COLUMBUS — The second half went better for Cincinnati than the first at Ohio Stadium, but not by much.
Ohio State tacked on a pair of touchdowns in the second half after opening up a 28-0 lead in the first, improving to 2-0 on the season with a 42-0 win over the Bearcats on Saturday.
>>RELATED: Examining the perceived rift between Ohio State and Cincinnati
Justin Fields followed a nice block by J.K. Dobbins on a 4-yard touchdown to make it 35-0 in the third quarter.
It stayed that way through the end of the stanza despite the Bearcats driving to the Ohio State 4-yard line.
That was as close as they would get to the goal line as a false start penalty moved them back and then the Buckeyes slammed the door with an interception that deflected off of Shaun Wade’s back and landed in the hands of Tuf Borland.
The Buckeyes took the ensuing possession and drove 55 yards for another touchdown, this one a 5-yard pass from Fields to K.J. Hill in the fourth quarter that made it 42-0 Buckeyes.
The Bearcats looked like they would score in the waning moments, but Dunbar grad Tavion Thomas fumbled inside the 5-yard line, and Ohio State recovered in the end zone.
FIRST HALF RECAP
Ohio State entered its game against Cincinnati Saturday on upset alert.
The Buckeyes entered halftime up 28-0.
>>RELATED: Ryan Day provides last pregame update | Day’s favorite play from the season-opener | New center, QB, scheme unveiled against Owls
J.K. Dobbins ran for 142 yards and a pair of touchdowns as Ohio State totally dominated the Bearcats, who were outgained 356-108 in the first half.
Dobbins’ 60-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter gave Ohio State a 21-0 lead and firm control of the game.
You thought @OhioStateFB would start slow against an in-state rival?
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) September 7, 2019
JK 😅
Buckeyes lead 28-0 at half. pic.twitter.com/puhdNKKBSh
The Buckeyes added another touchdown a little more than five minutes later when Justin Fields found Garrett Wilson in the end zone from nine yards out, and the rout was on.
Fields completed 14 of 16 passes for 186 yards and ran for 29 more for the Buckeyes in the first half.
Dobbins also scored on a 4-yard run in the first half after Fields got the scoring started with a 7-yard scramble up the middle in the first quarter.
Three Buckeyes from the Dayton area were honored as newest members of the Ohio State Hall of Fame at halftime: AJ Hawk, Mike Nugent and Andrew Pierce. pic.twitter.com/gnvebYq73R
— David Jablonski (@DavidPJablonski) September 7, 2019
Ohio State inducted a new class of Varsity 'O' Hall of Famers this weekend, including Centerville natives A.J. Hawk and Mike Nugent and Andrew Pierce of Yellow Springs.
