall and fumbled, which Hall recovered at the 3-yard line.
After the exchange, the Buckeyes ended up in the same spot with a fresh set of downs and scored on the next snap.
Helping hand: Hall tallied an 18-yard TD after getting a key block from an official.
He zipped through a hole and collided with a ref. The guy in stripes then ended up between Hall and a defender and set a perfect pick before being knocked flat — to the delight of the crowd.
“I saw him when I made my cut. He was in my way. I was yelling, ‘Move, move.’ And he didn’t move,” Hall said. “I tried to stiff-arm him, and I got free after that.”
Buckeye bits: The opening period has been good to the Buckeyes. They had a 34-0 lead on the Rattlers and have scored at least 21 in the first quarter in all four games. Their combined scoring margin is 102-14.
• Starting defensive tackle Michael Bennett (stinger) didn’t play, but he’ll be cleared for the Wisconsin game, and the defensive line should be close to full strength with the return of Adolphus Washington (groin injury).
• All-American Bradley Roby had his first interception of the year, returning it 42 yards to the 5-yard line.
• OSU’s average starting field position on its first seven possessions was the Florida A&M 27-yard line.
• The Buckeyes tried a two-point conversion after their second TD, lining up with three players on one side and eight on the other. But Hall was tackled for a loss on a reception.
They converted both two-point attempts from that same formation after their first two TDs of the year.
• The Buckeyes had their first long kick return and first blocked kick of the season. Philly Brown reversed field a couple of times on a 65-yard punt return, and cornerback Doran Gant came off the edge to swat a punt.
• OSU players honored the memory of Maria Tiberi at the game by wearing “MT” decals on their helmets, and the coaches wore “MT” buttons. The 21-year-old daughter of Dom Tiberi, the longtime sportscaster on WBNS-TV in Columbus, was killed in a car wreck last week on I-270.
About the Author