For the third straight game, quarterback Kellyn Gerenstein accounted for six total touchdowns en route to an impressive Ohio State victory.
Gerenstein threw for 230 yards and rushed for another 217 as the Buckeyes defeated Denison University’s JV squad 40-21 on Sunday afternoon at Deeds Field – Piper Stadium. Gerenstein completed 14-of-20 passes, four of which went for touchdowns. He also ripped off touchdown runs of 75 and 59 in the third quarter alone.
For the first time this season, Ohio State started the game on defense as Denison won the toss and took the football. After driving into Buckeye territory, the Big Red offense stalled and was forced to settle for a field goal. Trailing for the first time this season, Ohio State answered with a scoring drive that was capped by a 35-yard scoring strike from Gerenstein to Praise Olatoke to take a 7-3 lead.
After Denison responded with a touchdown of their own, Gerenstein again led Ohio State down the field, this time connecting with Casey Scroggins for a 14-yard score. Both teams missed their respective extra points, leading to a 13-9 score.
The Big Red would push into the red zone two more times, but both times Ohio State’s defense stiffened and forced Denison field goals. Gerenstein connected with Scroggins again before the half, this time from 22-yards out, leading to a 20-15 Buckeye lead at halftime.
On the first play from scrimmage in the second half, Gerenstein exploded for a 75-yard touchdown up the middle to push Ohio State’s lead to 27-15. After the Buckeyes forced the first punt of the game, Gerenstein again found the end zone, this time from 59-yards out.
Ohio State’s lead swelled to 40-15 on a 21-yard scoring strike to Scroggins, who hauled in seven passes for 102 yards and three touchdowns against the Big Red, after exploding for 11 catches and 275 yards last year. Denison would get a late fourth quarter score before the Buckeye offense was able to run out the rest of the clock. Scroggins now owns the single-season program record for receiving touchdowns in a single season with 10, passing Geoff Green II.
Offensively, the Buckeyes finished with 527 yards of offense despite playing only 10 minute quarters per Denison’s JV rules. Running back Jalen Haley was effective on the ground, rushing 13 times for 80 yards. While he didn’t get in the end zone, wide receiver Abdou Keita caught three passes for 64 yards.
Defensively, Lance Wickham dominated for the Buckeyes. After missing the Oakland game with a minor injury, Wickham finished with nine total tackles, a sack and a forced fumble against the Big Red. Safety Christian Allen finished with eight tackles and a pass breakup while Ohio State tallied three sacks on the day.
With the win, Ohio State evens the series against Denison’s JV at 2-2. The Big Red defeated the Buckeyes 23-14 in 2012 and 28-20 in 2021, while the Buckeyes collected a 31-14 win in 2013 and the 40-21 win on Sunday, the largest margin of victory for either team in the series.
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