Instant Analysis: Ohio State

(AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Well it wasn't pretty... but it was expected. The Beavers lost 77-31 to Ohio State in the Horseshoe Saturday. There is a lot to work on going into next week's game against Southern Utah, but lets take a look at what to instantly take away from this one.

Biggest Disappointment: There were a lot today, but it has to be the defense. The Beavers gave up 77 points, allowing the Buckeyes to tally 721 total yards on offense with 375 yards coming on the ground and 346 yards through the air. The defense was never really competitive at all with the one positive play of the day being CB Shawn Wilson's interception of Ohio State QB Dwayne Haskins midway through the third quarter. In their previous two games (last year vs. Oregon and Ohio State), Oregon State's defense has given up 146 points and 1,298 total yards. Those are two numbers that no matter who you play, are not acceptable to give up as a power 5 conference team.

Biggest Positive: It was the tale of two halves for the game's biggest positive. In the first half, it was WR Trevon Bradford who showed good speed and route running, and carried the Beaver offense with six receptions for 104 yards and two touchdowns. Unfortunately, Bradford would not record a reception in the second half.

But it was Artavis Pierce who exploded in the second half. After running the ball eight times for only seven yards in the first half, Pierce exploded for 166 yards on just three carries in the third quarter. The first being and 80 yard dash after stiff arming an Ohio State defender and outrunning the secondary on Oregon State's first offensive pay in the second half, and the second being a 76 yard touchdown scamper in which Pierce made a great cut at the line of scrimmage and yet again outran the Ohio State secondary on the way to the end zone. Piece did not pay throughout the fourth quarter, presumably to not risk an injury.

Biggest Surprise: I think it has to be backup QB Connor Blount's performance in the first half. It was quite impressive to see him come in early in the first quarter after starting QB Jake Luton was knocked out with a still undisclosed injury. But Blount was able to come in and mix some short screens and medium range passes that kept the Ohio State defense guessing just a bit. Blount only played in the first half but ended up completing 12-19 passes for 169 and two touchdowns with no interceptions. The one mistake he made being a fumble in his own endzone after being sacked hard by an Ohio State defensive linemen, but honestly, that blame should probably be put on the offensive line.

In the end, it wasn't the best performance the Beavers could have had in Columbus, but it also wasn't the worst. The defense has a lot of things to work on heading into week two but the offense showed significant strides from last season, and that might just put butts in the seats at the Beavers home opener next week against Southern Utah.