Ohio State shook off an ominous start on Sunday afternoon against Ohio Wesleyan to defeat the Battling Bishops JV squad, 38-21 at Selby Stadium.
Quarterback Niko Pappas, returning to the place he suffered a season-ending injury a season ago, put together his best performance as a Buckeye. Pappas opened the game by completing his first 14 passes and finished the day 23-of-30 for 288 yards and three touchdowns through the air, all of which came in the first half. He also rushed 14 times for 98 yards and a second half rushing touchdown, finishing with four total scores on the day. His 23 completions are the fourth most in a single-game in program history behind three Spencer Moore performances where Moore completed 24 passes in three separate games. Pappas’ 76.6% completion percentage is good for the fifth-most efficient performance in program history.
While Pappas and the Buckeye offense put up 458 yards of total offense, Ohio State did not start the game well on any side of the ball. After going three-and-out on the opening series of the contest, Ohio State’s punt attempt was blocked, leading to a short field and an eventual touchdown for OWU.
Trailing 7-0, Pappas led the Buckeyes down the field in just six plays, capping a 65-yard scoring drive with a 2-yard pass to wide receiver Desean Bonte. The OWU offense answered, scoring on just two plays to take a 14-7 lead.
Once again, the Buckeye offense responded, this time with a 10-play, 76-yard touchdown drive that ended in a spectacular toe-tap catch from senior wide receiver Charlie Harlow in the corner of the end zone. Harlow posted a career day, hauling in eight passes for 98 yards and the first quarter score. His eight receptions are tied for the fourth most in a single-game in program history.
The Ohio Wesleyan offense struck back with another big play, connecting on a 52-yard touchdown pass on the first play of their ensuing drive, taking a 21-14 advantage. It was the last time they would score.
An 11-play, 80-yard scoring drive from Ohio State knotted the score again, as running back Milan Jackson plunged in from a yard out. Jackson, who missed the majority of Ohio State’s first two games with an injury, carried nine times for 38 yards on the day.
The Buckeye defense forced a three-and-out thanks to a pass breakup from cornerback Joshua Clemons, giving the ball back to the Buckeyes with great field position. However, despite moving the football down to the OWU 2-yard line, the Bishop defense stiffened and held Ohio State out of the end zone on fourth and goal.
Although the Bishops picked up a first down, Ohio State’s defense forced another punt, giving the ball back to the offense with just under two minutes left in the first half.
Ohio State quickly moved down the field and following a pass interference and a 26-yard connection from Pappas to Harlow, the Buckeyes found the end zone once again, this time on a 19-yard pass from Pappas to Jackson out of the backfield. The Buckeyes took a 28-21 lead into the halftime locker room and never looked back.
After a tough first quarter, Ohio State’s defense posted a second-half shutout despite being forced to defend short fields on back-to-back possessions in the third quarter. The Buckeye offense fumbled on the first play of back-to-back possessions to open the second half, giving OWU the ball in Ohio State territory both times. Despite that, Dylan Barron‘s defense did not surrender points, forcing a turnover on downs and a red zone interception by Bonte, respectively, to maintain a 28-21 advantage.
Ohio State’s offense settled in and marched 75-yards on 12 plays, capped by a 14-yard touchdown run from Pappas to extend the lead to 35-21 early in the fourth quarter. The Buckeyes would add a field goal late in the fourth quarter as Jacob Cramer connected from 30 yards out to close the scoring as Ohio State’s defense posted a goal line stand as time expired.
Ohio State received a number of outstanding performances on both sides of the ball. Six different Buckeyes caught passes from Pappas against OWU. Tight end Aidan Donovan hauled in four passes for 58 yards, including a 35-yarder that set up the first touchdown of the day to Bonte. Senior Ricardo Washington caught six passes for 88 yards while Jackson added three receptions for 33 yards and the second quarter score out of the backfield.
Defensively, senior linebacker Christian Allen led the way with a whopping 13 total tackles, including 2.5 for loss and 1.5 sacks. Freshman linebacker Tyler Siegel also played well, posting eight total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack. Freshman defensive back Tommy Roberts III also had a busy day, posting nine tackles from his cornerback position.
Game Notes
- The victory over Ohio Wesleyan (JV) is the 50th official win of the James Grega-era, which started in 2018. That includes six forfeit wins, including last week’s forfeit win over Denison (JV).
- Ohio State is now 8-5 against NCAA JV teams all-time, including 2-0 against Ohio Wesleyan.
- Ohio State has collected an interception in 10 of its last 12 games dating back to last season. On the season, the Buckeye defense has collected four interceptions through three games, posting at least one in each game in 2025.
- Desean Bonte became the first Ohio State player to catch a touchdown pass and record an interception in the same game since Zach Hayes did it against Michigan State in the 2023 conference championship game.
- Trey Jones recorded a half sack against Ohio Wesleyan, giving him 21.5 for his career, leaving him just one sack away from tying the program record set by Mike Fenstermaker (2016-19). He has 3.5 sacks in the 2025 season.
- With the win and a loss by Wright State on Sunday, Ohio State now owns the longest active win streak in the NCFA, having won seven in a row dating back to last season.
(Header photo credit: Colin Kovinchick)
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