Despite a record-breaking performance from junior wide receiver Casey Scroggins, Ohio State dropped its Week 2 contest to Denison (JV), 28-20.
Scroggins, who caught 19 passes for 270 yards and one touchdown as a freshman in 2019, broke two program records against the Big Red on Sunday, hauling in 11 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns. The previous record for receptions in a game was held by Matt Baker, who had eight receptions against Miami (OH) in 2013, while the previous record for receiving yards in a game was held by Jeffie Johnson, who tallied 239 yards against UNC-Greensboro in 2016. Scroggins also started on defense, where he finished with two tackles and a pass deflection.
Scroggins got off to a hot start, catching the first pass of the game and taking it 87 yards for a score, putting the Buckeyes up 7-0. However, Denison responded with two first-half touchdowns of their own to take a 14-7 lead into halftime.
The second half saw the Big Red extend their lead to 21-7 after Denison opened the frame with a kickoff return touchdown. The Buckeyes responded however, converting a 4th-and-12 with a 35-yard scoring strike to Scroggins from quarterback Kellyn Gerenstein to pull within 21-14.
A fumble recovery by defensive back DeGrafth Palmore III on the ensuing kickoff led to a field goal from David Cooper, leading to a 21-17 score heading into the fourth quarter.
The turning point in the game came when the Ohio State defense forced a punt early in the fourth quarter, only to see it take an unfortunate bounce off of a Buckeye blocker, which was recovered on the Denison 25-yard line by the Big Red. Denison would then march 75 yards for a score, pushing the lead to 28-17.
Another field goal by Cooper brought the Buckeyes to within eight at 28-20, and while Ohio State was able to get the ball back with under 50 seconds remaining, Gerenstein’s Hail Mary attempt was thwarted by a sack to end the game.
After missing the second half of the Mount Union loss due to a minor injury, Gerenstein returned against Denison, completing 17-of-38 passes for 379 yards and two touchdowns to one interception. The 379 passing yards are the second most in program history, and his 17 completions are a personal career high for Gerenstein.
Defensively, the Buckeyes got a standout performance from defensive tackle Chris Karras, who tallied seven solo tackles, four tackles for loss and a sack. Linebacker Hunter St. Andre also put together a solid performance, collecting 10 total tackles.
Through two games, Ohio State has played two NCAA Div. III JV programs, whose varsity teams are a combined 6-1 on the season. No other NCFA team is set to play more than one NCAA team this season. It is also the first time in program history Ohio State has played two NCAA Div. III programs in the same season.
The Buckeyes are set to begin league play on Oct. 2 against Oakland University, a rematch of the 2019 NCFA National Championship Game, which Ohio State won 36-9. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. at Oakland.
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